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CREENCIAS CHILOTAS 

La mitología chilota está formada por los mitos, leyendas y creencias de los habitantes del Archipiélago de Chiloé, en el sur de Chile. En esta mitología, que continúa vigente en el siglo XXI, se refleja la importancia que tiene el mar en la vida de los chilotes.

La mitología chilota se formó a partir de la mezcla de antiguas religiones de los pueblos indígenas (chonos y huilliches) que habitaron esta zona, y de las leyendas y supersticiones traídas por los conquistadores españoles que, en 1567 comenzaron el proceso de conquista en Chiloé, y con ello el inicio de la fusión de elementos que formarían una mitología propia.

Esta mitología creció y prosperó, al mantenerse muy aislada de otras creencias y mitos que se desarrollaron o existían en Chile, debido al aislamiento que sufrió el archipiélago al quedar separado del resto de las posesiones españolas en Chile, cuando fueron abandonadas o destruidas por los mapuches todas las ciudades entre el río Biobío y el canal de Chacao, después del desastre de Curalaba en 1598.

Entre los seres mitológicos, el rango más alto correspondería a Tenten Vilu y Caicai Vilu, quienes en una lucha legendaria y titánica, crearon el Archipiélago. Más abajo de Caicai Vilu estaría el Millalobo como Rey de los mares, junto a su mujer la Huenchula y los tres hijos de ambos, el Pincoy como el príncipe de los mares, la Pincoya y la sirena chilota como princesas; quienes lo ayudan en la tarea de manejar los mares. Luego el Millalobo otorgaría diferentes rangos menores a distintas criaturas mitológicas marinas.

Tambien se encuentran seres humanos en la mitología. Existe la creencia en brujos, quienes poseen la capacidad de volar y tendrían bajo su mandato a varias criaturas tales como el Invunche. Además se recurre a machis, persona que desempeñan un rol importante en la cultura y religión mapuche, pero que en Chiloé tienen características y funciones parcialmente diferentes.

Los personajes mitológicos normalmente se dividen para su descripción en acuáticos y terrestres. Entre los acuáticos destacan Caícai Vilu (serpiente de mar), la Huenchula, el Millalobo, la Pincoya, la Sirena, el Tempilcahue, y el Caleuche que es un barco fantasma.

Entre los personajes terrestres están el Basilisco, el Camahueto, la Fiura, el Invunche, la Condená, la Llorona, el Trauco y la Voladora.

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Beliefs, myths and legends

The mythology of Chiloe is formed by the myths, legends and beliefs of the inhabitants of the Archipelago of Chiloe, in the South of Chile. In this mythology, that is still present in the 21st century, it is reflected the importance that the ocean has in the life of the “Chilotes” .

The chiloen mythology was created from a mixture of ancient religions that the native people had (both “chonos” and “huiliches”) who populated the area and from the legends and superstitions brought from the Spanish conquerors who in 1567 started to conquer the island. And with this the fusion of beliefs gave birth to its own mythology.

This mythology has grown and maintained throughout the years, because of its isolation from the rest of the Chilean beliefs and myths. This is primarily due to the isolation that the archipelago had when the Spanish came to conquer the rest of the country, and additionally when all the cities between the river Bio-Bio and the Chacoa chanal were abandoned or destroyed from the natives “mapuches” during the disaster of “Curalaba” in 1598.

Among the mythological characters the highest status belongs to “Tenten Vilu and Caicai Vilu” whom in a legendary and titanic fight created the Archipelago. Below “Caicai Vilu” is “Millalobo” as the king of the ocean along with his wife “Huenchula” and their three children, “Pincoy” as the prince of oceans, the “Pincoya” and the Chiloean mermaid as the princesses; who help in the task of controlling the ocean. “Millalobo”, is also in charge of assigning minor ranges to a variety of mythological marine creatures. In the mythology there are also human beings. Within this mythology, there is also a belief in witches, who possess the capacity to fly and who have under their mandate various creatures such as the “Invunche”. Also the chiloens search for the “machis” who is a person that has an important role in the native mapuche culture and religion, though in Chiloe he has some different characteristics and functions. Normally the mythological characters are divided among their description as aquatic and terrestrial. Among the aquatics there is “Caicai Vilu (ocean snake), “Huenchula”, “Millalobo”, “Pincoya” “the Mermaid”, “Tempilcahue” and “Caleuche” which is a ghost ship. Among the terrestrial characters there is “Basilisco”, “Camahueto”, Fiura” “Condena” Llorona”, “Trauco” and “Voladora”.

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Croyances, mythes et légendes

La mythologie de Chiloé comporte de mythes, légendes et croyances populaires des habitants de l’archipel du sud chilien. Dans cette mythologie, qui est encore valable dans le 21e siècle, se reflet l’importance qui a la mer dans la vie de habitants de l’île.
La mythologie de Chiloé a été formée à partir du mélange des anciennes religions des peuples indigènes (chonos et huilliches) qui ont habité dans cette zone et des légendes et superstitions apportées par les conquérants espagnols qui ont commencé le processus de conquête à Chiloé : c’était le début de la fusion d’éléments qui constitueraient une mythologie unique.

Cette mythologie a crû et prospéré, car elle n’a pas été influencée par d’autres croyances et mythes qui se répandaient au Chili dû à l’isolement qui a subi l’archipel suite à la séparation du reste des possessions espagnoles au Chili, lorsque toutes les villes se situant entre le fleuve Bío-bío et le canal de Chacao ont été abandonnées ou détruites par le peuple aborigène des mapuches, suite au combat de Curalaba en 1958.
Parmi les êtres mythologiques, le rang le plus haut correspondrait à Tenten Vilu et Caicai Vilu, qui dans une lutte légendaire et démesurée, ont créé l’Achipel. Au-dessous de Caicai Vilu on trouverait Millalobo, comme roi des mers, ensemble avec sa femme la Huenchula et ses trois enfants, le Pincoy, comme prince des mers, La Pincoya et la sirène chilote comme des princesses, qui aident leur père dans la tâche de gérer les mers. Ensuite Millalobo octroierait de différents rangs mineurs à de différentes créatures mythologiques marines.
On trouve aussi des êtres humains dans la mythologie. On croit en sorciers qui ont la capacité de survoler l’île et qui auraient sous leur contrôle certaines créatures telles que l’Invunche. On fait appel aussi aux machis, des guérisseurs qui jouent un rôle important dans la culture et religion mapuche, mais qui ont des caractéristiques et fonctions partiellement différentes à Chiloé.
Les personnages mythologiques sont classifiés d’après leur description comme aquatiques ou terrestres. Parmi les êtres aquatiques on distingue Caícai Vilu (serpent de la mer), la Huenchula, le Millalobo, la Pincoya, La Sirène, le Tempilcahue et le Caleuche ; ce dernier étant un bateau fantôme.
Parmis les personnages terrestres on repère le Basilisco, le Camahueto, la Fiura, l’Invunche, la Condená, la Llorona, le Trauco et la Voladora.

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MITOS E LENDAS

The mythology of Chiloe is formed by the myths, legends and beliefs of the inhabitants of the Archipelago of Chiloe, in the South of Chile. In this mythology, that is still present in the 21st century, it is reflected the importance that the ocean has in the life of the “Chilotes” .

The chiloen mythology was created from a mixture of ancient religions that the native people had (both “chonos” and “huiliches”) who populated the area and from the legends and superstitions brought from the Spanish conquerors who in 1567 started to conquer the island. And with this the fusion of beliefs gave birth to its own mythology.

This mythology has grown and maintained throughout the years, because of its isolation from the rest of the Chilean beliefs and myths. This is primarily due to the isolation that the archipelago had when the Spanish came to conquer the rest of the country, and additionally when all the cities between the river Bio-Bio and the Chacoa chanal were abandoned or destroyed from the natives “mapuches” during the disaster of “Curalaba” in 1598.

Among the mythological characters the highest status belongs to “Tenten Vilu and Caicai Vilu” whom in a legendary and titanic fight created the Archipelago. Below “Caicai Vilu” is “Millalobo” as the king of the ocean along with his wife “Huenchula” and their three children, “Pincoy” as the prince of oceans, the “Pincoya” and the Chiloean mermaid as the princesses; who help in the task of controlling the ocean. “Millalobo”, is also in charge of assigning minor ranges to a variety of mythological marine creatures. In the mythology there are also human beings. Within this mythology, there is also a belief in witches, who possess the capacity to fly and who have under their mandate various creatures such as the “Invunche”. Also the chiloens search for the “machis” who is a person that has an important role in the native mapuche culture and religion, though in Chiloe he has some different characteristics and functions. Normally the mythological characters are divided among their description as aquatic and terrestrial. Among the aquatics there is “Caicai Vilu (ocean snake), “Huenchula”, “Millalobo”, “Pincoya” “the Mermaid”, “Tempilcahue” and “Caleuche” which is a ghost ship. Among the terrestrial characters there is “Basilisco”, “Camahueto”, Fiura” “Condena” Llorona”, “Trauco” and “Voladora”.

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