Huehuetlatolli, literally the sayings of the ancients in the Nahuatl language, is a genre of Nahua (Aztec) literature consisting of extensive works that describe, in narrative form, norms of conduct, moral vision, celebrations and beliefs, with the primary purpose of introducing young people to the religious traditions and customs of Nahua society. Most of what survives of the genre comes from post-conquest collection efforts by Spanish friars, particularly Andres de Olmos and Bernardino de Sahagun, whose recorded huehuetlatolli appear in Book VI of Sahagun's major ethnographic work, with the original manuscripts now held in Mexico's National Library as a crucial window into pre-Hispanic Nahua intellectual and cultural life.
Facts
Place of OriginNahua culture of central Mexico (pre-Aztec origin) 1 Notable Examplehuehuetlatolli recorded by Sahagun in 1547 (Florentine Codex, Book VI) 2 Defining Traitcollection of moral sayings used to instruct youth, embodying Aztec ideals 1 Sources
1. Aztec society, Wikipedia
Education section, origins paragraph
Judging by their language, most of the huehuetlatolli seemed to have evolved over several centuries, predating the Aztecs and most likely adopted from other Nahua cultures.
Education section, sayings paragraph
Part of this education involved learning a collection of sayings, called huehuetlatolli ('The sayings of the old'), that embodied the Aztecs' ideals.
View the Source2. Bernardino de Sahagun, Wikipedia
Field research sectionQuote, Field research section
In 1547, he collected and recorded huehuetlatolli (Nahuatl: 'Words of the old men'), Aztec formal orations given by elders for moral instruction, education of youth, and cultural construction of meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we know the huehuetlatolli if they were spoken by Nahua elders?
Friars recorded them after the conquest; Sahagun collected them in 1547.
Most of what survives comes from the years after the Spanish conquest, when friars such as Andres de Olmos and Bernardino de Sahagun collected and wrote down the orations. Sahagun recorded huehuetlatolli in 1547, and they appear in Book VI of his major ethnographic work. The sources add that the sayings seem to have evolved over several centuries and probably predate the Aztecs, so the written versions preserve older Nahua traditions.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.