Search

The Plot and Motif Composition of Ainu and Nivkhi ‘Bear’ Mythology: Their Universal and Local Features. Tomsk Journal of Linguistics and Anthropology. 2025. Issue 4 (50). P. 121-130

This article examines the plot and motif composition of ‘bear’ folklore texts among the indigenous peoples of the Pacific coast–the Ainu and the Nivkhi–in the context of their bear cult, known in ethnography as the “bear festival of the Amur-Sakhalin type.” Both domestic and foreign scientific literature have made a few attempts to systematize the plots of such texts, and a thorough analysis has not yet been conducted. The author presents various perspectives and defines the genres of oral folklore samples of the Ainu and Nivkhi to which ‘bear’ texts belong. For the first time in domestic ethnographic studies, using typological, cultural-historical, and comparative ethnographic methods, as well as comparative analysis, a comprehensive contextual study of ‘bear’ myths and tales published in Russian, Japanese, and English has been carried out, and ‘wandering plots’ of ‘bear’ texts in the folklore of the Ainu and Nivkhi peoples are identified. Using S. Thompson’s index of folklore motifs, the author identified and systematized universal motifs and plots of Ainu and Nivkhi’ bear’ epic works, shaped by the proximity of their territories, shared economic types, close ethnic contacts, and common views on the image of the bear. Local motifs and plots specific to a particular territory and ethno-linguistic field were also identified, as well as motifs and plots not included in the index, which demonstrate the uniqueness of each people’s folklore heritage and confirm the national specificity of the works. The percentage ratio of these motifs and plots in the total number of ‘bear’ motifs and plots was determined, with universal plots predominating. However, the untranslated and unpublished corpus of Ainu and Nivkhi’ bear’ texts suggests that further research is possible. The results can serve as material for further comparative analysis of ‘bear’ texts from different genres among the Paleo-Asian peoples of the North Pacific. This analysis, from an ethnographic perspective, will contribute to identifying features of the archaic views of Paleo-Asians not only in the Amur-Sakhalin region but also in Northeast Asia.

Keywords: Ainu, Nivkhi, ‘bear’ folklore, plot, motif, ‘wandering plot,’ local, universal features

The River as a Determining Factor in the Formation of Basic Human Character Traits in Ainu Folklore. Tomsk Journal of Linguistics and Anthropology. 2026. Issue 3 (53). P. 95-104

The river is a key component of the natural landscape of a given territory. A lot of work has been written about its role as a natural factor shaping human economic activity. The river's significance has also been reflected in numerous works of folklore from various peoples. The river has become a subject of study for scholars in fields such as ethnography, folklore, narrative studies, and linguistics. Ainu folklore is no exception. In examples of Ainu oral tradition recorded by European, Russian, and Ainu researchers, the river has been viewed from several perspectives. First, as a natural object created by deities and having a social organization similar to that of humans; second, as a source of sustenance, intended to aid humans and facilitate their survival, because fishing was the primary economic activity of the Ainu; and third, as a factor influencing certain aspects of their spiritual culture. However, studies on the impact of a river and its current on the development of an individual's fundamental character traits have not been published. The nature of a river's current–fast, turbulent, and foaming in its upper reaches if it originates in the mountains, and calm, gentle, and slow in its lower reaches, flowing through the plains–is a determining factor in a person's psychological type and behavioral patterns. Ainu folklore contains a whole cycle of prose works, the content of which, when analyzed, can serve as vivid confirmation of this idea. This article attempts, through a textual analysis of folklore works that directly reference the river's location, to confirm the idea that the river influences not only life in general but also a person's psychological type and behavior in particular. This approach appears relevant and capable of filling the gap. Furthermore, an important factor that actualizes the stated theme is the educational effect of such folklore works, which promote socialization and preparation for future life.

Keywords: Ainu, folklore, landscape, river, influence, psychotype, character traits