Emush - Ainu Sword
Collected in late 1940s
Steel and wood
82.5 cm long, 47.5 cm blade
Cat. 245996
© The Field Museum
This sword was donated by Robert Darcy in 1987. As a non-commissioned officer in the US Army, Darcy was stationed in Japan during the post World War II occupation. During his travels through Hokkaido he was presented with gifts by the Ainu families he visited. Among the artifacts he donated were swords, one of which is presented here.
This sword has a slightly curved blade and a hilt made from two pieces of wood. The two pieces are held together with wire and are very fragile. There is a steel decoration, reminiscent of two leaves facing away from each other, attached to the hilt by more wire. The sword guard is a stylized chrysanthemum blossom, a symbol of the Japanese imperial family. The scabbard is also made from two pieces of wood and reinforced by strips of cherry. Decorations of Ainu design have been carved into the scabbard.
The Ainu did not forge their own swords and the blade for this sword, like all Ainu swords, was most likely obtained through trade with Japanese swordsmiths sometime in the early 1900s or late 1800s. The decoration on the hilt, along with the sword guard, is also from Japan. The scabbard, however, is of Ainu make and design. Men would take great care in carving and preserving their scabbards. Wives or close female relatives would make straps for the swords (seen here) so that the sword could be displayed proudly across the man's back.
Obtaining swords through trade, especially during times of war with the Japanese army, was challenging, and swords were rare. They were considered great treasures and ideal heirlooms. They were displayed proudly in the home when they were not being worn.
Unlike their neighbors to the south, Ainu men did not use their swords in battle. For the Ainu, swords were very spiritual items and were used only in rituals. The sword would be used in dances at "sending-back" rituals like the iyomante (read about the iyomante here). During these ceremonies, a spirit trapped in the physical world would be honored by dances and gifts before being set free to return to the metaphysical world where Ainu believed their spirits dwelled. Swords were also used in ceremonies to combat diseases - thought to be caused by evil spirits in the village - by making cuts in the air. It was hoped these cuts would injure the spirits and prevent the disease from attacking the villagers.
(Commentary by Stev Weidlich)