Based on first-hand materials gathered through decades of field research
and fleshed out with the author's insightful religious, cultural, and
historical observations extending back to Qing Dynasty times, ancient
archaeological discoveries and the legacy of Siberian peoples, this
two-volume ethnological study investigates shamanic rituals, myths and
lore in northern China and explores the common ideology underlying the
origins of the region's cultures.
The two volumes discuss the spiritual world of northern Shamanism and
investigates the various shamanic rituals, divination, spirit idols and
myths, illuminating how worship and ideas are imbedded in and interweave
with the indigenous environment, culture and history of people in
northern China. This mythic heritage embodies the peoples' understanding
of the natural world, the creation of humankind, social life and history
as well as their interaction with their surroundings. It is shown that
shamanic spirituality in northern China is characterised by
functionality and practicality in daily-life situations, in contrast to
the received wisdom that defines shamanic praxis as a pure supernatural
spirit journey.
The set will be of great value for scholars of religion and
anthropologists as well as ethnologists in the fields of Shamanism
studies, Northeast Asian folklore and Manchu studies.
