What does shaman mean?

The word "Shaman" can also be transliterated as "Shaman Man" and "Tea Horse". This word comes from shamman, an Indian language in North America. The original word contains the meaning of "wise man, quick understanding, exploration, etc.", and then gradually evolved into the proper term of shaman wizard, that is, the person who jumps into the gods, and is also understood as the agent and incarnation of shaman gods in these clans.

Brief introduction of shaman

In ancient Northeast China, shamans were divided into professional shamans and family shamans. The former provides religious services to all people in the whole society in his personal capacity, and performs exorcism, divination, blessing, wedding ceremonies and other weddings for employers, and receives corresponding remuneration.

The latter is a designated priest who only provides religious services to clan members in tribal clan organizations. When necessary, clan members carry out religious activities such as offering sacrifices to ancestors, making wishes to gods, telling their own historical achievements, and praying for clan members.

In ancient northeast China, people were full of worship and awe of nature, and they often used gods to judge right and wrong. In that era of slash-and-burn cultivation, people believed in shaman and hoped to get spiritual sustenance and comfort.

The difference between jumping gods and shamans;

1, Manchu shaman belongs to national beliefs and folk customs, and northeast dance belongs to feudal superstition.

Shamanism, which originated from prehistoric civilization's worship of nature and totem, is an ancient religion with strong integration. "Jumping God" originated in the middle of Qing Dynasty, when the political needs of Manchu rule strongly suppressed the traditional religion of Han nationality, namely "Taoism".

In this case, the Northeast people simplified the "traditional shaman ceremony" and produced the "jumping god", a "ceremony" with a strong northeast local flavor, which belongs to feudal superstition.

2. Different "theological concepts"

Shamanism believes in a supernatural power, but the understanding of "God" is more casual. Any "spiritual body" more powerful than normal people can be called "God" or "Fairy".

3. Different clients

Manchu shamans generally only serve their own families, clans and nationalities, and the northeast dance gods are not limited to their own families, but mainly serve outsiders.

Step 4 Use different languages

Manchu shaman sacrifices in Manchu, and the northeast dance gods use Chinese.

Above content reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Shaman