Ainu Craftsmanship
Explores the traditional crafts of Ainu cultures.
Location: Hokkaido, Japan
Tools of Daily Life in Ainu Society
The Ainu chose to create their tools from wood and other natural materials. Men practiced the art of woodcarving from a young age. They whittled sacred inau from willow branches, crafted ornate libation sticks, and carved designs into wooden plates. For the most part, the Ainu did not produce images of living creatures. One of the few exceptions was the sapanupe, a crown worn by men. These included animal carvings that channeled the life force of the gods they depicted.[1][2]
Ainu Weaving and Needlework
Weaving was the domain of women. Mothers and grandmothers created clothing for their entire households. By custom, this meant converting soft elm bark into attush fabrics. In later years, many Ainu families switched to cotton. Daily outfits were relatively plain. Formal robes featured elaborate appliqué patches and embroidery. Skilful needlework was a point of pride for both women and their husbands. Men's robes tended to be more ornate than those of women.[3]
Ainu Crafts and the Tourism Industry
In modern times, many Ainu people have used the skills of their ancestors to reach new markets. Ainu carved bears became a fashionable souvenir in the early 20th century. These items, though in high demand, required Ainu artists to go against their previous animist faith.
Since then, tourist centers have popped up across Hokkaido. During the US occupation after World War II, Ainu artists learned to carve totem poles similar to those of American Northwest coastal tribes. They adapted the poles to their own symbols, creating a new form of art in the process. Tourism remains an important industry for Ainu communities today.[2][4]
Bibliography
"Ornaments," Ainu Museum, Ainu Museum, accessed November 06, 2016, http://www.ainu-museum.or.jp/en/study/eng08.html.
"Ainu: Spirit of a Northern People," Ainu: Spirit of a Northern People, Smithsonian Institute, accessed November 06, 2016, http://naturalhistory.si.edu/arctic/ainu/html/room06.html.
John Batchelor, The Ainu and Their Folk-lore (London: Religious Tract Society, 1901), 144-149.
Katarina Sjöberg, The Return of the Ainu: Cultural Mobilization and the Practice of Ethnicity in Japan (Chur, Switzerland: Harwood Academic Publishers, 1993), 168-169.
About TOTA
TOTA.world provides cultural information and sharing across the world to help you explore your Family’s Cultural History and create deep connections with the lives and cultures of your ancestors.
