Tongan (All Terms): Difference between revisions
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# since the naming of stars can differ depending on which Tongan island group it originates from. The nomenclature of stars is approximated based on the limited resources available. | # since the naming of stars can differ depending on which Tongan island group it originates from. The nomenclature of stars is approximated based on the limited resources available. | ||
Some stars and constellations are absent in this sky culture such as Scorpio (parts in, or star of), North star, and many more. Common ancestry of Polynesian star lore's is evident in the similarities in the labelling of stars. For example the Pleiades is called Mataliki in Tongan, Matariki in Maori and Makali`i in Hawaiian.<ref>Smale, Dan (online). Anutan sky culture in Stellarium, <nowiki>https://github.com/stellarium/stellarium</nowiki> , printed in Hoffmann and Wolfschmidt (eds., 2022), Astronomy in Culture --Cultures of Astronomy. Astronomie in der Kultur--Kulturen der Astronomie.: Featuring the Proceedings of the Splinter Meeting at the Annual Conference of the Astronomische Gesselschafb Sept. 14-16, 2021, tredition, Ahrensburg (Germany): 679-681.</ref><ref>Velt Kik, ''Ko E Ngaahi fetu'u 'o, Stars over tonga'', 1990 'Atenisi University, Nuku'alofa, Tonga Government printing department.</ref><ref>T.H Fale, ''Tongan astronomy'', 1990 Polynesian Eyes foundation, Nuku'alofa, Tonga Choice printing.</ref><ref>E. E. V. Collocott, ''Tongan astronomy and calendar'', 1992 Occasional Papers of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum of Polynesian ethnology and Natural History, Vol.8, No. 4 Honolulu, Hawaii, Bishop Museum Press 1922, p. 157-173. | Some stars and constellations are absent in this sky culture such as Scorpio (parts in, or star of), North star, and many more. Common ancestry of Polynesian star lore's is evident in the similarities in the labelling of stars. For example the Pleiades is called Mataliki in Tongan, Matariki in Maori and Makali`i in Hawaiian.<ref>Smale, Dan (online). Anutan sky culture in Stellarium, <nowiki>https://github.com/stellarium/stellarium</nowiki> , printed in Hoffmann and Wolfschmidt (eds., 2022), Astronomy in Culture --Cultures of Astronomy. Astronomie in der Kultur--Kulturen der Astronomie.: Featuring the Proceedings of the Splinter Meeting at the Annual Conference of the Astronomische Gesselschafb Sept. 14-16, 2021, tredition, Ahrensburg (Germany): 679-681.</ref><ref>Velt Kik, ''Ko E Ngaahi fetu'u 'o, Stars over tonga'', 1990 'Atenisi University, Nuku'alofa, Tonga Government printing department.</ref><ref>T.H Fale, ''Tongan astronomy'', 1990 Polynesian Eyes foundation, Nuku'alofa, Tonga Choice printing.</ref><ref>E. E. V. Collocott, ''Tongan astronomy and calendar'', 1992 Occasional Papers of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum of Polynesian ethnology and Natural History, Vol.8, No. 4 Honolulu, Hawaii, Bishop Museum Press 1922, p. 157-173. https://archive.org/embed/tonganastronomyc00collrich</ref> | ||
https:// | From the archaeological research by Burley<ref>Burley, David V. (2023). The Birth of Polynesia: An Archaeological Journey Through the Kingdom of Tonga. SFU Archaeology Press. https://archpress.lib.sfu.ca/index.php/archpress/catalog/book/73</ref>, Lapita navigators land at Nukuleka around 900 BC as the ancestral heartland of Polynesia. David V. Burley shows that Tongan migration is part of a much longer story of movement across the Pacific, not something new. His work highlights how early Polynesian ancestors used navigation skills to intentionally travel and settle places like Tonga, then adapt to new environments while staying connected through strong kinship networks. This same pattern can be seen today in Tongan migration to Auckland, where people move for opportunity but maintain close cultural, family, and church ties back home. Burley’s views are important because they show that migration is not just about leaving—it is about navigating change, adapting to new spaces, and keeping connections alive across generations.[https://scontent-cgk2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/689014250_1414727014021823_8819732729604814012_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_tt6&cstp=mx1056x1408&ctp=s1056x1408&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=VD_Xvent0JoQ7kNvwGMw1l2&_nc_oc=Ado4VSaN7e2r9DSes9FNLuPjkYNfJ5st7OZdPWdlG5L7R8NkMCxkCWgjuLmhuqIDTlg&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-cgk2-1.xx&_nc_gid=-I0RROM3hDohj_d7G0pOFA&_nc_ss=7b289&oh=00_Af_18KRx-eZaWBRM8bOfczYlkFU4x_7YD3viqyJbdu6S0Q&oe=6A31BB11] | ||
=== Solar System Names === | === Solar System Names === | ||
Revision as of 12:44, 12 June 2026
Authors: Youla Azkarrula
Tongan sky culture descends from the practical application of nautical navigation. In some circumstances separation of individual star names from "star path" names cannot be resolved. A star may have multiple names:
- if the star is part of numerous star paths; and
- since the naming of stars can differ depending on which Tongan island group it originates from. The nomenclature of stars is approximated based on the limited resources available.
