Taotao Mona
Encyclopedia
Taotao Mona are spirit
s of ancient inhabitants believed to haunt the mountains and wild places of the Mariana Islands
, which include Luta
, Saipan
, Tinian
and Guam
, in Micronesia
. Belief in Taotao Mona is present throughout these islands.
With the Spanish
conquest of Guam in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the resultant destruction of the old way of life of the native Chamorros
, went also the practice of ancestor veneration. Scholars believe that the concept of the tricky Taotao Mona were created by the Chamorros in response to Spanish subjugation.
Taotao Mona are believed to inhabit any secluded natural place on the island—particularly in the south of the island—and despite the modernity of most Chamorros, there is still a healthy respect for them. It is thought that if they are offended, they can cause bad influences in a particular location or towards a particular person.
The Taotao Mona were investigated in a segment of the Syfy
television show Destination Truth
entitled "Guam Zombies," where they were (incorrectly) said to appear as zombie
-like; however, the Taotao Mona are not zombies, but ancestral spirits that are said to live within the trees. The trees themselves are said to have moving roots that change direction every night. Locals and "traditional" Chamorros claim that one must pray to the Taotao Mona before entering any forest or if one takes fruit or wood from it. The majority of the Taotao Mona are described as being headless and malicious if their land is not respected. They have been known to pinch, bruise, or kidnap children.
Spirit
The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...
s of ancient inhabitants believed to haunt the mountains and wild places of the Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
, which include Luta
Rota (island)
Rota also known as the "peaceful island", is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the second southernmost of the Marianas Archipelago. It lies approximately 40 miles north-northeast of the United States territory of Guam...
, Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
, Tinian
Tinian
Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.-Geography:Tinian is about 5 miles southwest of its sister island, Saipan, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel. It has a land area of 39 sq.mi....
and Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, in Micronesia
Micronesia
Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is distinct from Melanesia to the south, and Polynesia to the east. The Philippines lie to the west, and Indonesia to the southwest....
. Belief in Taotao Mona is present throughout these islands.
With the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
conquest of Guam in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the resultant destruction of the old way of life of the native Chamorros
Chamorros
The Chamorro people, or Chamoru people, are the indigenous peoples of the Mariana Islands, which include the American territory of Guam and the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Micronesia. Today, significant Chamoru populations also exist in several U.S. states...
, went also the practice of ancestor veneration. Scholars believe that the concept of the tricky Taotao Mona were created by the Chamorros in response to Spanish subjugation.
Taotao Mona are believed to inhabit any secluded natural place on the island—particularly in the south of the island—and despite the modernity of most Chamorros, there is still a healthy respect for them. It is thought that if they are offended, they can cause bad influences in a particular location or towards a particular person.
The Taotao Mona were investigated in a segment of the Syfy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
television show Destination Truth
Destination Truth
Destination Truth is a weekly American paranormal reality television series that premiered on June 6, 2007 on Syfy. Produced by Mandt Bros. Productions and Ping Pong Productions, the program follows paranormal researcher Josh Gates around the world to investigate claims of the supernatural, mainly...
entitled "Guam Zombies," where they were (incorrectly) said to appear as zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
-like; however, the Taotao Mona are not zombies, but ancestral spirits that are said to live within the trees. The trees themselves are said to have moving roots that change direction every night. Locals and "traditional" Chamorros claim that one must pray to the Taotao Mona before entering any forest or if one takes fruit or wood from it. The majority of the Taotao Mona are described as being headless and malicious if their land is not respected. They have been known to pinch, bruise, or kidnap children.