Buddhism and Shamanism among Tuvans in Russia and China now: folk cults and traditions

Abstract

The Buddhist teaching referred to asSaryg Shazhyn(Yellow Hat Faith) on the territory of Tuva and among the Tuvans, has always been a unique phenomenon in their Old and modern history. It absorbed the fundamental religious principles and some of the cultural heritage of Tibet and Mongolia, as well as national traditional beliefs, shamanistic, with its old foundations. In its turn, the Tuvan shamanism (known askam / kham) was enriched by unique Buddhist practices and formulations. The special interest in the modern interaction of Buddhism and shamanism among the Tuvans of the Russian Federation and the PRC is based upon the fact, that these spiritual phenomena still have both separate and common influences on traditional holidays and cults. At the same time, cultural and country differences and certain historical backgrounds have corrected their impact on the traditions and society of Tuvans. The article examines the influence of traditional beliefs, Buddhism and shamanism on the culture of modern Tuvans of the Russian Federation and China. It is based upon the sources such as the main holidays, rituals and cults, the design of temples. highlights the general and distinctive tendencies, as well as syncretism in the development of religious ideas. It also shows the significance of historical background and the influence of the cultural environment. As a special case of the projection of the religious and spiritual ideas, a derivative of the historical and cultural past of the Tuvans, seasonal and religious traditions, the authors studied the cults of Subutai and Genghis Khan. These cults should be considered as supra-religious and extra-territorial phenomena capable of giving new perspectives to society and a special level of communication between the Tuvan communities in the Russian Federation and the PRC.