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Kamuy
A ''kamuy'' ( ain, カムィ; ja, カムイ, kamui) is a spiritual or divine being in Ainu mythology, a term denoting a supernatural entity composed of or possessing spiritual energy. The Ainu people have many myths about the ''kamuy'', passed down through oral traditions and rituals. The stories of the ''kamuy'' were portrayed in chants and performances, which were often performed during sacred rituals. Concept In concept, ''kamuy'' are similar to the Japanese ''kami'' but this translation misses some of the nuances of the termAshkenazy, Michael. ''Handbook of Japanese Mythology''. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio, 2003. 187-188 (the missionary John Batchelor assumed that the Japanese term was of Ainu origin).John Batchelor: ''The Ainu and Their Folk-Lore'', London 1901, p. 580–582. The usage of the term is very extensive and contextual among the Ainu, and can refer to something regarded as especially positive as well as something regarded as especially strong. ''Kamuy'' c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ae-oina Kamuy
or for short is an Ainu ''kamuy'' (''god'') and culture hero. In Ainu mythology, he is credited with teaching humans domestic skills, and for this reason he is called Ainurakkur (アイヌラックㇽ, ''father of the Ainu'' or ''father of humanity''), and otherwise known as Okikurmi. Names Oyna or Ae-oyna-kamuy/Ayoyna-kamuy, who in Ainu tradition is a culture hero or , is otherwise known by the names Ainurakkur or Okikurmi/Okikirmiy according to some sources. Aynurakkur and Okikurmi may have originally been distinguished, but seem to have become conflated after a body of similarly plotted narratives became attached to them. Etymology Oyna-kamuy literally signifies "god who is passed on (in lore)" ( Kindaichi) or "god of the sacred tradition, ''oyna''" (Donald Philippi). But the name has also construed to mean "god who engages/participates in shamanism " by Chiri)". The Ae- prefix is "we", thus Ae-oyna-kamuy means "god whom we pass on (in our lore)" or "god concerning w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ainu Mythology
The Ainu are the indigenous people of the lands surrounding the Sea of Okhotsk, including Hokkaido Island, Tōhoku region, Northeast Honshu Island, Sakhalin Island, the Kuril Islands, the Kamchatka Peninsula and Khabarovsk Krai, before the arrival of the Yamato people, Yamato Japanese and Treaty of Aigun, Russians. These regions are referred to as in historical Japanese texts. Official estimates place the total Ainu population of Japan at 25,000. Unofficial estimates place the total population at 200,000 or higher, as the near-total assimilation of the Ainu into Japanese society has resulted in many individuals of Ainu descent having no knowledge of their ancestry. As of 2000, the number of "pure" Ainu was estimated at about 300 people. In 1966, there were about 300 native Ainu language, Ainu speakers; in 2008, however, there were about 100. Names This people's most widely known ethnonym, "Ainu" ( ain, ; ja, アイヌ; russian: Айны) means "human" in the Ainu language, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kamuy Fuchi
Kamuy-huci (カムイフチ, ''Kamui Fuchi'') is the Ainu ''kamuy'' (''goddess'') of the hearth. Her full name is Apemerukoyan-mat Unamerukoyan-mat (''Rising Fire Sparks Woman/ Rising Cinder Sparks Woman''), and she is also known as Iresu Kamuy (''People Teacher''). She is among the most important ''kamuy'' of Ainu mythology, serving as keeper of the gateway between the world of humans and the world of ''kamuy''. Depiction Kamuy-huci is a woman who lives in the hearth. Her position is so important that she never leaves her home. Accordingly, the hearth fire must never be extinguished completely.Ashkenazy, Michael. ''Handbook of Japanese Mythology''. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio, 2003. 191-192 Mythology There are a few myths of Kamuy-huci's origins. In the most common, she descends from the heavens, accompanied by Kanna Kamuy, the ''kamuy'' of thunder and lightning. In another version, she was born from the fire-producing drill and is the sister of Hasinaw-uk-kamuy, the god ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kamuy-huci
