Database: Kaimin: People of the Sea

The word kaimin or "people of the sea" refers to all who make their living through maritime activity. Their villages, which were similar in social structure to rice-farming ones, were made up of houses on the coast, occasionally built higher up in areas where tsunamis were common.

Kaimin were more involved in trade than typical peasants and they sold their products over a large area. Some activities included gathering seaweed (by old and young), harvesting sea salt by boiling large vats of sea water, and hunting marine mammals. Some worked as navigators, while in other regions women (ama) dove to collect pearls. These women held a place authority [sic] within their villages. The harvesting and collection of salt and seaweed were significant for domestic use and trade. Salt, an essential commodity for daily life, was commonly used as a purifying element for rituals or offerings.

When fishing, simple boats that stayed close to the coast were used. Fish were kept alive and fresh for as long as possible. Fresh ocean fish was considered a rare delicacy, and a portion was reserved as payment for their lords.