The Pano linguistic family is found in an extensive region extending from the banks of the Amazon River in Peru and Brazil to the northern reaches of Bolivia. In Peru, their territory stretches from the Ucayali River to the border with Brazil. It comprises various small jungle groups, with populations ranging from less than a hundred people to just over a thousand individuals.
Among these groups are the Yora, Yaminahua, Chitonahua, Cashinahua, and Shipibo-Konibo. Those residing to the east of the Ucayali River, with limited access to major waterways, remained isolated until just a few decades ago. Initial contact with the Matsés occurred in 1969, with the Yora in 1984, and with the Chitonahua, a sub-group of the Yaminahua, in 1995.
Pano beliefs vary among different groups, but they mostly center around spirits known as Yoshin, also called Ibo, or simply Owners. These spirits have control over various aspects of nature and the surrounding world, every time a person consumes things from nature, they must ask permission from their Yoshin, if this rule is violated, it will have a negative impact on this person. The punishments of some Yoshin are stronger than others. There is a Yoshin designated for each river, the sea, the sky, different plants, and animals. It is important to note that not all supernatural beings are considered Owners.
Here is a list of other notable Yoshin:
- Bari Papa: The father sun and the Yoshin of all existence.
- Ronin: Owner of the waters, she responds to requests for good fishing, in some versions she is also the creator of rainbows.
- Simpira: The long-armed cow, a psychopomp that watches over specters.
- Shono Yoshin: The Yoshin of the jungle and the adversary of Asho Yoshin, the Owner of the bats.
- Jenen Yoshin: The Yoshin of water and a mermaid archetype.
- Yoshin Sheteya: The Yoshin of the capybaras.
- Tetecan Ehua: The Yoshin of the eagles.
- Mawa Yoshin: Yoshin of Death
- Yoshinkon: Yoshin of Evil
Cosmology
Each Pano group has a slightly different cosmology, with the Shipibo cosmology being the most structured:
- Jakon Nete: The supraworld, the home of Bari Papa, where good souls go.
- Panshin Nete: The underworld, known as the yellow world, where sinners temporarily reside, unable to access Jakon Nete until they have served their punishment.
- Non Nete: Our world.
- Jene Nete: The world of waters and the realm of Ronin.
Tropes:
- Disproportionate Retribution: Yoshin Cushusca, a Owner who manifests as a red dolphin, protects the rivers, if a woman menstruates in a river, Cushusca will proceed to:
- invoke stormy rains towards that woman and her home
- chasing her in her dreams and abusing her in them
- beget children as a result of the forced relationship, a Yoshin Baque, which is a hybrid between human and Yoshin.
- God of Evil: Yoshinkon, explicitly referred to as the Owner of evil.
- Inhumanly Beautiful Race: Itan Tanta, an Ogress living in the jungle, is described in her legend as the most beautiful.
- MacGuffin Guardian: Yoshirapa is the Owner of the lupuna tree, portrayed with a monstrous and demonic appearance.
- Our Gods Are Different: The line between a "God" and a "spirit" is blurred in Pano cosmology.
- The Great Serpent: Ronin in Pano mythology resembles a deity that is indifferent but peaceful rather than a devouring monster. The Maironin, black earth snakes, are also very large and have the ability to dive underground and swallow people who are underground.
