taotao

ancestor earth Philippine ancestor veneration single tradition · 1

Ancestor spirits were usually represented by carved figures known as taotao (also taotaohan, latawo, tinatao, or tatao), bata-bata ("little child"), ladaw ("image" or "likeness"; also laraw, ladawang, lagdong, or larawan), or likha ("creation"; also likhak) in most of the Philippines. Taotao were usually austere roughly-carved figures made from wood, stone, or ivory. Most taotao represent an actual deceased person, usually carved by the community upon their funeral.

When

First attested
1500 CE
Attested period
1500 – 2020
Historical notes
First described in Spanish accounts.

Relationships

co occurs with
Batala, Diwata
manifested by
Anito

Expand to full subgraph →

Sources

wikipedia (1)

Source passages

“Ancestor spirits were usually represented by carved figures. These were known as taotao ("little human", also taotaohan, latawo, tinatao, or tatao), bata-bata ("little child"), ladaw ("image" or "likeness"; also laraw, ladawang, lagdong, or larawan), or likha”

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