Ainu and Ryūkyū

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  Knife and Mounting, Hokkaidō Ainu, 19th century (Transferred from the Bureau for the Vienna World Exposition)

  Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 16
  July 7, 2020 (Tue) - September 27, 2020 (Sun)

  The islands of Japan stretch from north to south. They include diverse natural environments, which have been home to different cultures over thousands of years. This gallery presents the cultures of the Ainu people of the north and the Ryūkyū Kingdom of the south.

  The Ainu are indigenous people who live mainly on Hokkaidō, Japan’s northernmost major island. For centuries they traded with surrounding cultures while relying on hunting, fishing, and gathering. The Museum's extensive Ainu collection was acquired from the Bureau for the Vienna World Exposition in 1875 and through donations from private collectors.

  The Ryūkyū Kingdom flourished on the subtropical islands of Okinawa from the 15th to 19th century.

  Its culture was strongly influenced by trade, especially with Japan, China, Korea, and Southeast Asia. The Museum's diverse Ryūkyū collection includes items purchased by the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce from Okinawa Prefecture and those donated by private collectors.

Ainu

Ryukyu