释义 |
‖ marae|məˈraɪ, formerly maˈrae| Also 9 marai. [Polynesian.] An altar or sacred enclosure at which human sacrifices are offered amongst the Tahitians and other Polynesians (now only Hist.) Now, among Polynesian peoples, a space in front of a meeting-house or among the houses of a village, set apart for social functions. Also fig.
1814W. Brown Hist. Propag. Chr. II. 350 Many were the marais and altars reared at his command. 1865Tylor Early Hist. Man. iii. 46 A large white cloth, spread on the pavement of a marae. 1877Ranken in Jrnl. R. Anthrop. Inst. VI. 236 The marais, or terraced enclosures for sacred purposes, are exactly like those of Mexico and Peru. 1905W. B. Where White Man Treads 276 Every order and tribal regulation had to be decided in meeting-house convened, and proclaimed in the marae (village green) to the whole people. 1910J. Cowan Maoris N.Z. xxxi. 338 We fall in on the river bank for the parade up to the village marae. 1910C. G. Seligmann Melanesians Brit. New Guinea xx. 223 Each local group of each clan has..at least one marea [sic], which serves as the meeting place for the men of the local group, and is their clubhouse in the fullest sense of the term. 1924R. W. Williamson Social & Pol. Syst. Cent. Polynesia I. x. 350 This male was, I presume, a malae or open space where meetings..were held, as in Samoa and Tonga. Ibid. II. xv. 60 In some islands the marae or malae was merely an open space..along with a special wooden house erected in it. 1934Nature 10 Nov. 740/2 The turtle..was the food of the gods [in Tahiti], eaten only by chiefs and keepers of the marae. 1943N. Marsh Colour Scheme ix. 166 They were hangin' about the Marae in groups. 1949P. H. Buck Coming of Maori (1950) iv. iii. 480 Turning to New Zealand, it is a curious fact that the two fundamental features of the central Polynesian temples were not combined but remained as distinct entities. Thus the open court, distinguished by the term marae, is retained as a secular feature in front of the tribal or family meeting houses. 1959A. McLintock Descr. Atlas N.Z. 72 In the country proper [i.e. rural districts] the Maori has retained his traditional mode of life which is symbolised in the marae. In a literal sense the term means the open courtyard in front of the communal meeting house; today, however, it embraces all aspects of community life—community buildings, tribal gatherings, church activities, and recreation. 1959Tindale & Lindsay Rangatira iii. 32 The open-air marae temple, floored with slabs of basalt. Ibid. x. 93 They entertained their guests on the open marae ground among the houses. 1963Weekly News (Auckland) 1 May 6/6 Dominating the marae was a cross 40 feet high illuminated with coloured lights. 1969Islander (Victoria, B.C.) 6 July 5/2 The design [of a hotel in Tahiti] is reminiscent of ancient Tahitian outdoor worshipping temples (marae). 1974N.Z. Listener 20 July 10/3 There was a group being welcomed on to the marae as I arrived. |