| Ainu People |
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| "Ainu" means "human." The Ainu people regard things useful to them or beyond their control as "kamuy"(gods). In daily life, they prayed to and performed various ceremonies for the gods. These gods include : "nature" gods, such as of fire, water, wind and thunder ; "animal" gods, such as of bears, foxes, spotted owls and gram-puses ; "plant" gods, such as of aconite, mush-room and mugwort ; "object" gods, such as of boats and pots ; and gods which protect houses, gods of mountains and gods of lakes. The word "Ainu" refers to the opposite of these gods. - From Ainu Museum |
Ainu __ A general overview of Ainu history and culture. Lots of text links to related material. - From Unknown - http://brandt.kurowski.net/projects/lsa/wiki/view.cgi?doc=369
Ainu __ A cultural overview. - illustrated - From japan-guide.com - http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2244.html
The Ainu of Japan __ "The Ainu (ì´n¡) aborigines of Northern Japan are heavily bearded and have thick wavy hair. Their both mix of European and Asian physical traits contrast so sharply from other indigenous peoples of Asia that no one is really sure of their origin." Excellent article. - From suite101.com - http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/fourth_world/22057
Ainu language __ See, read and hear the Ainu language. You will find a
few online lessons. Real Player needed. - From ramat.ram.ne.jp -
http://ramat.ram.ne.jp/ainu/
Ainu Language __ "The Ainu did not have a written language until the
modern period; therefore, they did not have any written histories. There
are various kinds of songs, myths, stories, and knowledge of rituals
among Ainu people and all of them have been handed down from generation
to generation as part of an oral tradition." A brief overview of Ainu
language. - From Minnesota State University -
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/oldworld/asia/ainu_language.html
Ainu language and Japan's Ancient History __ You will find a collection of click-to-read papers, articles and more about the history and origins of the Ainu. - From dai3gen.net - http://www.dai3gen.net/epage0.htm
The Ainu Museum __ An online exhibit about the Ainu people covering everything from agriculture, eating habits, clothing and history to oral history. - illustrated - From The Ainu Museum - http://www.ainu-museum.or.jp/english/english.html
Ainu: Spirit of a Northern People __ "In 1999, the National Museum of
Natural History opened a major exhibition to explore the ancient origin
of the Ainu, their evolving relations with the Japanese, and the 20th
century Ainu cultural rebirth. The exhibition is now available as an
online tour, guided by the exhibition curators." However, it seems only
the 'plain text' version of things is working. Still a lot of
information. - From Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History -
http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/features/ainu/index.html
Introduction __ A history of the Ainu and the Ainu language. You will
find speculation about the Ainu origins. - From Dr. Cynthia L. Hallen/BYU
-
http://linguistics.byu.edu/classes/ling450ch/reports/ainu.htm
Learn To Speak Ainu __ A collection of Ainu to English words and phrases. - From Arabia Times Magazine - http://arabiatimes.tripod.com/ainu.htm
Island of the Spirits | Ainu Legends __ "The Ainu believe that the world rests on the back of a giant trout, that otters caused human beings to be flawed, and that seeing an owl fly across the face of the moon at night is cause for great trepidation." Learn about this and a lot more. - illustrated - From NOVA - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/hokkaido/legends.html
Island of the Spirits | Origins of the Ainu __ Learn about an archaeological technique called "flotation" and how this method of research is narrowing the search for the origins of the Ainu. - illustrated - From NOVA - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/hokkaido/ainu.html
Kutune Shirka, Arthur Waley tr. __ Online text of the Ainu Epic. - From sacred-texts.com - http://www.sacred-texts.com/shi/ainu/kutune.htm
Specimens of Ainu Folk-lore - Index __ Online texts of many Ainu fold tales. - From John Batchelor/sacred-texts.com - http://www.sacred-texts.com/shi/safl/