Kula ring
E439608
anthropological case study
ceremonial exchange system
cultural practice
reciprocal gift exchange network
The Kula ring is a ceremonial exchange network in the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea, in which island communities trade shell valuables in long-distance, prestige-building voyages that reinforce social and political alliances.
Statements (50)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
anthropological case study
ⓘ
ceremonial exchange system ⓘ cultural practice ⓘ reciprocal gift exchange network ⓘ |
| exchangeDirection |
mwali travel counterclockwise around the ring
ⓘ
soulava travel clockwise around the ring ⓘ |
| hasCulturalContext | Massim culture area NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| hasFeature |
competitive display of generosity
ⓘ
exchanges are highly formalized ⓘ linked to magic and ritual practices ⓘ participants form lifelong exchange partnerships ⓘ valuables are inalienable from the social relationships they embody ⓘ valuables circulate continuously rather than being permanently owned ⓘ voyages can be dangerous and lengthy ⓘ |
| hasItemName |
mwali
ⓘ
soulava ⓘ |
| hasMedium |
red shell-disc necklaces
ⓘ
white shell armbands ⓘ |
| hasNorm |
failure to reciprocate damages reputation
ⓘ
participants should not retain valuables too long ⓘ valuables should keep circulating ⓘ |
| hasParticipant |
Amphlett Islanders
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Dobu Islanders NERFINISHED ⓘ Massim peoples ⓘ Trobriand Islanders NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| hasPurpose |
building prestige
ⓘ
maintaining inter-community relationships ⓘ reinforcing political alliances ⓘ reinforcing social alliances ⓘ |
| influencedTheory |
anthropological theories of exchange
ⓘ
anthropological theories of reciprocity ⓘ economic anthropology ⓘ |
| involves |
inter-island exchange
ⓘ
long-distance sea voyages ⓘ prestige goods ⓘ shell valuables ⓘ |
| isBasedOn |
obligations of return
ⓘ
reciprocity ⓘ trust ⓘ |
| isDescribedIn | Argonauts of the Western Pacific NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| isDistinctFrom |
barter
ⓘ
purely utilitarian trade ⓘ |
| isExampleOf |
gift economy
ⓘ
non-market exchange ⓘ |
| locatedIn |
Milne Bay Province
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Papua New Guinea NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| regulates |
rights to participate in voyages
ⓘ
status hierarchy among participants ⓘ |
| timePeriod | documented in the early 20th century ⓘ |
| wasStudiedBy | Bronisław Malinowski NERFINISHED ⓘ |
Referenced by (2)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.