Ancient Mongolian Primitive Religion: Miscellaneous Talks on Shamanism
Shamanism was the primitive religion of the ancient Mongolians. It is a late form of primitive religion. It is named after the shaman of various parts of the Manchurian-Tungusic family. Formed in the late period of primitive society, it has obvious clan, tribal and religious characteristics. The basic feature is based on the belief that all things are spirituality and the soul is immortal. There are not only nature worship, but also totem worship and ancestor worship, and there are certain worship content and sacrificial rituals.
Shamanism is mainly popular among the Mongolian, Daur, and the Tungusi Ewenki, Oroqen, Hezhe, and Xibo. With the disintegration of primitive society, class differentiation and development of society, many ethnic groups in the above-mentioned language families no longer believed in Shamanism or converted to other religions. However, some people among the Daur, Ewenki, Oroqen and Hezhe ethnic groups still believe in Shamanism.
Shamanism is a white Shamanism faction of the Mongolian Shamanism, which was born in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. After Altan Khan converted to Tibetan Buddhism, he declared Shamanism illegal. As a result, Shamanism in central Inner Mongolia had no choice but to transfer to the people and carry out secret activities. However, the spread of Tibetan Buddhism varies from place to place. In the Horqin Grassland, located on the eastern border, Tibetan Buddhism passed down late, and Shamanism is still strong. Ordinary herdsmen and even the ruling class there all believe in Shamanism. It was not until the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties that Neiji Tuoyin traveled eastward to spread Tibetan Buddhism in the Horqin area that the situation changed.
Shaman Hoboketai is the highest leader of Shamanism in Horqin area. In order to safeguard the interests of Shamanism, he led many of his disciples to resolutely oppose Nezitoin's missionary activities. However, the local Mongolian ruler had by this time converted to Tibetan Buddhism and fully supported Nezitoyin. Under the joint attack of the monks and lay rulers, Hobbock Terrace finally failed and surrendered to Tibetan Buddhism. For the survival of Horqin Shamanism, he changed his strategy in time and adopted the method of combining Buddhism and Witchcraft to seek survival through change, thus saving Shamanism.
The compromise faction led by Hobbock Terrace in the
was called the "White Shamanism." The Black Shaman Sect is one of the Mongolian Shamanism sects and originated in the Horqin Grassland in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. At that time, after the founder of Horqin Shamanism surrendered to the Lamaism, some shamans who firmly believed in their teachings resisted his compromise and split from the "White Shamanism". They adhere to their fundamentalist stance, continue to oppose Tibetan Buddhism and its ideals, and put forward the slogan of "chop off the heads of monks and sacrifice on the altar." Sorcerers of this sect do not pray to the Buddhist community, do not practice with lamas, do not enter the Buddhist hall of the host's home, and sit on tables and chairs on the ground. They are called the "Black Shamanism".
The highest god of Shamanism, Changshengtian, is called "Menghe Tengger" in Mongolian and is the highest god of Mongolian Shamanism. Shamanism believes that Changshengtian has the mysterious power to dominate all things in the world, so it is infinitely worshipped and admired. The Mongolian Shamanism's concept of longevity heaven worship has gradually evolved from its original nature worship attribute into a complex concept integrating nature, religion, class, and political and philosophical meanings through continuous enrichment and improvement in the historical development processes of the Paleolithic, Neolithic, and class. In the history of the Mongolian nation, Shamanism's concept of longevity has had a major influence.
Three Realms of Shamanism The Mongolian Shamanism believes that there are "Three Realms" in the universe. The upper realm is the heaven realm, where various gods live. The upper realm is divided into many levels, such as 9 days, 33 days and even 99 days. The middle realm is the human realm, where humans and various animals and plants live together; the lower realm is the Yin realm, where various demons and ghosts live together. The lower bound is also divided into many levels. Shamans break through the "nine passes", step on knives and ladders, pass through fire pools, etc., which symbolize rising to the nine heavens and descending to hell. Mongolian Shamanism believes that there is a ten-thousand-foot ravine in the northeast, where people's souls return after death. One of the characteristics of primitive Shamanism is that the "Three Realms" are incomplete. The gap in the northeastern corner of the sky and the deep long cave are all centered on the middle boundary. Later, the heaven of the upper world extended from the middle world. Under the influence of other artificial religions, the concept of the lower realm and the earth was extended.
Shamanism's legend about eagles. The Mongolian primitive religion Shamanism has its own understanding and worship of eagles. They worshipped the eagle as their sacred symbol. Therefore, Shamanism interprets the eagle as: "The eagle is the divine bird messenger of the sky. It was ordered to descend into the world to marry the tribal leader and gave birth to a beautiful girl. The divine eagle taught her the divine art of communicating with the sky and the gods. He used his own feathers to weave a divine garment for the girl and put a divine crown made of feathers on her head, allowing her to travel through the heaven and cultivating her to become the world's earliest 'Wodugan' witch)."
Jiudaoguan Jiudaoguan of Shamanism, called "Isundaba" in Mongolian, is an assessment ceremony for Mongolian Shamanism. After the shaman's apprenticeship expires, they must participate in a grand ceremony and undergo strict assessment. Among the many assessment projects, there is the so-called "Nine Roads" project. Its contents are: climbing the knife ladder, passing through the fire pool, stepping on the plowshare, swallowing needle bags, etc. Those who pass the assessment will receive the title of Shaman. During the assessment, some famous local shamans were invited to attend the ceremony as witnesses. At that time, many shamans and people came from all directions to volunteer to participate or watch this magical ceremony.
Shamanism Fire Sacrifice Customs Some tribes and tribes that believe in Shamanism worship fire. People believe that fire is a powerful god with magical power. The kitchen god in the family is the most revered. In Siberia and the Far East, the worship of fire is very popular. The ancient Mongolians regarded fire as a sacred object in heaven. There was a Fire Prayer Festival. The fire sacrifice ceremony was held on the evening of the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. Under the leadership of the elderly, they kowtowed to the Fire God and prayed for the Fire God's blessings and blessings. Mongolians especially worship fire.
Shamanism was abolished As the influence of Tibetan Buddhism deepened in Mongolia, the upper class of the Mongolian people fully accepted the concept of Buddhism. In 1578, Altan Khan of the Mongolian Tumut tribe officially converted to the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, declared Mongolian Shamanism illegal, confiscated various Mongolian Shamanism implements and Weng Gong, and burned them. At this point, Shamanism's special position in Mongolian political life ended and it became an illegal religious organization. However, in the eastern Mongolian region, Shamanism gradually moved into the people during the overt or covert struggle with Buddhism and survived in the form of folk customs for a long time.
Conclusion: With the disintegration of primitive society and the development of society, the influence of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia has deepened day by day, and the upper echelon of Mongolia has gradually accepted the concept of Buddhism. In 1857, Altan Khan, the Mongolian Tumet tribe, officially converted to the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, declared Shamanism in Mongolia illegal, confiscated various Shamanism religious instruments, burned them and disposed of. The Mongolian and Tunguska Manchu ethnic groups no longer believe in Shamanism or have converted to other religions. However, in the eastern Mongolian region, the Daxinganling Mountains and the Wusuli River, there are still some Daur, Ewenki, Oroqen, and Hezhe people who believe in Shamanism.