Shamanism among Uyghurs

Shamanism is an anthropological term referencing a range of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the spiritual world.[2] A practitioner of shamanism is known as a shaman. Shamanism encompasses the belief that shamans are intermediaries or messengers between the human world and the spirit worlds. Shamans are said to treat ailments/illness by mending the soul. Alleviating traumas affecting the soul/spirit restores the physical body of the individual to balance and wholeness. The shaman also enters supernatural realms or dimensions to obtain solutions to problems afflicting the community. Shamans may visit other worlds/dimensions to bring guidance to misguided souls and to ameliorate illnesses of the human soul caused by foreign elements. The shaman operates primarily within the spiritual world, which in turn affects the human world. The restoration of balance results in the elimination of the ailment. While male shamans are predominant in many cultures, native Korean and some African Oroqen cultures have had a preference for females. Recent archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest known shamans—dating to the Upper Paleolithic era in what is now the Czech Republic—were women. While shamanism had a strong tradition in Europe before the rise of monotheism, shamanism remains as a traditional, organized religion in Uralic, Altaic people and Huns; and also in Mari-El and Udmurtia, two semi-autonomous provinces of Russia with large Finno-Ugric minority populations. Shamanism in Scandinavia may be represented in rock art dating to the Neolithic era[104] and was practiced throughout the Iron Age by the various Teutonic tribes and the Baltic-Finnic peoples. Some peoples, which used to live in Siberia, have wandered to their present locations since then. For example, many Uralic peoples live now outside Siberia, however the original location of the Proto-Uralic peoples (and its extent) is debated. Combined phytogeographical and linguistic considerations (distribution of various tree species and the presence of their names in various Uralic languages) suggest that this area was north of Central Ural Mountains and on lower and middle parts of Ob River. The ancestors of Hungarian people or Magyars have wandered from their ancestral proto-Uralic area to the Pannonian Basin. Shamanism played an important role in Altaic mythology. Tengriism, the major belief among Xiongnu, Turkic peoples, Magyars and Bulgars in ancient times incorporates elements of shamanism. Shamanism is no more a living practice among Hungarians, but some remnants have been reserved as fragments of folklore, in folktales, customs.
There are currently not many historically verifiable accounts that connect the practices of the Celtic druids to shamanic practices, though some research has been undertaken regarding the bog bodies in regard to the bodies being shamans. However, there are many connections with druids and shamans in terms of their similar approaches towards Nature, aspects of spirituality, and overall role within their respective communities. Similarly the Norse seiðr is loosely connected to shamanism. Shamanistic practices are thought to predate all organized religions, and certainly date back to the neolithic period. Aspects of shamanism are encountered in later, organized religions, generally in their mystic and symbolic practices. Greek paganism was influenced by shamanism, as reflected in the stories of Tantalus, Prometheus, Medea, Calypso among others, as well as in the Eleusinian Mysteries, and other mysteries. Some of the shamanic practices of the Greek religion were later adopted into the Roman religion.

There is a strong shamanistic influence in the Bön religion of central Asia, and in Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhism became popular with shamanic peoples such as the Tibetans, Mongols and Manchu beginning with the eighth century. Forms of shamanistic ritual combined with Tibetan Buddhism became institutionalized as the state religion under the Chinese Yuan dynasty and Qing dynasty. One common element of shamanism and Buddhism is the attainment of spiritual realization, at times mediated by entheogenic (psychedelic) substances.

The shamanic practices of many cultures were virtually wiped out with the spread of Christianity. In Europe, starting around 400 CE, the Christian church was instrumental in the collapse of the Greek and Roman religions. Temples were systematically destroyed and key ceremonies were outlawed. Beginning with the middle ages and continuing into the Renaissance, remnants of European shamanism were wiped out by campaigns against witches. These campaigns were often orchestrated by the Catholic Inquisition.

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[jimi76hu]

Nice video. :)

One thing that is false in my opinion is the finno-ugric origin of hungarians. Even the X. century hungarian DNS was far-far away from the finno-ugric.

Also in ancient hungarian societies/tribes the wise man was called "táltos" not "shaman". The main difference between táltos and shaman, that the shaman needs "drog" to change his consciousness (e.g. to contact with ghosts). Táltos does not need it. He is the medium between the people of the tribe and God.

[Duldul601]

@jimi76hu

thanks! Not all shamans use drugs. There are shamans who are very spiritual and they just have to do meditation to change their consciousness to be in spirit realm. In that way some Bahshi or Taltos could be that type of psychic shaman leader.

[RoyaMoyaSoya]

This is in a league of its own, the effort you've put into it is greatly appreciated! sagh bolingiz.

[Duldul601]

@RoyaMoyaSoya Teshekkur :)

[Pantekin]

welldone Duldul! as always, I enjoyed this vedio verymuch!

[Duldul601]

@Pantekin Thanks! As you see the blue wolf was actually the symbol of full moon. I was wondering why legends say the Uyghur army was guided by the blue wolf, also full moon was the time to begin military expedition. Astrology of full moon explain that it's the time for new beginning. That means Uyghur army was actually guided by the full moon and blue wolf was it's symbol, also wolf spirit is the success and loyalty...

[zionwasdestroyed]

looks like attila hun and arpad same wearing dress

[Mazurka1001]

Siberia, one of the true cradles of Humanity. 

[ultranety]

theres no panthers or lions i china

[01Arinna]

@Gewaldro Thanks very much.

[01Arinna]

@Gewaldro I did not know that. Wonderful, thanks

[01Arinna]

@Gewaldro I did not know that. Wonderful, thanks

[Gewaldro]

@Gewaldro And don't forget that Kirghiz thing. Some scholars/scientists believe that Kirghiz is derived from "Kirk Kiz" which means 40 girls. 

[Gewaldro]

@01Arinna Isn't it interesting that also the "Yörük Türkmenler" or Yoruks of Anatolia say, the hair of the women has to be braided into 40 braids? A Yoruk girl once told this to me.

[01Arinna]

Thank you very much Duldul fr this great video. Very informative. As a person who is trying to practise "core shamanism", I learnt some crucial information which I belived I had missed such as the holy numbers especially number 40.

I would like to emphasize that "the drugs" that mentioned here by some people are not called by people who are dealing with altered state of consciousness. There are called "teachers" by Native Americans, holy plants. Totally a different caterogy.