A Sociological Theory of Shamanism by S.A. Tokarev and Shamanism of Indigenous Peoples of the Far East

This article examines theoretical issues in the sociological study of shamanism, focusing on the work of Soviet ethnographer Sergei Tokarev, whose functionalist and comparative historical methods established a classic framework in Russian scholarship. The author adds phenomenological and hermeneutic approaches to study shamanism among Far Eastern indigenous peoples. Tokarev's theory addressed shaman formation, types, origins, hereditary shamanic disease, ecstasy's social essence, demonology, and evolutionary stages. Newer concepts in anthropology, psychology, philosophy, and cultural studies build on his work. Field materials from late 20th-century scholars confirm that shamanic rituals remain an important part of these peoples' cultural legacy.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The article discusses theoretical issues in the sociological theory of shamanism and its manifestations in the shamanism of indigenous peoples of the Far East. The work done by the prominent Soviet ethnographer Sergei Tokarev is usually considered classic in the development of sociological theory of shamanism in Russian scholarship. Drawing on comparative historical and functionalist research methods, he developed the basic principles of morphological classification of religion and singled out shamanism. This article adds phenomenological and hermeneutic approaches to comparative historical research methods in the study of shamanism of Far Eastern peoples. Tokarev’s sociological theory of shamanism touched on the main principles of shaman’s formation and self-definition, the types of shamanism, its origins and roots, the hereditary nature of shamanic disease, the social essence of ecstasy, demonology, and stages of the evolution of shamanism. Newer concepts of shamanism built upon it, formulating novel ideas in the fields of anthropology, psychology, philosophy, and cultural studies. The data on shamanism examined in this article confirm the principal arguments of theoreticians dealing with research on shamanism and help us understand the essence of different types of shamanism, its major varieties and functions, as well as specificities of therapeutic, commemorative, and other shamanic rituals. The article further surveys valuable field materials of the late 20th-century scholars, demonstrating that shamanic rituals are an important part of the cultural legacy of Far Eastern indigenous peoples.