Precious photos reveal the mystery of the Ainu bear worship custom

Believing bears to be divine messengers, the Ainu people have developed mysterious worship rituals, offering a strange glimpse into ancient beliefs.

The Ainu people live mainly in Hokkaido, parts of the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin in Japan. Their way of life is a source of curiosity for many people, including the worship of bears.

According to Ainu beliefs, the mountain god Chira-Mante-Kamui borrowed the body of a male bear to "visit" the earth and humans. They consider the bear to be the supreme deity, the leader of the gods and the ancestor of mankind.

The gods of the Ainu tribe viewed humans as equals. Therefore, the gods gave their flesh and skin as a reward to humans.

The act of killing bears by humans is believed to free the deity from its mortal flesh and transcend, returning soon to their sacred world .

When they catch a bear cub in the mountains, the Ainu will bring it back to their village to raise and feed it human food. When it is 2-3 years old, they will hold a festival called "Bear" or Iomante or Kumamatsuri.

This festival usually takes place in mid-winter when the bear's fur is thickest and its meat is fattest.

The ceremony will begin when the bear is brought out and placed between the altar and the “god door”.

The Ainu would kill it with a hard arrow or a piece of wood and place it in front of an altar. Then they would dance around it.

The ritual lasts for three days and nights. The first night is the most important and is called Keo-mante, which means sending the body away. The bear’s brain, tongue and eyes are removed and replaced with flowers.

This ritual is performed at midnight to help the god's soul return to the land of the gods.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/anh-quy-he-lo-bi-an-phong-tuc-tho-gau-cua-nguoi-ainu-post2149052352.html