The Coral Tree at the End of the World. Introductory Notes to Coralline Mythology and Folklore from the Indian and Pacific Oceans

In line with the more recent trends in anthropology, addressing multispecies’ encounters and entanglements, this chapter aims to explore the role of corals and coral reefs in the mythology and folklore of some coastal and insular communities of the Pacific Ocean. From Maldives to Hawaii, in fact, we find several motifs, myths, tales, songs, and fables describing patterns of interaction between human and coralline non-human. From landscape to jewel, from animal to magical artefact, and even to gods and goddesses, coral is a pervasive element not only of the maritime communities’ environmental dimension but also of their folkloric, religious, and ritual spheres. Drawing from ethnographic literature, this chapter highlights some of the coral-centered topics as they appear in a variety of sources from diverse cultures of Asia and Oceania.