Английская Википедия:Ama (diving)

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Italic title

Файл:Ama.jpg
An Шаблон:Transliteration diver.

Шаблон:Nihongo3 are Japanese divers famous for collecting pearls, though traditionally their main catch is seafood.[1] The vast majority of Шаблон:Transliteration are women.

Terminology

There are several sea occupations that are pronounced "ama" and several words that refer to sea occupation.

While one definition of ama specifically refers to divers, another definition refers to fisherpersons in general.

History

Japanese tradition holds that the practice of Шаблон:Transliteration may be 2,000 years old.[2]

Файл:Parelduikers Pearl divers.jpg
Pearl divers in white uniforms, 1921

Records of female pearl divers, or Шаблон:Transliteration, date back as early as AD 927 in Japan's Heian period. Early Шаблон:Transliteration were known to dive for seafood and were honored with the task of retrieving abalone for shrines and imperial emperors. Шаблон:Transliteration traditionally wear white, as the colour represents purity and also to possibly ward off sharks. Traditionally and even as recently as the 1960s, Шаблон:Transliteration dived wearing only a loincloth, but in the 20th century, the divers adopted an all-white sheer diving uniform in order to be more presentable while diving.[3][4] Even in modern times, Шаблон:Transliteration dive without scuba gear or air tanks, making them a traditional sort of freediver.

Pearl diving Шаблон:Transliteration were considered rare in the early years of diving. However, Mikimoto Kōkichi's discovery and production of the cultured pearl in 1893 produced a great demand for Шаблон:Transliteration. He established the Mikimoto Pearl Island in Toba and used the Шаблон:Transliteration's findings to grow his business internationally.[5] Nowadays, the pearl-diving Шаблон:Transliteration are viewed as a tourist attraction at Mikimoto Pearl Island.[6] The number of Шаблон:Transliteration continue to dwindle as this ancient technique becomes less and less practiced, due to disinterest in the new generation of women and the dwindling demand for their activity. In the 1940s, 6,000 Шаблон:Transliteration were reported active along the coasts of Japan, while today Шаблон:Transliteration practice at numbers more along the scale of 60 or 70 divers in a generation.

Activities

Women began diving as Шаблон:Transliteration as early as 12 and 13 years old, taught by elder Шаблон:Transliteration. Despite their early start, divers are known to be active well into their 70s and are rumored to live longer due to their diving training and discipline.Шаблон:Citation needed In Japan, women were considered to be superior divers due to the distribution of their fat and their ability to hold their breath.[6] The garments of the Шаблон:Transliteration have changed throughout time, from the original loincloth to the white sheer garbs and eventually to the modern diving wetsuit.

Файл:Off to Harvest 1935.jpg
Pearl diver with headscarf, 1935

The world of the Шаблон:Transliteration is one marked by duty and superstition. One traditional article of clothing that has stood the test of time is their headscarves. The headscarves are adorned with symbols such as the Шаблон:Transliteration and the Шаблон:Transliteration,Шаблон:Clarify which have the function of bringing luck to the diver and warding off evil. The Шаблон:Transliteration are also known to create small shrines near their diving location where they will visit after diving in order to thank the gods for their safe return.[4]

The Шаблон:Transliteration were expected to endure harsh conditions while diving, such as freezing temperatures and great pressures from the depths of the sea. Through the practice, many Шаблон:Transliteration were noted to lose weight during the months of diving seasons. Шаблон:Transliteration practiced a breathing technique in which the divers would release air in a long whistle once they resurfaced from a dive. This whistling became a defining characteristic of the Шаблон:Transliteration, as this technique is unique to them.[4]

In culture

See also

References

Шаблон:Reflist

Further reading

External links

Шаблон:Commons category

Шаблон:Underwater diving Шаблон:Fishing tackle Шаблон:Fisheries and fishing Шаблон:Authority control