Mythologis
Ainu Mythology: The Complete Guide to the Kamuy, the Bear Spirit, and the Sacred World of Hokkaido

Ainu Mythology

Ainu Mythology: The Complete Guide to the Kamuy, the Bear Spirit, and the Sacred World of Hokkaido

The Kamuy, the Bear Spirit, and Hokkaido

The beliefs of the indigenous people of northern Japan: a world where everything (fire, water, owl, and bear) is a kamuy, a god wearing a disguise, who visits the human world as a guest and must be sent home with honor. Preserved in the great epic songs, the yukar.

150 pagesPDFEnglishMythologis Library

$14.99

Inside this book

What you will read

  • 11 chapters, primary sources
  • Instant PDF download
  • Original ink illustrations
  • Inline citations to the yukar and field records
  • Designed for print quality
See all chapters  +
  1. 01The People the World Almost Forgot
  2. 02The Kamuy: Gods in Disguise
  3. 03Kamuy Huci, the Goddess of the Hearth Fire
  4. 04Kim-un Kamuy, the Bear God of the Mountains
  5. 05The Iyomante: Sending the Bear Spirit Home
  6. 06The Owl God and the Guardians of the Village
  7. 07The Repun Kamuy and the Gods of the Sea
  8. 08Aynurakkur: The Culture Hero
  9. 09The Yukar: The Great Epic Songs
  10. 10The Demons, the Sickness, and the Inau Offerings
  11. 11A Faith Almost Erased, and Its Return

Written by

Guillaume Henry

Founder of Mythologis

Guillaume Henry founded Mythologis to make the world's mythologies readable without losing what makes them strange. Every book draws on the primary sources first.

  • Primary sources first
  • No invented quotations
  • Cross-referenced across translations
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Common questions

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The library

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Greek, Egyptian, Hindu and seven more traditions are in editing. See the full library to get notified as each goes live.

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