Great Gobi Charm: Mysterious Northern Shaman Culture

Author: Wang Honggang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: "The Visual Series on Chinese Primitive Religious Culture," strives to showcase the highlights of China's multi-ethnic primitive religious cultures. The first batch of publications includes "The Flame of the Soul – A Journey into Dongxiang Culture," "The Light of Faith – Li Ethnicity's Primitive Religion and Bimo Culture," "Entering the Realm of Pictographic and Ideographic Writings – A Spiritual Journey in the Ancient Kingdom of Naxi," "The Mysterious Beliefs Between Silver Mountains and Jade Lakes – Bai Ethnicity's Banzhu Worship," and "The Charm of the Gobi – The Mysterious Northern Shamanism." These are five waves in the long river of China's primitive religious culture that we have selected. Each book has its unique charm. The authors of this series are experts and scholars who have dedicated years to researching and introducing China's primitive religions. They have conducted long-term field research in China's border minority regions, and the content of the books is largely based on their first-hand materials. Each book is written by authors from the respective ethnic groups about their own religious cultures, making the reading experience warm and touching. This series combines knowledge and appreciation, with rich illustrations that complement the text, allowing readers to gain a wealth of information about primitive religions while enjoying the reading. Northern China is one of the birthplaces of shamanism. Ethnic groups such as Manchu, Hezhe, Ewenki, Oroqen, Sibo, Daur, Korean, and Mongolian have all practiced shamanism or retained certain remnants of it. Shamanism preserves relatively complete and vivid characteristics of primitive religion, recording the historical trajectory of the cultural spirit development of northern Chinese ancestors. It is an aggregation of ancient culture, encompassing religious, philosophical, historical, folkloric, astronomical, and medical content, and holds comprehensive cultural value. Its influence continues to this day.