article

Shamanism among the Yakut

Mittheilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft in Wien • Wien • Published In 1888 • Pages: 165-182

By: Priklonski, Vasilij, Krauss, Friedrich S..

Abstract

Krauss made no attempt to correct any discrepancies found in the original which, he says, can be generally relied upon for its accuracy. Priklonskij not only observed the customs that he wrote about, but also backed up his observations with the important literature on the subject. No dates are given for Priklonsky's field work, and no specific information is to be had here about the original author of this work. The entire article, with the exception of the Introduction as translated by Dr. Krauss and retranslated from German into English for HRAF, is included here.||This is a valuable document covering thoroughly the shaman of the Yakut, from dress and ornamentation to initiation ceremonies and ceremonial activities that go along with his changed position in Yakut society. There is information on the origin of the shamans and on the spirits with whom they hold communion, a long list of which is included here. Of particular interest is the contention of the author that the Yakut are caught mid-stream--they have lost the absolute faith in their old spirits, yet they are not capable of comprehending yet the monotheism of Christianity. As a result, shamanism exists along side of Christianity, though it has taken over more in the realm of medicine, fortune-telling, and magic. Hence, the author attempts to prove his thesis that Yakut shamanism now has taken over the practical needs of everyday life, while Christianity is the generally accepted theological position of the people; yet the two must necessarily coexist, since the Yakut has need of both beliefs.

HRAF PubDate

1997

Region

Asia

Sub Region

North Asia

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

RCH ; 1950-1956

Field Date

no date

Coverage Date

not specified

Coverage Place

Sakha Republic, Russian Federation

Notes

V. L. Priklonskij ; Friedrich S. Krauss, translator

Translation from the German of: Das Schamanentum der Jakuten.

Originally published: Mittheilungen der Anthropologische Gesellschaft in Vienna, 1888 as a translation from an article originally written in Russian and published in: Izvestia-Sibirskago Otdjela Imperator Russkago Geograficeskago Obscestva, Vol. XVII, nos. 1-2, Irkutsk, 1886.

The original Russian text is not included.

The German translation is not included.

This document consists of excerpts

Omitted from files: introduction

LCSH

Yakut (Turkic people)