サンタン

Ainu

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 山丹 (Santan). The "Santan" was originally a name for northerly ethnic groups such as the Orokhs, Ulchi, and Nivkhs, who traded with the Sakhalin Ainu. The name later became associated with the Qing Dynasty who also traded with the tribes, and by extension, China.

"Santan", in turn was introduced to Japanese from Ainu シャンタ, ultimately from Nivkh yanto.

Noun

サンタン • (santan)

  1. China
    Synonym: チン モシㇼ (rare)
  • サンタサランペ (santan saranpe, Qing Dynasty clothing exchanged to Ainu tribes by the Matsumae clan)
  • サンタンクㇽ (santan kur, Chinese people)
  • トゥイマサンタウンクㇽ (tuyma-santa-un-kur, far Santan-kur, men wearing pigtails, possibly Qing or Manchu people) (poetic, in yukar legends)

Further reading