Retrieving a Shaman-Warrior as Legendary Hero Archetype - 15-March-2023

Aug 26, 2026

Upload by Eliana

This study explores two versions of a shaman-warrior legend, aiming to recover Kapitan Dyano from the longer account as a representative archetype. Kapitan Dyano’s shamanic journey is examined through embedded motifs and hero archetypes, focusing on how a heroic ideal becomes achievable within the legend. The analysis tests the legend against C.W. von Sydow’s ecotypification theory, identifying shared themes and tracing the narrative’s course. Archetypal criticism guides motif and journey interpretation, contributing a shaman-warrior archetype category to Philippine folklore.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Cebuano shaman-warrior legends and prior studies

Purpose and research usefulness

Statement of the Problem

Archetypal image of Kapitan Dyano

Methodology

Qualitative ethnoliterary research and discourse analysis

Data gathering and analysis phases

Retrieving a Shaman-Warrior as Legendary Hero Archetype Maricris B. Lauro IBDP Instructor, NUCB International High School, Nagoya, Japan DOI: [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7736410](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7736410) Published Date: 15-March-2023 Abstract: This study explores two versions of a shaman-warrior legend and intends to recover Kapitan Dyano from the longer version as an archetypal shaman-warrior. In his new role, Kapitan Dyano goes through shamanic journey and embodies motifs and archetypes of a hero. His heroic act permits the examination of how the heroic ideal of a shaman-warrior becomes possible. Against C.W. von Sydow’s ecotypification theory, the study has proven the presence of the shaman-warrior in the available versions of the legend, the similarities in the motifs and themes, as well as traced the course of the legend. Archetypal criticism behooves tracing the shaman-warrior journey and analyzing the motifs embodied. Through these processes, the study attempts to provide the shaman-warrior archetype as another category of legendary heroes in Philippine folklore. Keywords: shaman-warrior, archetype, ecotypification, shaman-warrior journey, heroic ideal. I. INTRODUCTION Shaman-warrior legends abound in Cebu. The story of the Tabal brothers and that of Bibiano Lato are mono-episodic legends about a shaman-warrior. The version about Kapitan Dyano remains fictitious, if not fantastical. Indeed, legends offer the rich ground for the interaction of the nominal and the fantastical, an intersection where the collective struggle or need becomes symbolically projected and permits its creative expression. Quite strangely, even if Kapitan Dyano is not the first figure famed to have exhibited such, studies on Cebuano legends have not adequately explored the phenomenon of a shaman-warrior. Historical claims as well as common folk knowledge maintain that the magically-endowed folk heroes of Cebu and even Bohol, from Lapu-lapu to the Tabal brothers as well as Tamblot and Francisco Dagohoy, have leveraged their status and influence to lead the first uprisings against the conquistadors. Kapitan Dyano is reminiscent of the Tabal brothers in how he acquired his own kalaki and used it to seek justice during the revolution. In his warring, Kapitan Dyano came close to, if not transcended the common struggle of the Filipinos; thus, permitting the creative avenue of the legend to symbolically project the collective need and dream for a capable hero. So far, Ogdoc-Gascon’s (2015) categorization of themes and archetypes of Cebuano legends is the closest study of critical nature about the subject [1] but nowhere was the shaman-warrior mentioned. However, the present study attempts to close the gap by supplying another archetype recovered from a local legend of Danao, Cebu that was overlooked by the said study. The retelling of The Legend of Kapitan Dyano is wrought in mystique, intrigue, an insistence that the story is true, and ad libbed by the constant reference to the bygone time. Kapitan Dyano is portrayed as a supranormal being, a shaman-warrior famed to have supernatural powers who fought during the revolution. Aside from fulfilling the groundwork of legend-making, the present study derives its usefulness on two levels. First, it places Danao on the map as locale of the legend. Second, the persistence and expansiveness that ties in with the legend’s elasticity is proof of the richness of the intangible heritage of the Danawanons, that up to now, remains largely unexplored. Finally, investigating the legend enables it to earn its merit and secure a place of prominence among the residents of the locality. Recovering the shaman-warrior involved recording two versions of the story from two informants. Celestino Lauro learned about the legend from his father who also knew about it from his grandfather. Although known to the clan, the legend does not hold a prominent place among Danawanons. Another

FAQs

What is the main goal of the study about Kapitan Dyano?

To reconstruct Kapitan Dyano as an archetypal shaman-warrior hero by recovering him from a longer version of the legend and analyzing his motifs, journey, and archetypal features.

How does the study examine the legend’s evolution and shared elements?

It uses qualitative ethnoliterary research and discourse analysis, applying archetypal criticism to trace recurring motifs and images across two recorded versions.

Which theory does the study test regarding the legend?

It evaluates the legend against C.W. von Sydow’s ecotypification theory, examining the presence of the shaman-warrior, similarities in motifs and themes, and the legend’s narrative course.

Aug 26, 2026

Upload by Eliana