시베리아 샤머니즘 재고: 샤먼에서 보통 사람들의 초점 전환

Abstract

This article overviews several historical issues that have been developed around the Siberian Shamanism. Then it highlights one particular inquiry about what should be the proper focal point for the study of Shamanism, which is posed with a novelty mainly by the cognitive science of religion. From these studies, following observations are drawn. First, Siberian Shamanism revisited in the history of religions seems no longer to imply the discourse of original forms. Second, a highly significant epistemological focal change is accompanied with new approaches to the study of Shamanism: from the shaman to the layperson. Finally, a more systematic understanding of Shamanism should require to pay more attention to the natural history of beliefs which has long been shared by the folks in general, not only by shamans but also by lay people.