Dualism in Yakut Shamanic Practices
Oriental Studies February 21, 2025 Anatoliy I. Gogolev, Natalia A. Struchkova, Kapitolina M. Yakovleva et al.
Yakut shamanism contains pronounced dualistic features that divide the spirit world into good and evil, reflected in the distinction between 'white' shamans (associated with upper deities and fertility) and 'black' shamans (linked to lower, destructive forces). Drawing on G. Ksenofontov's theory that this dualism arose from a transition from bull to horse cults alongside class processes, the paper uses field data from 2022–2024 expeditions to rural Yakutia. Christian conversion caused white shamanic roles—especially ancestor and deity worship—to decline while black shamanic practices survived. The Ysyakh holiday ritual culture still displays both fertility and destruction symbols. Shamanic healing methods further illustrate this dualism. The authors argue for an integrated approach that includes both traditional shamanism and neo-shamanism to understand Sakha cultural heritage.