The Custom of Land-occupancy of the Ainu : Especially on the Kuitakpe

Abstract

Originally, there were no private ownership of land among the Ainu. All the land of a community was held in common and might be used by each member for himself. When he found the suitable land for cultivation, he stuck a T-shaped post in the center of the land which expressed his intention of occupying it. This post is called kuitakpe. Kuitakpe means something which serves as a substitute to express a man's intention, so it is a kind of symbol or sign. There is no limitation as to material from which the kuitakpe might be made. Any kind of wood available will serve the purpose. Selecting two branches and cutting off their twigs, a crosspiece and a vertical piece are made with a hatchet, knife or sickle. One end of the vertical piece is sharpened and inserted in a slit made in the middle of the crosspice. The other end is also sharpened and stuck in the ground. The Kuitakpe is made into a T-shaped form so as to distinguish the artificial sign from natural trees. Perhaps, it may represnet the human body or it may be a kind of scarecrow, by which man expresses his intention as a substitute. The Kuitakpe whose crosspiece and vertical piece (the upper part only) are stripped of their bark are considered quite formal, because they become white when their bark is stripped off and catch the eye more easily. The size of the kuitakpe is not definite, but as it represents the human body there are naturally some limit, and ones which are too large or too small are not made. Generally the vertical piece is about 5 feet and the crosspiece about 2 feet in length. The kuitakpe which is used on the expected land for cultivation not only expresses the will to cultivate it, but asserts a preferential right to prohibit use by others. But, the kuitakpe is not always stuck on all land which is expected to be brought under cultivation. It is used only when good land is found, which will be cultivated by someone else if left alone. The kuitakpe is used, however not only for occupancy of the land but for occupuncy of other things and is also used as a guide-post to indicate direction. Therefore it is considered that land occupancy by the kuitakpe depends on the native custom of the Ainu and not on institutions introduced with agriculture from abroad. Perhaps, it was not necessary to struggle for occupancy in an age when the population was small and land was abundant. Soit is supporsed that the custom of sticking the kuitakpe on the expected land for cultivation is not from old times but of comparatively late date in origination.