The Ifugao conception of the universe differs considerably in the
different religious districts. [30] The Western Ifugao and Central
Ifugao beliefs are closely associated, but stand quite apart from
those of Kiángan Ifugao. The people of the latter area think of the
universe as being composed of a large number of horizontal layers
which are very similar one to the other. The upper face of each
of these layers is of earth, while the lower face of each of them
is of a smooth blue stone called múling. [31] The layer on which
we live is called the Earth World (Lúta). The four layers above us
constitute the Sky World (Dáya), and are called, in order from the
top down, Húdog, Luktág, Hubulán, and Kabúnian. The last is the
layer immediately above the Earth World, and it is the blue-stone
underfacing of this layer that we call the "sky." The Under World
(Dálom) consists of an unknown number of layers beneath the one on
which we live. All of the layers meet in the farthest horizon, [32]
where lie the mythical regions of the East (Lágud) and other places.
Some of the Kiángan priests seem to have developed the further
idea that this Dáwi, or farthest horizon, is in the form of a great
celestial globe that surrounds the universe, forming its boundary,
the inside face of which can be distinguished in the hazy distance
where the deep blue of the sky fades into a very light blue or
whitish color. [33] The Earth World, or layer on which we live,
lies approximately at the center of the universe. It is therefore
the largest layer, and the layers of the Sky World and Under World
grow successively smaller as they approach the zenith and nadir of
the celestial globe, the boundary of the universe. [34]
The inhabitants of the universe consist chiefly of an incalculable
number of greater and lesser deities and spirits. [35] In addition
to these, there are the souls of men, animals, and plants. They
have always existed in the various regions of the universe, and were
brought to the Earth World by the gods. Men are descended from the
gods of the Sky World, as we shall see in the myths.
The mythology of the Kiángan Ifugaos is rich and varied. As an
introduction to it, I have selected the following: