Emushat - Ainu Sword Strap
Purchased in 1904 at Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Elm fiber and cotton
78 cm when folded, 7 cm wide at pattern
Cat. 88088
© The Field Museum
This sword strap is one of the many items purchased by Stephen Simms at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis. Ainu men wore their swords across their shoulders with these straps, as opposed to the Japanese practice of wearing swords on the belt.
Sword sashes, like other Ainu textiles, were made exclusively by women. This sash was decoratively woven from tree fiber with cotton pieces added to the bottom. The fiber was made by processing the bark of trees into a form of twine. After some processing, this twine was then woven into textiles. Cotton, obtained by trade with Japanese people to the south, was added to the bottom in the form of loops and flaps. The sword (seen here) would slip through the loops located just above the decorative flaps. The woman's husband, or close male relative, would wear the sash proudly during ceremonies.
Ainu swords were believed to be spiritually powerful and were reserved for use in ceremony and ritual only - not for use in warfare. The sash was no different and was believed to be just as spiritually powerful as the sword.
(Commentary by Stev Weidlich)