Navajo Yeibichai Carved Kachina Set of 8 Dolls

Range of 11.75″ H for shortest doll to 13″ H for tallest for doll

The term “Yei Bei Chei” (also spelled Yei Bi Chei or Yeibichai) holds deep cultural and spiritual significance in Navajo (Din) tradition. It refers to both a sacred ceremony and the dancers who perform it, as well as the spiritual beings (Yei) they represent.

Yei: In Navajo culture, Yeis (or Diyiin Din, meaning “Holy People”) are supernatural deities who mediate between humans and the Great Spirit. They control natural elements like rain, snow, wind, and sun, and influence day and night. They are seen as forces of both harmony and chaos, embodying the Navajo concept of hozho (beauty and balance).

Yei Bei Chei: This term refers to the human dancers who impersonate these deities during the Night Chant (Klj Hatl), a nine-day healing ceremony performed primarily in winter. The dancers, through their masks and rituals, channel the Yei to restore balance and health to a patient. The term also describes the ceremony itself and its associated imagery in Navajo art.

Purpose: The Night Chant is a complex healing ritual aimed at curing ailments and restoring hozho. It involves intricate songs, prayers, sand paintings, and dances, requiring years to master.

Structure: The ceremony spans nine nights, with major rites like In the Rocks, From the Timber, Danced Across the River, and Big God Chant. On the final night, the Yei Bei Chei dancers perform publicly until dawn, concluding with the “Bluebird Song,” symbolizing happiness and peace.