The Pillan (of
Mapudungun origin; singular ''pillán'' and plural ''pillanes'' in
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
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**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
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Other places
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) is a powerful and respected male spirit in
Mapuche mythology
The mythology and religion of the indigenous Mapuche people of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina is an extensive and ancient belief system. A series of unique legends and myths are common to the various groups that make up the Mapuc ...
.
According to legend, the Pillan are good spirits, but they can also cause disasters, since they also punish (or they allow the ''
wekufe
The wekufe, also known as huecufe, wekufü, watuku, huecufu, huecubo, huecubu, huecuvu, huecuve, huecovoe, giiecubu, güecubo, güecugu, uecuvu, güecufu; is an important type of harmful spirit or demon in Mapuche mythology. The word wekufe comes f ...
'' to punish) with drought or flood, earthquakes, or diseases. The ''
Antü'' is the most powerful Pillan, who governs the others. In the
Mapuche
The Mapuche ( (Mapuche & Spanish: )) are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina, including parts of Patagonia. The collective term refers to a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who s ...
tradition, a man that follows the laws of the ''
admapu'' can also become a Pillan after death. The Mapuche perform a ''ngillatun'' ceremony for the Pillan, for the latter to grant benefits to the people, and to thank them for their gifts.
The Pillan have been described as spirits that live in the ''
Wenumapu'' (a spiritual world of good), and those that inhabit the earth generally live inside the volcanoes. (Example:
Osorno and
Quetrupillán Volcano). The accompanying female spirits of the Pillan are the
Wangulen spirits.
The name Pillan was used by
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
an
ENAER to name their 2-seat trainer aircraft, the
T-35 Pillan.
See also
*
Choshuenco-Pillán – old name for Mocho-Choshuenco volcano
*
Pillanleufú – a river near Mocho-Choshuenco
*
Quetrupillán – a strato volcano near Pucón and Coñaripe.
*
Rucapillán – mapudungun name for Villarrica volcano
References
* Alberto Trivero, Trentrenfilú, (in Spanish). Proyecto de Documentación Ñuke Mapu.(1999).
Mapuche deities
Mapuche mythology
Gods of the indigenous peoples of North America
Nature spirits
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