What is a shaman? What is Shaman?

It has been more than three years since I entered the world of studying shamanism. A few years have passed in the blink of an eye. Although I am still less than a few decades old, in these three years of knowledge learning and experience accumulation, I have discovered that I have The world has a wonderful connection with the universe, and it also has another aspect of communication with cultures around the world.

What is a shaman?

I have been answering this question for more than three years, from the shamanic beliefs and worldviews of Mongolia and Siberia at the beginning, to the African voodoo beliefs, Nordic Candidavian shamanic beliefs, South American and Mexican shamanistic beliefs in recent years. Sorcerers, Laika of the Inca Maya, etc., my understanding of shamans has changed a bit, but what is interesting is that characters like "shamans" exist in various cultures around the world. The name may not be called shaman, but they almost all do the same things as shaman.

If you have read my previous articles, you should know that the term shaman is derived from the Tungusic Saman (after Manchu was translated into Chinese, it was recorded as Saman, Shanman). The main ethnic group that uses this language is the Mongolian steppe. Nomadic peoples in the world, such as the Jurchens, Huns, etc., and ethnic minorities in Siberia also use this language. Later, it spread to Scandinavia and became one of the local language families. In the 1940s, some Western anthropologists went to Siberia to study the local minority culture and found that they called the wizards/physicians/persons who performed sacrifices in their tribes Saman, so the anthropologists recorded that their names were Shaman. , and the work these Shamans are performing is called Shamanism. This includes worshiping heaven and earth ghosts, holding weddings and funerals, performing medical rituals, worshiping ancestors, summoning the power of gods, etc. Manchu shamans in the Mongolian tribes even need to learn to observe the sky and stars, as well as the solar terms throughout the year. Only by being familiar with it can you help your people live a comfortable life and make your tribe more prosperous. This is the origin of the term shaman.

Later, anthropologists applied this term to tribal wizards and witch doctors who performed similar tasks in cultures around the world to facilitate the integration of their similarities, just like Taoist priests in Taiwan. In the eyes of Western anthropologists It can also be called a shaman, because what it does is similar to the Mongolian and Manchu shamans, so it is generally called a shaman, and the names of different cultures, beliefs, and religious sects are used to distinguish individual nouns. This is why in Taiwan, we often see the word shaman on the Internet, but it is difficult to understand who we are talking about.

Here I would like to share with you my current research. This information will also be mentioned in my shamanic journey workshop, but because too many people have asked, I will write it down and share it with friends who are interested~

Mongolian Manchu : Yes! They are the Manchus of the Qing Dynasty in the court drama. They used the Tungusic dialect in the early days, and their shamans were really called Saman. If you are interested, you can read related research books on the Mongolian Manchus. Their shamanic journey is called the art of spinning the sky and the art of reaching the sky. Currently, there are still more than 10,000 shamans serving their own people in Mongolia. Their tools are usually drums and mugwort is often used for herbal medicine. And their sacred power animals (mythical beasts) are usually horses, eagles, fish, birds, etc.

Nordic Scandinavia : The Nordic mythology that is currently known originated from the Nordic mythology of the Vikings. In fact, after the Vikings and Scandinavian people had trade and intermarriage, they also had cultural exchanges. Therefore, Scandinavian shamanic belief culture has also been integrated into Nordic mythology. For example, Odin's world map includes worlds such as Rainbow Bridge, Valhalla, and Asgard, which are also based on the shamanic cosmology. The concept of upper and lower worlds. The tools they use are usually drums and sand bells, and the divination part includes stone divination, runes, leaf divination, etc. Their sacred power animals are usually reindeer, horses, etc.

North American Indian tribes : What is currently known is that each tribe has different inheritance, and the rituals and names of their gods are also different. Their wizards are not called shamans. Shamans are what anthropologists and later modern people call them. Name, and later they also became accustomed to calling themselves shamans. From the shamans of the Indian tribes, you can learn pipe smoking rituals, herbal rituals, etc. The world view is more related to various wild animals and plants in North America, mainly those known on the earth. Some tribes also use medicine wheels.

South America, Peru, Brazil and other places : Local shamans/witch doctors often study the use of hallucinogens, such as ayahuasca, tobacco rituals, hallucinogenic mushrooms, cacti, etc., and insects are also used. The main world view is based on the animals and plants on the earth and Mother Earth. The most well-known at present is the medicine wheel.

