Kultrun: The Sacred Drum and Symbol of the Mapuche

The kultrun (also spelled kultrún or kultrung) is the ceremonial drum of the Mapuche, the largest Indigenous people of Chile, who also live across the Andes in Argentina. To an outside eye it can look like a simple hand drum, but for the Mapuche it is far more than a musical instrument. Its round body and the design painted on its skin form a map of the world as the Mapuche understand it, which is why the kultrun has become one of the best-known symbols of their culture.

What Is a Kultrun?

A kultrun is a shallow, bowl-shaped drum carved from a single piece of wood and covered with a tightly stretched animal hide. It is played with one drumstick, usually held in one hand while the drum rests on the other hand or arm. The word comes from Mapudungun, the Mapuche language, and refers to its sound.

The drum belongs above all to the machi, the spiritual authority and traditional healer of a Mapuche community. Most machi are women, although there are also men who take on this role. Each machi has her own kultrun, made and painted for her, and it is considered a deeply personal and sacred object rather than an ordinary instrument. Traditionally, small objects are sealed inside the drum when it is made, and these are understood to give the kultrun part of its spiritual character.

The Kultrun in Ceremony

The steady, repetitive beat of the kultrun accompanies the most important Mapuche ceremonies. In the nguillatun, a large communal ceremony of prayer and thanksgiving, the machi plays the drum beside the rewe, a carved wooden post that serves as a sacred altar and a link between the earthly and spiritual worlds. The kultrun is also used in the machitun, a traditional ritual led by the machi on behalf of a member of the community.

Within these ceremonies the rhythm of the drum is believed to help the machi enter a state of deep concentration in which she communicates with the spiritual world, giving thanks and asking for balance, good harvests and the well-being of her people.

Symbolic Meaning of the Kultrun

The real fascination of the kultrun lies in what it represents. Its shape and decoration together express the Mapuche view of the cosmos.

A Map of the Universe

The round, hollow body of the drum is often described as a half of the universe, with the hide as the surface of the earth. Mapuche cosmology describes several levels of existence. The wenu mapu, the land above, is the realm of benevolent forces and ancestral spirits. The nag mapu is the earth where people live their daily lives. Below lies the minche mapu, associated with negative forces. The kultrun brings these worlds together in a single object.

The Four Quadrants

Painted on the drumhead is a cross that divides the surface into four parts. This represents the meli witran mapu, the land of the four corners, and the four directions of the world. The quadrants are also linked to the cycle of the seasons, from winter rains and spring sprouting to the summer harvest and the preparations of autumn, reflecting the close connection between Mapuche life and the rhythms of nature.

In each quadrant, and sometimes at the ends of the cross, the machi paints symbols such as the sun, the moon and stars. The general structure is shared, but every machi decorates her own drum in her own way, so no two kultrun are exactly alike.

Balance, Fertility and Connection

The circle and the cross together express harmony between people, nature and the spiritual world. The hollow body of the drum is also associated with the womb and with fertility, which links the kultrun to the feminine principle and to the role of the women machi who keep it. At the center of the design is the place of the machi herself, standing between the worlds as a bridge for her community.

A Living Symbol of Mapuche Identity

The kultrun design appears at the center of the Wenufoye, the flag adopted by many Mapuche organizations, and it is widely used today in art, textiles and crafts as an emblem of Mapuche identity. For many Chileans it is one of the most recognizable images of the south of the country. Wearing or displaying the symbol is best done with an understanding of what it means: for the Mapuche, the kultrun remains a sacred object that expresses a whole worldview, not simply a decorative motif.

The Kultrun in Lapis Lazuli Jewelry

Lapis lazuli has a long history in Chile, where it is found high in the Andes, so it feels natural for our Santiago artisans to bring the kultrun into their work. In our pieces, the cross and quadrants of the drum are recreated in sterling silver with inlaid lapis lazuli, keeping the circular form and four-part design that make the symbol so distinctive.

• The Kultrun Sterling Silver and Lapis Lazuli Link Bracelet repeats the drum motif along the wrist.
• The Lapis Lazuli and Sterling Silver Kultrun Earrings bring the symbol to a pair of hanging earrings.
• The Channeling Kultrun Necklace is a bolder statement piece.

If you are interested in other cultures of Chile, you may also enjoy our article on Rapa Nui and Easter Island.

The kultrun reminds us that a simple circle can hold a whole vision of the world. If its story speaks to you, we invite you to explore our Mapuche symbols jewelry, each piece handmade in our Santiago workshop with natural lapis lazuli.