An Anthropology of Animism and Shamanism

Download or read book An Anthropology of Animism and Shamanism written by Takako Yamada and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based upon her field trips since the 1980s among the Ladakhi in Western Tibet, the Ainu in Hokkaido, and the Sakha-Yakut in Eastern Siberia, the author reformulates the significance of animism and shamanism, considering them part of a comprehensive cognitive system of the phenomenal world including the universe, soul, spirits, and nature. For example, Yamada comes across references to Ainu names for plants and animals, and becomes aware of the Ainu's enormous knowledge of them and their belief they are kamui (deities). No information on the author except that she has been funded by an array of Japanese organizations. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.