- IJ
92: The Stone Bird (Pt3)
We have presented two previous articles on the Korotangi Bird see here -
and here -
Below is the song said to contain evidence of the duck called Korotangi in Maori legend. It is only fair that we point out that the version of the song below, sung by someone claiming descent from ‘Tainui’ crew and Waiohua tribe who asserted that this was the form in which he had heard the waiata for Korotangi sung by the old people of Waitemata and Waikato. No knowledge of such a song was was ever recorded prior to the discovery of the stone bird around 1850.
Here is the song...
He waiata tenei mo te rironga o te manu ko Korota:—
Kaore te aroha o taku nei manu Titoko tonu ake i te ahiahi Ka tomo ki te whare taku ate kau ai Tirohia iho, e hine, ma, ki te parera e tere atu na Ehara tena he manu Maori. Me tikina Me titiro ki te huruhuru whakairoiro mai no tawhiti. Kei whea Korotau ka ngaro nei? Tena ka riro, kei te kato kai I te rau pohata nga whakangaeore. E waiho ana koe hei tiaki whare He korero taua ki taku taumata. I koparea pea koe ki te huahua Pohewahewa mai no Rotorua.
This is a lament for the loss of the bird Korota:—
Overwhelming is my affection for my bird It prepossesses my soul's deepest depths at eventide When I enter my house; and causes my heart to throb. Look! oh daughters, at the duck which swims away yonder. That is indeed no common bird. Bring it and Observe its plumage ornamented abroad in distant parts. Oh where is Korotau lost? He has departed—to pluck food From the leaves of the pohata (sow thistle) With (his) deep thrusting bill. You were left to guard the home So that the hostile war-party might have cause to speak of my hill-top home. Perhaps you turned your eyes away to the preserved birds From Rotorua, causing you to stray from here.
Note that the bird is called korotau and is referred to as a real duck. The live duck of the legend was revered for some reason unknown to us other than it had an unusual and colourful plumage. We all know a duck cannot turn to stone then that means the song does not refer to this relic...or does it?
Our previous assertion has been that the stone bird could not have been brought from Hawaiiki because it was carved from metal tools (fact) and is of a type of Serpentine that does not exist in NZ or the islands. In fact, the particular serpentine used is Asian in origin. Also note the song infers the bird was lost, not hidden or buried (unless stolen and hidden by another tribe - but if that were so there would a story of such theft - their isn't). There is also a completely different story told within certain circles of Maoridom about how it was discovered. This alone shows lack of unity and therefore casts some doubt on the real facts.
Below is a closeup view of the carving of the feathers...
What we now present is an alternative view of this carvings origins, and following our usual position of stating that nothing can be proved unless the carving is subjected to proper scientific analysis (an impossible position for Tainui to permit), consider this. Many believe the Serpentine and the style to be both Asian in origin and Asian in style. This is all true.
If we take the view that the korotangi was indeed a relic brought from the Pacific, and that it is carved by metal tools, and of Asian origin, that can only mean one thing. Chinese ships were in the South Pacific around 900-1200 AD. Now, many will say "of course they were" - but there is little direct evidence of that...except maybe this bird?
The Chinese Song dynasty has various carvings of a similar style and design in the feathers. The Song Dynasty lasted 960-1280 (particularly the Southern Song which would make sense as they had ships). However the Qing Dynasty was from 1644-1911 and the intricately carved feathers tend to match this time period. If this was the case that would mean the item was likely brought here hundreds of years AFTER the Tainui canoe came from the islands.
Here are some of the examples. You consider the likenesses of the top four - (Song 900-1200) and bottom four (Qing 1644-1911)
The above Qing dynasty examples are like the korotangi in style and design and method and accuracy of carving. If this is accurate then the korotangi could not possibly have been brought here on the Tainui based on observation of carving styles.
*****
It would seem then that although the possibility of Tainui bringing such an intricately carved jade item with them seems possible, and many would like it to prove that Chinese junks sailed the South Pacific (and they might have), the evidence of the style and methods used on the Korotangi bird do not match the time frames as recorded in current Maori history. Therefore the conclusion at this point is that the bird cannot have come with them. Unless Tainui allow full examination by worldwide experts, the only conclusion can be that it was brought here by a European and a story concocted in jest. After all, it was European who found it was it not?
Keep in mind the whole time that the story Tainui present was of a live bird here in Aotearoa and yet Tainui say they carved bird came with them yet is a representation of a live one means someone is confused.
