The Ainu People
"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.
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