Desert Spirit: Mysterious Northern Shaman Culture

Author: Wang Honggang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: "Illustrated Series on the Religious Culture of China's Primitive Religions," strives to showcase the highlights of China's multi-ethnic primitive religious cultures. The first batch released includes "The Flame of the Soul – A Journey into Dongxiang Religious Culture," "The Light of Faith – Li Ethnic 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 Ethnic Banzhu Worship," and "The Charm of the Gobi – The Mysterious Northern Shamanism." These are five waves from the long river of China's primitive religious culture that we have selected. Each book has its own 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 mostly 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 illustrations complementing 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 the northern Chinese ancestors. It is an aggregate of ancient culture, encompassing religious, philosophical, historical, folkloric, astronomical, and medical content, and holds comprehensive cultural value, with its influence continuing to this day.