Cironnup-kamuy, the sacred Ainu trickster. One of the myriad Kamuy, Cironnup-Kamuy’s Ramat manifested the World’s Foxes, Racoon dogs and the other tricky mammals of the land. However during the land’s infancy, while the Kamuy still proliferated their Ramat across the earth, the Kunne-Kamuy emerged from the ground, ascending from the Mire of Tenei-pokna-moshiri. The two groups of Kamuy fought over who would inherit the earth, ultimately the two settled on a contest, whichever group spotted Tokapcup-kamuy rising in the morning first would rule over the land. All the gods sat together eagerly awaiting the sun, however, Cironnup-kamuy of the good Kamuy faced away from them all. Eventually Cironnup-kamuy shouted “I see the sun!” Causing all the kamuy, evil and not, to look over to where he was, distracting them from the true rising sun, leaving Cironnup to be the first one to spot the sun, cementing the virtuous Kamuy’s rule over the world. In Ainu moshiri, Cironnup-Kamuy was well known as a trickster, often times getting the better of people through sly means. From overturning boats to whipping up storms, Cironnup-Kamuy even pestered the great hero god Okikurumi, though he also served as a companion as well. Cironnup-Kamuy isn’t strictly a troublemaker, as when a disaster is fated to strike, Cironnup-Kamuy will manifest and cry out to warn those in the vicinity.
The word “Cironnup” translates literally to “those who we kill”. Though used to refer to the fox god, This term refers to more than just foxes, as it can refer to many other small carnivores that the Ainu hunted, like raccoon dogs and otters. The word “Sumari” is directly meant for foxes. As the god of foxes, Cironnup-Kamuy has three separate manifestations, the virtuous black fox: Shitumbe-Kamuy, the majestic white fox: Upas-cironnup-Kamuy, and the trickster red fox: Cironnup-Kamuy. The white and black foxes are seen as righteous and helpful, while the red fox was seen as a trickster. Despite them sharing a similar to name Cironnup-Kamuy, the demonic Iwan-sapa-eus-Cironnup is unrelated to the fox god, with the Kunne-Kamuy ultimately being slain by Okikurumi. The Ainu would regularly use fox skulls to ward off ill energy, usually pairing them with their Inau, lining the outside of the village. The fox itself was also the subject of Iyomante rituals, capturing a wild fox, rearing and caring for them, before killing them. This ritual was believed to bring favor with the Kamuy, as the dead fox travels back to Kamuy-Moshiri to deliver the villager’s presents to the fox Kamuy.
Warning: Faith and religion are important real life topics, that tackles the culture and way of life of millions of real life people. It is a cultural expression, and must be respected by all means. Here, we use a video-game series only to ignite the flame of learning about the matter, using its art when well depicted, but we do this with all due respect to the cultures we talk here, grounded by real life sources, cultures and people. And i mean this with respect. Hope you all enjoy.
Let's get back to Japan once again, but this time to the northern Island of Hokkaido. There lives the Ainu people. Today we are not only talking about my favorite Megami Tensei creature, but also about very interesting entities, culture and people. Please, sit back and enjoy the ride.
(Please, note that i don't speak Japanese. I had to go over English sources as well use software to translate. If i got anything wrong, let me know!) This time, all sources will be available at the end of the post, since iv used them extensively, it got pretty messy to pin down the exact points, so will list them below)
Cironnup (Also called Chironnup or Chironnupu in Japan) in the Ainu tongue translates to ''Those who we kill many''. And it can be used to describe foxes in general, but also is referred to a Kamuy.
For us to understand what Cironnup is, we first need to dive in the meaning of the word Kamuy, which is very, very interesting.
In the Ainu tradition, Kamuy can be a complex term to translate. It can be defined as a sort of divine spirit, supernatural entity or even a god. The Foundation for Ainu Culture translated it as the word god, when i emailed them about the matter. Its similar to the word Kami, in Shinto Japan. It's a tricky word to translate that has no perfect match in English. But let's go with god.
