Libation Wand

Item number Ed9.5 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Libation-offering wand, known as ikupasuy in Ainu. Long, thin wooden piece that tapers to a squared-off point at one end and has rounded corners at the other. There are three oval-shaped sections in the centre of the piece with cross-hatching designs inside. They are outlined with scroll-like designs and four smaller sections of cross-hatching. There are three carved lines at each end.

History Of Use

The cup and saucer (Ed9.3 a-b) and libation wands (Ed9.5-6) were 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 (saki) 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.