Shamanism in Korea tends to be overshadowed by Buddhism, Confucianism and even Christianity. Though it flourished in ancient times, its influence waned after 1392 when the Joseon Dynasty promoted Confucianism. This was primarily concerned with ethical behaviour and promoting harmony … Read the rest
Category: Shamanic connections (Page 3 of 8)
As elsewhere, Buryat shamans not only have a strong connection to the land, but they serve as guardians of the cultural identity. Under Communism, however, the ethnic distinctiveness was seen as threatening to the party’s official line of universalism. In … Read the rest
The traditional ger (Mongolian tent), aligned to the south, is more than a portable tent for it also serves as spiritual sanctuary. In the north stands an altar with mirror, so that any evil spirit entering the tent is frightened … Read the rest
On a trip to Lake Baikal, I hired a guide to take me to a local shaman, intrigued to see what similarities there may be with early religion in Japan. Here’s a short account of the meeting.
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Prompted by … Read the rest
The circular mirror of Shinto is a potent symbol. One often sees it when visiting shrines, for it stands on the altar as representative of the kami, and in particular of Amaterasu the sun goddess. It can play a more … Read the rest
Last year I took the direct flight to the island of Miyakojima in Okinawa for a few days spring sunshine. It was so wonderful that I decided to go again, but this time instead of touring the island by rented … Read the rest
The awesomeness of rocks
Green Shinto has written several times of the spiritual significance of rocks in Shinto (see the righthand column for previous postings). It’s a much overlooked subject. Why? Partly because it is associated with the kind of … Read the rest