The Ainu Tribe

Ainu means human. In daily life, they prayed to and performed various

ceremonies for the gods. These gods included: nature gods such as fire, water,

wind and thunder animal gods such as bears, foxes, and spotted owls.

History

The Ainu originally lived in a region including Sakhalin Island near the mouth of the Amur River, the Kurile Islands, southern Kamchatka, and Hokkaido, today the northern island of Japan. They made their living by fishing and hunting, including for sea mammals. They are especially well known for the bear ceremony, an important part of their religious rituals. They used dogs for hunting, as sled dogs and in their rituals.

Langauge The language of the Ainu, also known as bear-worshipers, from Northern Japan, has generally been considered a language unlike any other language on earth. Some researchers noticed a relationship with a few other languages in South-east Asia. Others saw similarity with the Ostiak and Uralic languages of northern Siberia.

The Ainu look like a cross between Asian and Western people. They have white skin, their hair is wavy and thick and a few have grey or blue eyes.The Ainu are a semi-nomadic hunting and fishing tribe but also practice simple planting methods for their food. The invading people, under their Yamato government, called them the Ezo, the unwanted, and forced the Ainu into fierce fighting to retreat north to the island of Hokkaido.

The Ainu

The Nivkh Bear FestivalThe Nivkh Bear Festival, a traditional holiday celebrated between January and February depending on the clan. Bears were captured and raised in a corral for several years by local women, treating the bear like a child

The bear was considered a sacred spirit of Nivkh ancestors and the gods in bear form. During the Festival, the bear would be dressed in a specially made ceremonial costume. It would be offered a banquet to take back to the realm of gods to show thanks upon the clans. After the banquet, the bear would be sacrificed and eaten in an elaborate religious ceremony

Hunting The Ainu hunted from late autumn to early summer. The reasons for this were, among others, that in late autumn, plant gathering, salmon fishing and other activities of securing food came to an end, and hunters found game in fields and mountains. Deer were a important food resource for the Ainu as were salmon. They also hunted sea eagles such as white-tailed sea eagles, raven and other birds. The Ainu hunted eagles to obtain their tail feathers, which they used in trade with the Japanese. The Ainu hunted with arrows and spears with poison-coated points.

Religon

The Ainu are traditionally animists, believing that everything in nature has a kamui (spirit or god) on the inside.

The most important is earth, then kamui of the mountain (animals), then kamui of the sea (sea animals), then everything else. They have no priests.The village chief performs their religious ceremonies.

Clothing

Men wore a crown called "sapanpe" for important ceremonies. Sapanpe was made from wood fiber with bundles of partially-shaved wood. This crown had wooden figures of animal gods and other ornaments on its center. Men carried an "Emush" (sword) secured by an Emush strap to their shoulders.

Women wore a "Matanpushi" (embroidered headband) and "Ninkari" (earrings).

Ninkari was a metal ring with a ball. Women wore it through a hole in the ear. Matanpushi and ninkari were originally worn by men.

Women wore a necklace called "rekutunpe," a long, narrow strip of cloth with metal plaques. They wore a necklace that reached the breast called a "tamasay" or "shitoki," usually made from glass balls.

HousingHouses were made of bamboo grass and bark. A house was about seven meters by five meters with an entrance at the west end that also served as a storeroom. The house had three windows, including the "rorun-puyar," a window located on the east side facing the entrance through which gods entered and left and ceremonial tools were taken in and out. The Ainu have regarded this window as sacred and have been told never to look in through it.

Marriage

The Ainu people had various types of marriage. A child was promised in marriage by arrangement between his or her parents and the parents of his or her betrothed or by a go-between. In some areas, when a daughter reached a marriageable age, her parents let her live in a small room called tunpu annexed to the southern wall of her house. The parents chose her spouse from men who visited her. The age of marriage was 17–18 years old for men and 15–16 years for women, who were tattooed. At these ages, both males and females were regarded as adults.

Artifacts: Fish skin boots, Fish skin coat, Harpoon head , Knife, Dish (used at bear ceremonies) sword, sword (only used for ceremonies) Fishing net, trap,Bark hat

Group of Ainu "Japan 1914"

River Bank "1908"

Thanku

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