Albania Vs Spain Albania is Loaded with Defensive Talent on their Roster.docx
Chase ainu tribe
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. The Ainu
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.
5. The Nivkh Bear Festival
The 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
6. 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
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Housing
Houses 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.
11. 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.
12. 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