Some stars and constellations are absent in this sky culture such as Scorpio (parts in, or star of), North star, and many more. Common ancestry of Polynesian star lore's is evident in the similarities in the labelling of stars. For example the Pleiades is called Mataliki in Tongan, Matariki in Maori and Makali`i in Hawaiian.[1][2][3][4]
From the archaeological research by Burley[5], Lapita navigators land at Nukuleka around 900 BC as the ancestral heartland of Polynesia. David V. Burley shows that Tongan migration is part of a much longer story of movement across the Pacific, not something new. His work highlights how early Polynesian ancestors used navigation skills to intentionally travel and settle places like Tonga, then adapt to new environments while staying connected through strong kinship networks. This same pattern can be seen today in Tongan migration to Auckland, where people move for opportunity but maintain close cultural, family, and church ties back home. Burley’s views are important because they show that migration is not just about leaving—it is about navigating change, adapting to new spaces, and keeping connections alive across generations.[1]
Solar System Names
| Tongan | English | commentary |
|---|---|---|
| La'a | Sun | |
| Mahina | Moon | |
| Mercury | ||
| tapukitea | Venus | |
| Matamemea | Mars | |
| Jupiter | ||
| Saturn |
List of terms (asterism names)
| Tongan Term | Designation | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Ae e'Uvea | Corona Borealis | Speculative |
| Fatanalua | Coma Berenices | Speculative |
| Fetu'u | Star | In general |
| Fetu'u'Esiafi | Falling star | |
| Fetu'ufuka | Comet | |
| Fungasia | Toliman and/or Agena | |
| Ha'amonga | Ecliptic | |
| Hikule'o | Arcturus | |
| Houmatoloa (Toloa, toloatonga, toloalahi) | — | |
| Humu | Coal sack | |
| Kaniva | Milky Way | |
| Kapakau'o'tafahi | Cassiopeia | Speculative |
| Lua tangata | Castor and/or Pollux | |
| Ma'afulele | Large Magellan cloud | |
| Ma'afulele (same as LMC) | Sirius | |
| Ma'afutoka | Small Magellan cloud | |
| Ma'afutoka (same as SMC) | Canopus | |
| Monuafe | Meissa | |
| Motuliki | Pleiades | |
| 'otu Ma'afu | Magellanic clouds | Both |
| Toloa | Belt of Orion | |
| Toloalahi | False Cross | |
| Toloatonga | Southern Cross | |
| Tuinga ika | Part of Orion, belt and sword | |
| Tu'ulalupe | Hyades | |
| 'Umata | Rainbow | |
| Velitoa hahake | Betelgeuse | |
| Velitoa hififo | Rigel |
References
- References (general)
- ↑ Smale, Dan (online). Anutan sky culture in Stellarium, https://github.com/stellarium/stellarium , printed in Hoffmann and Wolfschmidt (eds., 2022), Astronomy in Culture --Cultures of Astronomy. Astronomie in der Kultur--Kulturen der Astronomie.: Featuring the Proceedings of the Splinter Meeting at the Annual Conference of the Astronomische Gesselschafb Sept. 14-16, 2021, tredition, Ahrensburg (Germany): 679-681.
- ↑ Velt Kik, Ko E Ngaahi fetu'u 'o, Stars over tonga, 1990 'Atenisi University, Nuku'alofa, Tonga Government printing department.
- ↑ T.H Fale, Tongan astronomy, 1990 Polynesian Eyes foundation, Nuku'alofa, Tonga Choice printing.
- ↑ E. E. V. Collocott, Tongan astronomy and calendar, 1992 Occasional Papers of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum of Polynesian ethnology and Natural History, Vol.8, No. 4 Honolulu, Hawaii, Bishop Museum Press 1922, p. 157-173. https://archive.org/embed/tonganastronomyc00collrich
- ↑ Burley, David V. (2023). The Birth of Polynesia: An Archaeological Journey Through the Kingdom of Tonga. SFU Archaeology Press. https://archpress.lib.sfu.ca/index.php/archpress/catalog/book/73
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