Abstract
MR. BACHELOR, to whose investigations on the subject of the, Ainos of Yezo we have frequently referred, writes, in a recent issue of the Japan Weekly Mail, on the burial customs of this race. He says that as soon as a person dies, a blazing fire is made, the corpse is dressed in its best garments, which are neatly laced up, and is laid lengthways on the right-hand side of the fireplace. The relatives and friends of the deceased sit around the remaining parts of the fireplace, and usually they are so numerous as to fill the hut. In all cases many sacred symbols (inao) are made, and placed around the hut and the dead body. Mr. Bachelor has seen the corpse of a woman laid out. She was well dressed, and had her utensils and paraphernalia about her (the rings and beads being, in this instance, laid upon her bosom), and was shod with pieces of white calico which Mrs. Bachelor had, a few days previously, given to the husband of the deceased to bind up his wounded foot. Any white material seems to be especially welcome to the Ainos for wrapping up the bodies of their dead. When the body has been properly dressed, and when the necessary eating-vessels or hunting materials are placed in position, a cake made of millet, or a cup of boiled rice and some wine, are placed by its side, and the spirit of the departed is supposed to eat up the essence of these things. Then the goddess of fire is implored to take charge of the spirit and lead it safely to the Creator of the world and the possessor of heaven, and she receives various messages to the Deity setting forth the praises of the dead and extolling his many virtues. Millet cakes and wine are then handed round to every member of the assembled company, and each of them offers two or three drops of the wine to the spirit of the dead, then drinks a little, and pours what remains before the fire as an offering to the fire-goddess, to whom they have not ceased to pray; then part of the millet cake is eaten, and the remainder buried in the ashes on the hearth, each person burying a little piece. After the burial these scraps are collected and carried out of the hut and placed before the east window, which is regarded as the sacred place. The corpse is then carefully rolled up in a mat, neatly tied up, attached to a pole, and carried to the grave by two men. The mourners follow after the corpse, in single file, each carrying something to be buried in the grave, the men leading and the women following them. The grave is from 2½ to 3½ feet deep, and round the inside of it stakes are driven, and over them and at the bottom of the grave mats are placed. Then the body is laid in the grave, with numerous little knick-knacks—cups, rings, beads, a saucepan and some clothing being buried with the woman, a bow and quiver, an eating and a drinking cup, tobacco, a pipe, a knife with the men, and play-things with the children. These things are always broken before being put into the grave, and it is noticeable that they are not usually the best the deceased had during life. Every-thing is then closely covered with mats; pieces of wood are placed so as to form a kind of roof, and on this the earth is. piled. A pole is generally stuck at the foot of the grave to mark the spot. No prayers are offered up during burial. The mourners then return to the hut, where the men pray, make inao, i.e. sacred symbols, eat, drink, and get drunk. The dead body is never allowed to remain in the house longer than one day; and, once the funeral is over, the name of the departed is never mentioned.
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The Burial Customs of the Ainos . Nature 38, 331 (1888). https://doi.org/10.1038/038331a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/038331a0