Description
Treatise on the idolatries, superstitions, sorceries, and other customs of the aboriginal races of
Book summary
This work by Jacinto de la Serna offers an exceptional testimony regarding the religious and daily practices of the indigenous peoples of New Spain in the 17th century. Written from the perspective of a clergyman concerned with evangelization, the treatise meticulously documents idolatries, superstitions, and rituals, including the use of psychotropic substances. Beyond its catechetical intent, the book has become a fundamental source for anthropologists, historians, and folklore scholars by preserving unique descriptions of customs, beliefs, and traditions that would have otherwise been lost.
What is it about?
Jacinto de la Serna compiles and organizes a vast collection of reports, manuscripts, and oral accounts concerning indigenous beliefs and rituals in colonial Mexico. The work responds to the concerns of the 17th-century Mexican Church regarding the natives' resistance to abandoning their traditions. The author details witchcraft practices, ceremonies linked to the agricultural cycle, and domestic customs, such as the restrictions that Aztec women had to observe during pregnancy, such as not looking at eclipses to avoid birth defects. Likewise, the treatise is a key reference in the study of psychotropic substances, as Serna describes with precision the hallucinogens ingested in ritual contexts. The work integrates fragments of the "Indian Monarchy" by Juan de Torquemada and the "Treatise on Superstitions" by Hernando Ruiz de Alarcón, forming a unique corpus on the indigenous worldview seen through the prism of the colonial clergy.
Main themes
- Indigenous idolatries and superstitions in 17th-century New Spain
- Religious syncretism and cultural resistance to Catholic evangelization
- Ritual use of plants and psychotropic substances in pre-Hispanic ceremonies
- Domestic customs, pregnancy beliefs, and traditional healing practices
- Compilation and synthesis of colonial sources on Mesoamerican myths and legends
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at researchers and students of American history, anthropology, ethnohistory, and cultural studies. It will also be of great interest to readers passionate about folklore, Mesoamerican mythology, and colonial chronicles. Those seeking to understand the complex dynamics between the indigenous worldview and European religious imposition will find in this work a primary documentary source.
What this book offers
- Access to a unique collection of testimonies and documents on indigenous rituals and beliefs of colonial Mexico
- A detailed view of shamanic practices and the use of psychotropics in ceremonial contexts
- Understanding of the Church's strategies to identify and combat idolatries in the 17th century
- Preservation of customs and oral traditions that would have otherwise disappeared
- Historical and cultural context to understand religious syncretism in Latin America
Technical specifications
- Author: Jacinto de la Serna
- Publisher: Linkgua Ediciones
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Classic texts, History of America, Folklore, Myths and legends
- Collection: History
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: January 2005
- Number of pages: 376
- Weight: 443 g
Editorial review
This is an essential reference work for the study of indigenous beliefs in New Spain. Its value lies in the meticulous work of compilation and synthesis carried out by Jacinto de la Serna, which turns the treatise into an ethnographic document ahead of its time. Although its approach stems from an evangelizing perspective, the richness of the data collected—from shamanic practices to daily superstitions—makes it an invaluable source for historians and anthropologists. The Linkgua edition facilitates access to this classic, which is widely cited in studies on psychotropics and Mesoamerican rituals.