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| Shaman and his helper spirits. Evenks. Yenisei Province. Early 20th century |
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| Shaman's drum. Altaians. Tomsk Province. Early 20th century |
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| Shaman. Altaians. Tomsk Province. Early 20th century. . |
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Shaman's mask. Evenks. Transbaikal area. Early 20th century |
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Shaman's sacred place. Khants. Yenisei Province. Early 20th century |
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Image of a local spirit-hostess of Yamal Peninsula. Nenets. Tobolsk Province. Yamal Peninsula. Late 19 - early 20th centuries |
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Traditional world outlook
ТTraditional world outlook of the Siberian peoples - shamanism- is a kind of perception of the universe where man is considered to be a part of it. It is aimed at the straightforward apprehension of the universe, comprehension of the interrelation of man and nature.
Shamanism formed within the frames of the ancient dualistic ideas which divided universe into ordinary and sacral. In the center of its conception there is the animistic perception: belief in existence of spirits and deities of nature, people's soul, protector spirits of the shaman. In the traditional culture "shamanism" can be interpreted as an integral system which includes religious and mythological ideas, broad cult practice, shamanism institution.
The Siberian shamanism is the classical form of the shamanism. Thanks to the Russian travelers, researchers and explorers of Siberia the word "shaman" taken from the Tungus-Manchurian languages became famous all over the world.
Shaman
Traditionally, shamans played an important role in the life of their tribal members and were protectors and intermediaries between humans and spirits.
Shaman is an intermediary and he was a choice of spirits. Rituals of initiation, growth of the sacral power and acquisition of the status of the "Great shaman" played an important role in the formation of the shaman's personality.
The word "shaman" is connected with the verb "sa" - "know". Every single people has its own name for the shaman which can differ within one people depending on the functions and categories of the shaman. For instance, the Yakuts called shamans "oiun" and women shamans - "udagan", the Nenets called them "tadebei" and etc. It's a well-known fact that the term "kamlanie", which means the ritual action of the shaman during the ecstasy, originates from the last Turkic word "kam".
Shaman's gift
Shaman's gift was inherited, commonly, skipping one generation (from grandfather to grandson). The most important thing was the process of choosing of the future shaman by the spirits who forced him to the shamanistic activity. Choosing was accompanied by the certain psychological condition - so called "shaman's disease". Usually it occurred to strong shamans at the age of 12. The formation of the shaman was continuing for several years (from 7 to 12).
Training
Training of the shaman was conducted by the experienced shaman. If the clan considered the candidate to have right to become a shaman, the rite of initiating took place and during this ritual every single attribute was consecrated and endued with sacral force.
Drum, baton, apron, images of helper spirits and staff could become first attributes of the new shaman. The experienced shaman passed to the young one not only his own attributes but also knowledge about nature phenomena, crafts and etc. For instance, shamans of the Nenets went to Tundra in spring and autumn to learn about soil, to watch birds coming back, to anatomize animals - and after that, using this information, they decided about productivity of pastures and hunting areas. Such kind of study was certainly done in secret, members of the clan mustn't know about it.
Costume
Vital forces of the shaman and his ancestors were concentrated in the costume which was the main attribute of his reincarnation in his twin-animal - deer, bear, bird, tiger and wolf. When becoming this animal, the shaman acquired the power of overall seeing and became half-spirit and half-man, twin animal of whom could enter unreachable worlds of the opposite reality identified as a walk round the Universe.
Strong and experienced shaman during his life had several headdresses.
The headdresses varied from an ordinary hat to the iron crown. The headdress of the strong shaman of the Selkups, Evenks, Buryats looked like an iron crown with horns. The horns on such headdresses were the fighting tool: shaman was butting the evil spirits. Strong shaman, already in possession of the apron, headdress, drum and baton, also received kaftan or parka with pendants.
categories of the shamans
Peoples of Siberia and the Far East divide shamans into groups depending on the abilities.
"Iron" shamans of the Central and East Siberia (for instance, the Evenks) were considered to be the most powerful. They were in smithy craft and used metal (mainly, iron) in their attributes.
The distinctive feature of the South Siberian shamanism (the Altaians, Tuvins, Khakass) and linked to it, Yakut and Buryat was the division of the shamans into white, who were traveling to the Upper world, and black, who were traveling to any world.
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