Shamans of the Inca-Mayan culture : According to records, their shamanic culture came from the Mayan Laika (who should be their early divine channeler, a person who knew the will of the gods, and from the perspective of anthropologists, he was also a shaman). (Manchuria), they also prefer to use plants, stones, and wood to perform blessings and healing. Taking the Inca shamanic rituals I am currently learning as an example, the inheritors said that these rituals were first spread from Siberia, and later passed through the national cultures of various places. The fusion of the two evolved into its current appearance, which is said to have a history of 30,000 years. The world view is also more Nordic and North American.

Japanese Shaman : Yes! Japanese shamans are actually onmyojis. If you are interested, you can study in the direction of onmyojis and witches. However, onmyojis are not possessed by spirits (qiji). They are more like traditional shamans. Mikos will invite spirits when performing sacrifices. The upper body (Qiji) is more inclined to the inheritance of Jitong. Japan's Onmyoji culture is also inherited from the sea-seeking people in Northeast China. After localized integration, the world view is biased toward the beliefs of Northeast China, such as fox fairies, raccoon cats, etc.

Hawaii : The local shaman is actually called Kahuna. Their rituals and worldview are more in line with the local aborigines and are unique. Like Taiwan’s aboriginal culture, they all have unique gods, rituals, and herbs, all of which are grown locally. Mainly animals, plants and insects. The rituals are often performed with shouting, singing, and dancing.

African Voodoo : The techniques performed by local shamans are actually the Voodoo we often hear today, but it is not the scary Voodoo shown in the movies. Their worldview is somewhat similar to that of Peru, mainly using hallucinogens, herbs, and four Elements (wind, fire, water, earth) and stones are the main objects of worship and are also commonly used tools when performing rituals. The tools they use also include drums, but they are different from the drums in Northern Europe and Mongolia.

Taiwanese Shaman : Yes! There are shamans in Taiwan. According to current records in the study of Taiwan’s aboriginal tribes, early aboriginal tribes had shamans and witch doctors. Their work was very similar to that of Maya shamans. They even had overlapping world views, including genital worship and ancestor gods. Pillars, animal worship, plant worship, stories about gods and goddesses, creation gods, etc. Early Western anthropologists came to Taiwan to do research, and you can also refer to related books.

Another special Taiwanese shaman is actually a Taoist priest in the palace and temple. The rituals, work, etc. he performs are similar to the traditional Mongolian and Manchu shaman. The early traditional Taoism actually came from Bon religion, and the origin of Bon religion is currently being studied. It comes from traditional shamanic beliefs. It is only with the evolution of the times that it has evolved into the current Taoist appearance. And just in traditional Taoism, there are various sects. Some practice alchemy, some practice external elixirs, and some practice magic. This article will not describe it in detail, you can refer to relevant books.

There are historical records of shamanic culture all over the world. Some have been passed down, while others have long been lost in the tide of time. According to anthropologists’ research, the earliest can be traced back to 60,000 years ago. But how to confirm it? I don't know either

At present, the part I continue to research and practice is mainly about shamanic journeys and shamanic healing, from research on practices in Mongolia to Northern Europe, Africa, and the Incas. I will share them with you when I have the opportunity.

In recent years, foreign scholars and research units have also been studying the treatment of "shamanic journey" and "shamanic healing" for the body, mind and soul, including the impact of brain wave changes on a person's body and mind. The person being healed actually How the changes are.

How did this technique about the shamanic journey change my life? This topic can be referred to my other topic "The Collision between the Empathic Man and the Shamanic World" .

If you are interested in learning the techniques of shamanic journey and shamanic healing, you are also welcome to visit my website and fan group to check the course times.

I hope everyone can be happy, comfortable and prosperous

 For those who don’t believe it after reading it, it doesn’t matter, just read it as a story. ＾＾
I am still practicing in practice, adjusting in collisions, recording experiences and growth, and learning from everyone, things, the earth, and the universe.
"A teacher is someone who teaches, teaches and resolves doubts." Confucius.
Therefore, everything in the universe is my teacher, and I may also be the teacher of some people at a certain stage.
I hope my self-talk can also help some friends who have also talked to themselves like me.

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