Victorian comparative religion

The Golden Bough: Third Edition, Vol. 03 of 12

James George Frazer1906Vol. 3 of 12
Advancedcomplete

This volume provides comprehensive analysis of taboo systems and primitive beliefs about the soul. Frazer examines how taboos protect sacred persons (kings, chiefs, priests), dangerous states (menstruation, childbirth, death), and powerful objects. The work explores concepts of the soul, its vulnerability to theft or loss, and protective measures. Topics include food taboos, name taboos, iron taboos, blood taboos, and restrictions surrounding birth, death, and warfare. Frazer argues taboo represents primitive man's attempt to navigate supernatural danger through prohibition.

Also known asFrazer's Golden Bough · Magical Origins
This edition1906
EditionThird edition, Volume 3 of 12: Taboo and the Perils of the Soul
Comparative ReligionComparative MythologyAnthropology of Religionsoul magicMythologyname taboostaboo systemssoul beliefsAnthropologyFolklore Studiesmenstrual taboospurification ritualsWestern Anthropological / FolkloreProtective magicAnthropological analysisdeath taboos

Contents56 chapters

  1. 01Contents
  2. 02Preface.
  3. 03Chapter I. The Burden Of Royalty.
  4. 04§ 1. Royal and Priestly Taboos.
  5. 05§ 2. Divorce of the Spiritual from the Temporal Power.
  6. 06Chapter II. The Perils Of The Soul.
  7. 07§ 1. The Soul as a Mannikin.
  8. 08§ 2. Absence and Recall of the Soul.
  9. 09§ 3. The Soul as a Shadow and a Reflection.
  10. 10Chapter III. Tabooed Acts.
  11. 11§ 1. Taboos on Intercourse with Strangers.
  12. 12§ 2. Taboos on Eating and Drinking.
  13. 13§ 3. Taboos on shewing the Face.
  14. 14§ 4. Taboos on quitting the House.
  15. 15§ 5. Taboos on leaving Food over.
  16. 16Chapter IV. Tabooed Persons.
  17. 17§ 1. Chiefs and Kings tabooed.
  18. 18§ 2. Mourners tabooed.
  19. 19§ 3. Women tabooed at Menstruation and Childbirth.
  20. 20§ 4. Warriors tabooed.
  21. 21§ 5. Manslayers tabooed.
  22. 22§ 6. Hunters and Fishers tabooed.
  23. 23Chapter V. Tabooed Things.
  24. 24§ 1. The Meaning of Taboo.
  25. 25§ 2. Iron tabooed.
  26. 26§ 3. Sharp Weapons tabooed.
  27. 27§ 4. Blood tabooed.
  28. 28§ 5. The Head tabooed.
  29. 29§ 6. Hair tabooed.
  30. 30§ 7. Ceremonies at Hair-cutting.
  31. 31§ 8. Disposal of Cut Hair and Nails.
  32. 32§ 9. Spittle tabooed.
  33. 33§ 10. Foods tabooed.
  34. 34§ 11. Knots and Rings tabooed.
  35. 35Chapter VI. Tabooed Words.
  36. 36§ 1. Personal Names tabooed.
  37. 37§ 2. Names of Relations tabooed.
  38. 38§ 3. Names of the Dead tabooed.
  39. 39§ 4. Names of Kings and other Sacred Persons tabooed.
  40. 40§ 5. Names of Gods tabooed.
  41. 41§ 6. Common Words tabooed.
  42. 42Chapter VII. Our Debt To The Savage.
  43. 43Note. Not To Step Over Persons And Things.1552
  44. 44Index.
  45. 45Footnotes
  46. 46THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
  47. 47"Cover"
  48. 48The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (Third Edition, Vol. 03 of 12)
  49. 49The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Bough (Third Edition, Vol. 3 of 12) by James George Frazer
  50. 50The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Bough (Third Edition, Vol. 3 of 12) by James George Frazer
  51. 51The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Bough (Third Edition, Vol. 3 of 12) by James George Frazer
  52. 52The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Bough (Third Edition, Vol. 3 of 12) by James George Frazer
  53. 53The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Bough (Third Edition, Vol. 3 of 12) by James George Frazer
  54. 54The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Bough (Third Edition, Vol. 3 of 12) by James George Frazer
  55. 55The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Bough (Third Edition, Vol. 3 of 12) by James George Frazer
  56. 56The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Bough (Third Edition, Vol. 3 of 12) by James George Frazer

Influences & Sources

By the Same Author

Ask the Hermetikon Archivist about this text

Search within this book, retrieve direct quotations with page references, or explore related ideas.

Ask the Archivist