Sometimes in the modern day Japan, the word can also be translated as Kami, or Hotoke (Spirit). But as their English counterparts, those words don't match 100% correctly the true meaning of the Kamuy word.
The Ainu belief system comes from their relationship with the Kamuy. This belief came from people who have a deep connection with nature, and helped them to survive and thrive in their environment, as well protect them from disasters and other calamities.
The Ainu belief system does not have a central scripture, like the Christians have the Bible. Their views of the Kamuy can be interpreted differently through time and place, but remain somewhat similar. It's good to remember the Ainu is a diverse group. Beliefs, customs and regional dialects can vary from region to region.
But ok, then what is a Kamuy? You ask.
The Kamuy description can vary, but they are spirits, supernatural entities, or gods. They can be attributed to many creatures and objects. In fact, there's Kamuy for diseases, earthquakes, fauna, flora, and more. It's like this belief system comes around the idea that everything and everyone has a soul.
There's not only natural occurred Kamuy, but also the ones that came from man-made objects, like spears, boats.
The relationship between Kamuy and Human are complex. Some Kamuy can provide for Humans, like animals that provide meat and fur, or plants that provide food and remedy. Others can protect and take care of Humans. There's also Kamuy who bring calamities, like diseases such as smallpox. (Sources where keen on Smallpox, it seems it got pretty common in Hokkaido some times.)
Some examples are like the Fire Kamuy, that not only provides heat and cooked food, but also hears Humans and take their pleads to other Kamuy in case they still have not answered. the owl related Kamuy remain outside villages looking after their people.
Another good and very specific example is the Salmon Kamuy. Known as Chep-Kamuy. Salmon was a much needed fish for the Ainu, so they often built their villages next to streams where they could find this fish. Thus the importance.
Kamuy are often portraied as free willed entities. They live their lifes just as we do, and they can be good or evil. Some times they are not eivl, but there can be a conflict of interests between Humans and Kamuy. Being good or bad, Kamuy would only come back to their world once their mission is accomplished in the Human world.
It is said that the Kamuy have their own relatives and friends in their world, so it is at least implied that are many instances of one Kamuy. For example, many Chep-Kamuy living in their world along many Cironnup-Kamuy. For this reason, when a good Kamuy is going home the Ainu offers them hospitality, food, drinks in rituals so they can either thank the entity for what was given.
This way, according to the Ainu, the Kamuy will come back home happy and satisfied, thankful for the Human hospitality. They will tell all their friends and family about how good they were treated on Earth. The Ainu believes that not only the hospitality offered to the Kamuy makes they wanting to come back, but also they could bring more Kamuy along, after telling their relatives about how good they were treated. This also make that specific Kamuy more respected in their world. Both sides having a mutual relationship.
In the case of bad Kamuy, like disease, the tactics were to run away from it. Some Ainu even erasing their own footprints in the snow so they can't be tracked by the malevolent entity. They were also treated with respect, but in more of a fearsome way.
The Kamuy often inhabited animals and plants, for example. So, in the case of wild animals the way a Kamuy go home is when the animal is killed. Hunting deprives a creature of their life, but it is necessary for survival. This act is seen as the Humans liberating a Kamuy back to their world, after have killed their carcass. (In the case of wild animals)
One of the more famous, and important of those rituals were related to the Bear Kamuy. (Kin Un Kamuy) I wont go too deep into it, because it's complex, but basically the Ainu took care of a bear cub for a whole year, even living among them as another member of their society, before slaughtering it with arrows, and eating its meat. This way, the Ainu hope the Kamuy goes to its world grateful for the hospitality and the time it spent with Humans.
-You can remember Teddie from Persona 4 kinda having this motif in his Persona ''Kamuy''.
As you can see, the Kamuy is a fascinating subject. They can be good, bad, they are multitudes, they have families and lifes, their own personalities and interests just like Humans. They can be humble, hateful, have pride or a good sense of humor. They can be related to natural phenomena, animals, plants. There's just a lot to cover about Kamuy.
