Anito

This article is about the various uses of the specific religious term "Anito". For the ethnic religions of the Philippines in general, see Indigenous religious beliefs of the Philippines.
"Diwata" redirects here. For other uses, see Diwata (disambiguation).
"Lambana" redirects here. For the moth genus, see Lambana (moth).

Various Igorot bulul depicting ancestor spirits (c. 1900)
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Taotao carvings sold in a souvenir shop in Siquijor Island

Anito, also spelled anitu, refers to ancestor spirits, nature spirits, and deities in the Indigenous Philippine folk religions from the precolonial age to the present, although the term itself may have other meanings and associations depending on the Filipino ethnic group. It can also refer to carved humanoid figures, the taotao, made of wood, stone, or ivory, that represent these spirits.[1][2] Anito (a term predominantly used in Luzon) is also sometimes known as diwata in certain ethnic groups (especially among Visayans).[3]

Pag-anito refers to a séance, often accompanied by other rituals or celebrations, in which a shaman (Visayan: babaylan, Tagalog: katalonan) acts as a medium to communicate directly with the spirits. When a nature spirit or deity is specifically involved, the ritual is called pagdiwata. The act of worship or a religious sacrifice to a spirit is also sometimes simply referred to as anito.[1][4][5]

The belief in anito are sometimes referred to as Anitism in scholarly literature (Spanish: anitismo or anitería).[2]

  1. ^ a b William Henry Scott (1994). Barangay: Sixteenth Century Philippine Culture and Society. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press. ISBN 978-9715501354.
  2. ^ a b Stephen K. Hislop (1971). "Anitism: a survey of religious beliefs native to the Philippines" (PDF). Asian Studies. 9 (2): 144–156. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 7, 2018. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  3. ^ Guillermo, Artemio R. (2012). Historical Dictionary of the Philippines. Scarecrow Press. p. 140. ISBN 9780810872462.
  4. ^ Demetrio, Francisco R.; Cordero-Fernando, Gilda; Nakpil-Zialcita, Roberto B.; Feleo, Fernando (1991). The Soul Book: Introduction to Philippine Pagan Religion. GCF Books, Quezon City. ASIN B007FR4S8G.
  5. ^ Antonio Sánchez de la Rosa (1895). Diccionario Hispano-Bisaya para las provincias de Samar y Leyte, Volumes 1–2. Tipo-Litografia de Chofre y Comp. p. 414.