The Shamanism in Altai and Tuva from past to present: Universal and Local Aspects

Shamanism is a system composed of various elements of culture and belief, created by people to understand life and come to grips with what is happening around them. It has an elaborate structure in terms of existing in well-rounded communities. It has various features that have different aspects co...

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Main Author: Sukru Burbar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University 2022-06-01
Series:Turkic Studies Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://tsj.enu.kz/index.php/new/article/view/154
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author Sukru Burbar
author_facet Sukru Burbar
author_sort Sukru Burbar
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description Shamanism is a system composed of various elements of culture and belief, created by people to understand life and come to grips with what is happening around them. It has an elaborate structure in terms of existing in well-rounded communities. It has various features that have different aspects compared to the different times and conditions of the society. It also adopts local beliefs and the beliefs of the surrounding tribes. Shamanism allows everyone to have a religious concept and to have his or her own God or Gods. The technique of trance, also called «ecstasy», is an essential part. It is based on the worship of magic, curses, divination, polytheism, ancestral spirits and nature beings. Those who practice and teach shamanism are called Kam/Shaman. To some they are magicians, witch doctors, illusionists and to others they are oracles, doctors, sages, philosophers, pagan priests, fortunetellers and storytellers. Attempts have been made to either control or abolish shamanism and shamans because many of their characteristics are in opposition to other belief systems such as Confucianism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and communist ideology. In addition, the economic suffering caused by the constant blood sacrifices of the society who live on herding led to the emergence of Burhanism among the Altaians, another factor that weakened shamanism from within. Over time, shamanism acquired a status that the oppression of the shamans who led their communities sought to end. Despite all this, shamanism resisted the pressure and disguised itself when necessary. It always managed to update itself and has survived with some changes until today.
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spelling doaj.art-018839699d5d4b9a81da8e62c3bfc0db2024-01-24T19:45:33ZengL.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National UniversityTurkic Studies Journal2664-51572708-73602022-06-014210.32523/2664-5157-2022-2-22-34The Shamanism in Altai and Tuva from past to present: Universal and Local AspectsSukru Burbar0Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Shamanism is a system composed of various elements of culture and belief, created by people to understand life and come to grips with what is happening around them. It has an elaborate structure in terms of existing in well-rounded communities. It has various features that have different aspects compared to the different times and conditions of the society. It also adopts local beliefs and the beliefs of the surrounding tribes. Shamanism allows everyone to have a religious concept and to have his or her own God or Gods. The technique of trance, also called «ecstasy», is an essential part. It is based on the worship of magic, curses, divination, polytheism, ancestral spirits and nature beings. Those who practice and teach shamanism are called Kam/Shaman. To some they are magicians, witch doctors, illusionists and to others they are oracles, doctors, sages, philosophers, pagan priests, fortunetellers and storytellers. Attempts have been made to either control or abolish shamanism and shamans because many of their characteristics are in opposition to other belief systems such as Confucianism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and communist ideology. In addition, the economic suffering caused by the constant blood sacrifices of the society who live on herding led to the emergence of Burhanism among the Altaians, another factor that weakened shamanism from within. Over time, shamanism acquired a status that the oppression of the shamans who led their communities sought to end. Despite all this, shamanism resisted the pressure and disguised itself when necessary. It always managed to update itself and has survived with some changes until today. https://tsj.enu.kz/index.php/new/article/view/154Shamanism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Burhanism, Communism, Oppressionviolence, Resistance
spellingShingle Sukru Burbar
The Shamanism in Altai and Tuva from past to present: Universal and Local Aspects
Turkic Studies Journal
Shamanism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Burhanism, Communism, Oppressionviolence, Resistance
title The Shamanism in Altai and Tuva from past to present: Universal and Local Aspects
title_full The Shamanism in Altai and Tuva from past to present: Universal and Local Aspects
title_fullStr The Shamanism in Altai and Tuva from past to present: Universal and Local Aspects
title_full_unstemmed The Shamanism in Altai and Tuva from past to present: Universal and Local Aspects
title_short The Shamanism in Altai and Tuva from past to present: Universal and Local Aspects
title_sort shamanism in altai and tuva from past to present universal and local aspects
topic Shamanism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Burhanism, Communism, Oppressionviolence, Resistance
url https://tsj.enu.kz/index.php/new/article/view/154
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