Author

Publication

2003-05-01 - Ashgate Publishing

Language

English

Word Count

105,500 words, Guess

Page Count

422 pages

Physical Format

Paperback

Identifiers

  • ISBN-100754631850
  • ISBN-139780754631859
  • LibraryThing6516871
  • Open LibraryOL7990383M

Description

"Title first published in 2003. Shamanism has a contradictory position within the Korean cultural system, leading to the periodical suppression of shamanism yet also, paradoxically, ensuring its survival throughout Korean history. This book examines the place of shamans within contemporary society as a cultural practice in which people make use of shamanic ritual and disputing the prevalent view that shamanism is 'popular culture', a 'women's religion' or 'performing arts'. Directly confronting the prejudice against shamans and their paradoxical situation in a modern society such as Korea, this book reveals the cultural discrepancy between two worlds in Korean culture, the ordinary world and the shamanic world, showing that these two worlds cannot be reconciled. This unique study of shamanism offers a significant contribution to growing studies in indigenous anthropology and indigenous religions, and provides a captivating read for a wide range of readers through retelling the stories-never-to-be-told involving shamanic ritual."--Provided by publisher.

First Sentence

Over two decades ago in an interview, a Korean shaman already raised the paradoxical situation of shamanism in Korean culture in a way very similar to the way I raise it in this book: Still, I tried to read whatever I could find on shamanism to understand why it is so despised but at the same time so widely followed.

Subjects

Other Editions

  • Korean Shamanism: The Cultural Paradox (Vitality of Indigenous Religions Series) (Vitality of Indigenous Religions Series) (Vitality of Indigenous Religions Series)PaperbackAshgate Publishing2003-05-01

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