Kamuy-huci (カムイフチ, ''Kamui Fuchi'') is the Ainu ''kamuy'' (''goddess'') of the hearth. Her full name is Apemerukoyan-mat Unamerukoyan-mat (''Rising Fire Sparks Woman/ Rising Cinder Sparks Woman''), and she is also known as Iresu Kamuy (''People Teacher''). She is among the most important ''kamuy'' of Ainu mythology, serving as keeper of the gateway between the world of humans and the world of ''kamuy''. Depiction Kamuy-huci is a woman who lives in the hearth. Her position is so important that she never leaves her home. Accordingly, the hearth fire must never be extinguished completely.Ashkenazy, Michael. ''Handbook of Japanese Mythology''. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio, 2003. 191-192 Mythology There are a few myths of Kamuy-huci's origins. In the most common, she descends from the heavens, accompanied by Kanna Kamuy, the ''kamuy'' of thunder and lightning. In another version, she was born from the fire-producing drill and is the sister of Hasinaw-uk-kamuy, the god ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cikap-kamuy
Cikap-kamuy (also called Kotan-kor-kamuy, which should not be confused with Kotan-kar-kamuy) is the Ainu ''kamuy'' (''god'') of owls and the land. He is responsible for overseeing the behavior of humans and ''kamuy''. He is considered a deity of material success. Depiction Cikap-Kamuy is depicted as a great owl, as opposed to smaller owls (such as little horned owl) that represent demons and other malicious spirits. The Ainu believed that the owl watched over the ''mosir'' (country) and local ''kotan'' (villages), so Cikap-Kamuy came to be represented as the master of the domain. In some areas, his tears were said to be gold and silver.Ashkenazy, Michael. ''Handbook of Japanese Mythology''. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio, 2003. p. 125, 211-212{{Cite web, last=Chiri, first=Yukie, authorlink=Yukie Chiri, last2=Selden, first2=Kyoko, date=, title=The Song the Owl God Himself Sang, “Silver Droplets Fall Fall All Around,” An Ainu Tale, url=https://apjjf.org/2016/15/Chiri.htm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kotan-kor-kamuy
Cikap-kamuy (also called Kotan-kor-kamuy, which should not be confused with Kotan-kar-kamuy) is the Ainu ''kamuy'' (''god'') of owls and the land. He is responsible for overseeing the behavior of humans and ''kamuy''. He is considered a deity of material success. Depiction Cikap-Kamuy is depicted as a great owl, as opposed to smaller owls (such as little horned owl) that represent demons and other malicious spirits. The Ainu believed that the owl watched over the ''mosir'' (country) and local ''kotan'' (villages), so Cikap-Kamuy came to be represented as the master of the domain. In some areas, his tears were said to be gold and silver.Ashkenazy, Michael. ''Handbook of Japanese Mythology''. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio, 2003. p. 125, 211-212{{Cite web, last=Chiri, first=Yukie, authorlink=Yukie Chiri, last2=Selden, first2=Kyoko, date=, title=The Song the Owl God Himself Sang, “Silver Droplets Fall Fall All Around,” An Ainu Tale, url=https://apjjf.org/2016/15/Chiri.htm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kandakoro Kamuy
Kanda-koro-kamuy is the Ainu ''kamuy'' (''god'') of the sky. He is the prime originator of Ainu mythology, responsible either directly or indirectly for the creation of all things. Mythology While Kanda-koro-kamuy is believed to be a powerful ''kamuy'', he is not presented as a supreme being. He is also in many ways a background figure: while his presence was necessary for the creation of the world, he plays only a small part in subsequent events, often as a mediator.Ashkenazy, Michael. ''Handbook of Japanese Mythology''. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio, 2003. 192-193 He is considered the overseer and master of the sky, much as Cikap-kamuy Cikap-kamuy (also called Kotan-kor-kamuy, which should not be confused with Kotan-kar-kamuy) is the Ainu ''kamuy'' (''god'') of owls and the land. He is responsible for overseeing the behavior of humans and ''kamuy''. He is considered a deity of ... is the overseer of the land. He appointed Mosir-kara-kamuy to shape the earth, prepari ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Inau
Inau or Inaw ( Ainu: イナウ or イナゥ) is an Ainu term for a ritual wood-shaving stick used in Ainu prayers to the spiritual world. They were used in most Ainu religious rituals, and were also frequently made to request assistance for hunting and childbirth. Some can be used multiple times, while others are destroyed immediately after one use. Their size and the direction in which they are shaved depends on which kamuy it is offered to and what is being requested. Etymology The word ''inau'' appears to be a loanword from other languages in the region, probably the Orok language of Sakhalin (''cf.'' Orok ''illau'' < *''ilawun''). It is most likely ultimately related to ''ila-''/(ila-mbi) "to blossom" and ''ilha''/ "flower." The |