My note here, but it remembers me a lot of the concept of Jinn and Daemons, from Islamic and Greek pantheons respectively.
BACK TO CIRONNUP, THIS WAS A LONG TURN
Cironnup-Kamuy is the fox deity in this context. Foxes by themselves were called upon many names in the Ainu culture. Cironnup is one of those names. But it could also be Kemakosnekur which means ''light footed god'' according to the Foundation for Ainu Culture.
Cironnup appears in many tales and are generally known to be Kamuy that listens to people's requests, brings food, can protect against illness and foreign enemies. They can appear in premonitory dreams to warn about calamities. But there are some instances of Cironnup doing mischief and evil deeds, like possessing people, transforming into people as disguises.
As in many cultures around the world, foxes are treated like cunning and natural tricksters. But the Ainu had a deep relationship with the foxes, since they were essential to their survival in some times. They could be deceiving, but also could bring good help. This could explain this duality.
The name Cironnup could also be referred to other creatures, it can be names of villages, and could also describe wild beasts. It could describe many other wild animals that were heavily hunted by the Ainu, but slowly the name was more and more associated with the Fox. (The Fox itself could have different names in different regions as well.)
In the specific case of Cironnup, the premonitory nature of it were also brought by some regions using fox skulls as divination tools. They could also be used as guardians for Sea Fishing.
Cironnup calling its Kamuy friends for help? In Japanese this attack is called ''Kitsunebi Aputo'' Which mixes the Kitsunebi flames, with the Ainu word for rain, meaning a rain of a fox fire. Although... Kitsune is a whole different matter.
In my researches i found a Brazilian web page dedicated to Japanese culture. There, i found a story about the author being hunting with an Ainu, and they talked a bit about their relationship with the Cironnup Kamuy.
According to the author, they were out hunting when he noticed footprints in the snow that were from a Fox. He then proceeded to ask the Ainu hunter if they should go after it. But the Ainu stopped the Brazilian hunter, informing him that if they catch the fox first, the Cironnup-Kamuy would certainly go around the woods telling all other animals they were hunting nearby. Because by killing the Fox, the Kamuy would be liberated of the body.
When the fox was indeed caught, they would tie their snouts, so it would keep its mouth shut and wont spoil their hunt. The author did not seemed conclusive if this was a general and normal hunting behavior for the Ainu, but being a first hand account (And written in my own native language) i found it interesting to post here.
Cironnup's beta design for Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse. It wears some clothing inspired by the Ainu.
The Human Race has a very interesting relationship with foxes in general. Their depictions usually repeats itself through our history, because they are very interesting animals by themselves. Me myself, I've lived my whole life, in a culture where foxes are absent because they are not naturals to the place where i live.
Their relationship with foxes makes me wonder and reflect about it, since the creature does indeed have a duality. While it can be deceiving and cunning, it has also a protective nature, it is strong and some times even lovable. Foxes are also signaled worldwide as an awareness and investigative symbol, which is also portrayed by Cironnup, sometimes presenting danger from far away.
Still worldwide, the foxes are treated like the tricksters of the nature, masters in deceiving and playing pranks.
The Ainu fascinated me not only as a culture, but also in their relationship with the nature, not exactly looking at the world around only as resource, but also with care and respect.
I hope one day i can visit Hokkaido and learn more about the Ainu culture personally.
-Ainu online dictionary Ainu-to-shizen Degitaru-zukan”by Ainu Museum
Sources:
-Akarenga JP (A Hokkaido culture foccused web page)
-Commentary on the book “Karirinka-to-kitsune-no-kamisama” [カリリンカときつねのかみさま] (2012) by Sakiko Yatani Provided by the Foundation of Ainu Culture
-The Foundation of Ainu Culture (Inquired via e-mail)
-Ainu Legends, Cironnup Daisuke Tchê (The tale about the Ainu hunter, in portuguese)
Special thanks go for @researcherposts for helping me reaching the Foundation of Ainu Culture.
Again, if i got anything wrong, please correct me! I will be more than help to fix anything :)
