`shamanism` Related Article Results

Sacred Plants and Animals in Central Asia (Orta Asya'da Kutsal Bitkiler ve Hayvanlar) is a work by the French historian and orientalist Jean-Paul Roux that examines the sacred relationship between Altaic Turks and nature. Translated into Turkish in 2023 by Dergâh Publications, this work is considered an extension of Roux's book Death Among the Altaic Turks. The book addresses the sacred meanings that the Altaic peoples attribute to plants and animals within a social and cosmological context.Subj

In Turkish mythology, the tripartite conception of the world is a cosmological model reflecting the ancient Turks’ understanding of the universe. According to this model, the universe consists of three main planes: the sky, the earth (surface), and the underworld. Each plane is defined by its own unique beings, spirits, and conceptual order. This worldview occupied a central place in the belief systems of the ancient Turks and shaped their social, cultural, mythological, and ritualistic lives.Sk

The Creation Epic is one of the oldest and most fundamental narratives in Turkic mythology. This oral tradition explains the creation of the universe, the origin of good and evil, and how cosmic order was established; it was collected among the Altai Turks in the 19th century by Wilhelm Radloff.The epic is not merely a mythological fiction but also a symbolic expression of the ancient Turkic belief systems and worldview.Mythological ContextThe Creation Epic was shaped particularly by shamanistic

Szekely (Hungarian: Székely) are the indigenous community of Székelyföld (Sekelistan), a region located in eastern Transylvania/Erdel in present-day Romania; its inhabitants have been known as Szekely since the earliest times.The Szekely formed a privileged group within the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, constituting a light cavalry class that, during peacetime, ensured internal security and, during wartime, undertook the roles of vanguard, reconnaissance, and border defense. These military functi

The Shors are a Turkic people primarily living today in Russia’s Siberian region, especially in Kemerovo Oblast. They are considered a branch of the Altai Turks and speak their own distinct Shor language, although Russian is now widely used as well. Traditionally, they engaged in hunting, fishing, and ironworking. Shor culture encompasses shamanistic elements deeply intertwined with nature, later influenced by Orthodox Christian traditions. Despite a declining population, efforts continue to pre

Hakas Turks are an ancient Turkic community originating from southern Siberia, known throughout history by various names. Today, this people live within the boundaries of the Republic of Khakassia, an autonomous republic of the Russian Federation, and trace their ethnic and cultural origins to the Yenisei Kyrgyz.In historical sources, they are also referred to by various subtribal and regional names such as “Abakan Tatars,” “Minusinsk Tatars,” “Yenisei Turks,” “Sagay,” “Kach,” “Kyzyl,” “Koybal,”

In Turkish mythology, the tree is regarded as a sacred entity directly connected to the creation of the universe, the order of heaven-earth-underworld, and the origin of humanity. In cultural memory, the tree serves as a channel conveying divine power to the world, a marker defining the center of the universe, and a symbol representing the continuity of life. In Turkish culture, sacred objects are not viewed as objects of worship themselves but as means of attaining connection with the divine. W

Sacred Plants and Animals in Central Asia is a study by French historian and orientalist Jean-Paul Roux examining the sacred relationships between the Altai Turks and nature. This work, translated into Turkish in 2023 by Dergâh Yayınları, is regarded as an extension of Roux’s earlier study titled Death among the Altai Turks. The book explores the sacred meanings assigned by Altai peoples to plants and animals within social and cosmological contexts.Subject and ContentIn this work, Roux emphasize

Tengrism or the Belief in the Sky God is a term denoting the religious system of the ancient Turkic and Mongolic peoples. Its origins are believed to extend as far back as the Neolithic period, based on rock carvings. Information about this system is also found in written sources of ancient civilizations such as the Sumerians, Chinese, and Eastern Roman Empire.The core of this belief system is faith in a single supreme being, the Sky God (Tengri), who created and governs the universe. Tengrism i

Salt has played a significant role throughout human history not only as a foodstuff but also as a protective element in religious, cultural, and spiritual rituals. In local beliefs, the protective power of salt has been regarded as a shield against the evil eye, malevolent spirits, and negative energies, particularly in Anatolia, Central Asia, and many other cultures. This symbolism is linked to salt’s purifying effect and is perceived as a means of protection on both physical and metaphysical l