Hasinaw-uk-kamuy
Hasinaw-uk-kamuy (ハシナウ・ウｸ・カムイ; also Hash-Inau-uk Kamuy, Hashinau-uk Kamuy or simply Hash-uk Kamuy) is the Ainu ''kamuy'' (''goddess'') of the hunt. She is sometimes called Isosange Mat (''Bringing-down-game Woman'') and Kamuy Paseguru (''Potent Kamuy''). Depiction Hasinaw-uk-kamuy is depicted as a woman with long hair who wields a bow and arrows, who often carries a child on her back. She is accompanied by, or sometimes appears in the form of, a small bird, which shows hunters the way to game. She is also represented by the aconite plant, with which Ainu hunters poisoned their arrows.Ashkenazy, Michael. ''Handbook of Japanese Mythology''. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio, 2003. 161 Mythology Hasinaw-uk-kamuy is a deity of great importance to the Ainu, who historically subsisted largely on hunting, fishing, and gathering. She was born from the fire-producing drill, and is sometimes said to be the sister of Kamuy-huci, the hearth goddess, or of Shiramba K ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Apasam Kamuy
Apasam Kamuy is the Ainu ''kamuy'' (''god'') of the threshold. Apasam Kamuy is called upon for protection during changes of state. Depiction Apasam Kamuy is conceived as either a male and female couple or a dual entity, similar to the Roman Janus In ancient Roman religion and myth, Janus ( ; la, Ianvs ) is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces. The month of January is named for Janu .... The ''kamuy'' oversees transitions, and this dual nature allows Apasam Kamuy to perceive both sides of a transition in order to better guard the supplicant.Ashkenazy, Michael. ''Handbook of Japanese Mythology''. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio, 2003. 120-121 Mythology Apasam Kamuy is called upon whenever a change of state is occurring. This ''kamuy'' is called upon to protect women during difficult labor, to protect people against angry ''kamuy'' such as the plague god Pakoro Kam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hoyau
''Hoyau'' or ''hoyau kamui'' (var, ''oyau kamui''), in Ainu mythology, is a type of malodorous and venomous dragon or dragon god, believed to thrive in summer or near fire, but lose strength in the cold, whose trait earns it the alternative name of ''sak-somo-ayep'' ("that which must not be mentioned in the summer"). They are generally held to be dwellers of lakes and swamps, but are also winged according to some folklore accounts. Terminology The Ainu dragon (wanjiku) is generally held to dwell in lakes and swamps and issue foul odor, and are known by such names as the ''hoyau'' (meaning "serpent" in Sakhalin dialect), ''chatai'' or ''catay'' (borrowed from Japanese ), and ''sak-somo-ayep'' (lit. "that which must not be mentioned in the summer."). According to the lore collected by , the ''hoyau'' belongs to the tribe of ''sak-somo-ayep''. Epic songs (''yukar'') from the Saru District region (i.e., western rim of Hidaka Subprefecture) refer to the serpent as ''hoyau'', ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yukar
( ain, ユカㇻ) are Ainu sagas that form a long rich tradition of oral literature. In older periods, the epics were performed by both men and women; during the 19th and early 20th centuries, when Ainu culture was in decline, women were generally the most skillful performers. Traditional tales describe floating worlds with , or the land of the humans (as opposed to , the land of the gods), resting on the back of a fish whose movements cause earthquakes. Translation history Professor Kyōsuke Kindaichi collected and translated them into Japanese. In August 2006, the reported in its article that Japan's Agency of Cultural Affairs () would discontinue funding by fiscal year 2007 of the project to translate and transcribe the compilations of Imekanu, , which consists of 92 stories written in romaji with the tenth story lost and 49 stories left untranslated. It is said that the stoppage was because of Shigeru Kayano's death in May 2006. In 1999, a multi-national group of edu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
