The Half-Way Sun (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781025700069)

"The Half-Way Sun" is an immersive ethnographic study that explores the social structures, religious beliefs, and complex legal customs of the Ifugao and Kalinga peoples in the Northern Luzon mountains of the Philippines. Written by anthropologist R.F. Barton, the work is based on years of direct observation and engagement with these highland communities during the early 20th century.

The book provides a detailed account of a culture defined by its unique judicial systems and ancestral traditions, famously including the practice of head-hunting. Barton meticulously documents the rituals, myths, and social hierarchies that sustained these indigenous societies, offering readers a rare window into a world where ancient laws governed every aspect of human interaction. By examining the interplay between tradition and the pressures of external change, "The Half-Way Sun" remains a foundational text for understanding the cultural heritage of the Philippine archipelago.

This work is of significant value to scholars of anthropology, history, and Southeast Asian studies, serving as a vital record of a way of life that has both persisted and evolved over decades. Barton's narrative combines academic insight with a profound appreciation for the complexities of the human spirit as expressed through tribal identity.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.