Ainu Customs, Beliefs and Social Organisation

The ainu people performed many sacred dances whenever they did something important e.g. they would do a dance when a child was born or a fish caught. The ainu people had many gods that took many different forms such as pottery gods and wheat gods but their main gods were those of the bear, striped owl, and killer whale. They believed that the dead body needed to be treated correctly when being buried otherwise it could not rest in peace. The ainu people had a custom for their religion where they would sacrifice bears and other animals. Their religious leaders were believed to have the power to travel to the world of the dead and bring back spirits.
The ainu people lived in many villages and each village would have its own chief, however all chiefs were under the rule of the monarch, a strong religious leader. The chief would make important decisions regarding the village, and the monarch would make important decisions about the civilisation.