Sake Cup Item Number: Ed9.3 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Part a is a cup with a wide round opening, that tapers to a raised foot near the bottom. It has a carved scalloped band around its rim. The rest of the cup is textured. Part b is the saucer to the cup. It is raised on a cone-shaped piece, then flares out to a disk-shaped platform that is slightly upturned and narrows towards the centre to create a small cup-shape in the centre. There is a round hollow tube through the three sections. The entire surface of both the cone-shaped piece and the disk-shaped piece has grooved lines that widen on the outer edges.
History Of Use
The cup and saucer (Ed9.3 a-b) and libation wands (Ed9.5-6) are used together in the kamuy-nomi ceremony. One wand sits horizontally across the top of the cup, which sits on the saucer. The other wand is placed beside them. Iku means drink, pasuy means stick and tuki means cup in the Ainu language. The pasuy originated in the Ainu culture, but the lacquered tuki used to be imported from Japan. Iku-pasuy is considered a sacred stick used as a messenger to kamuy (god). During the kamuy-nomi ceremony, white wine (sake) is placed into the cup and the wand is dipped into the libation and offered to the spirits. Used in ceremonies honouring the bear, an important symbol for the Ainu.
Narrative
This group of Ainu objects was presented to the Museum in 1995 by representatives of the Sapporo Ainu Cultural Society so that their culture could be represented here. The Society works for the preservation and recognition of their culture. The Ainu are indigenous to the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan.
Item History
- Made by Shigeo Toyokawa (Maker) in Hokkaido, Japan during 1995
- Owned by Sapporo Ainu Cultural Society before November 20, 1995
- Received from Sapporo Ainu Cultural Society (Donor) on November 20, 1995
What
- Name
- Sake Cup
- Identification Number
- Ed9.3 a-b
- Type of Item
- cup
- Material
- pagoda wood
- Overall
- height 18.2 cm, diameter 16.0 cm
- Part A
- height 7.0 cm, diameter 13.0 cm
- Part B
- height 12.2 cm, diameter 16.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Ainu
- Creator
- Shigeo Toyokawa (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Sapporo Ainu Cultural Society
- Received from
- Sapporo Ainu Cultural Society (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Hokkaido, Japan
When
- Creation Date
- during 1995
- Ownership Date
- before November 20, 1995
- Acquisition Date
- on November 20, 1995
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 1680/0003 a-b