The River as a Determining Factor in the Formation of Basic Human Character Traits in Ainu Folklore
DOI: 10.23951/2307-6119-2026-3-95-104
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
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Issue: 3, 2026
Series of issue: Issue 3
Rubric: ANTHROPOLOGY
Pages: 95 — 104
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