Kim-un Kamui

Kim-un Kamui (also called Metotush Kamui and Nuparikor Kamui) is the Ainu "kamui" ("god") of bears and mountains.

Mythology

Bears are prominent in Ainu mythology. They are generally considered benevolent, though there are tales of "ararush" ("monstrous bears"). A prominent ritual carried out by every village that could manage to do so involved the capture of a live bear cub. This cub would be kept, fed, and well treated for a year. Then a bear ceremony was performed, during which it would be shot to death with arrows. Its flesh was eaten to free its spirit to return to the heavens, and when it reached Kim-un Kami's home, it would tell of the humans' piety in gratitude for this service.Ashkenazy, Michael. "Handbook of Japanese Mythology". Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio, 2003. 198-199]

An important myth of Kim-un Kamui explains this ritual: One day, the bear god is told by the crow that his wife has gone down from the heavens to the village of humans, and has not returned. He rushes home, takes his child, and goes to the human village, where he is greeted by Kamui Paseguru, the hunt goddess, who invites him to visit Kamui Fuchi, goddess of the hearth. While they are speaking, a fox bewitches him; then Kamui Paseguru knocks him out. He regains consciousness in the branches of a tree, and sees the body of an old bear lying below, and a cub playing nearby. He observes while the humans worship the dead bear, making offerings of wine, millet dumplings, and "inau" ("sacred rods"). They subsequently take the bear's meat, and the cub, back to their village, where they present him with further offerings. He finds his wife there as well, sitting near the hearth, and they spend several days feasting with Kamui Fuchi before returning to their home, where they give a feast for the other "kamui". Their young cub returns a year later with further gifts of wine and "inau", leading to another feast.

Notes

References

*Ashkenazy, Michael. "Handbook of Japanese Mythology". Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio, 2003.
*Etter, Carl. "Ainu Folklore: Traditions and Culture of the Vanishing Aborigines of Japan". Chicago: Wilcox and Follett, 1949.
*Munro, Neil Gordon. "Ainu Creed and Cult". New York: Columbia University Press, 1995.