Prayer stick

Description

Prayer stick (ikupasuy), wooden stick with pointed end, carved with bracken and flowerhead in openwork relief, wave-like crests at pointed end, used in Ainu ceremonies to deliver prayers: Japan, Hokkaido, Ainu, 19th to early 20th century

Museum reference

A.1909.499.52 K

Collection

World Culture

Object name

Prayer stick, Ikupasuy

Production information

Unknown
Hokkaido, Japan, East Asia

Date

19th - early 20th century

Style / Culture

Ainu people (Hokkaido), Japanese

Materials

Wood

Physical description

Carved wood; bracken and flower heads in relief openwork

Exhibitions

• Living Lands (29 Jul 2011)
  National Museum of Scotland

• A Scottish Physician's View: Craft and Spirit of the Ainu from the N. G. Munro Collection (26 Apr 2002 - 01 Sep 2002)
  Historical Museum of Hokkaido
  Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History

References

A Scottish Physician's View: Craft and Spirit of the Ainu from the N. G. Munro Collection (2002), no. 116 (p.42)

On display

national museum of scotland »
level 1 »
world cultures, living lands »
co.5