Abstract:

Still observed in many corners of the modern world, Shamanism is considered to have its most original form in Asia and Siberia; which is a consensus of researchers in our present day. For this reason, the clothes of Shamans belonging to the Turkic nations who adopted Shaman belief system in Asia and Siberia both in the past and in our present day are extremely important; however, they are also the materials that are difficult to observe because of being destroyed for political and religious reasons. For Shaman belief system, which is based on ancestors that exist as “Kamlık” in Turkic nations, and which considers a lifestyle that is in agreement with the nature as the main principle, the term “Shamanism” is used in the international literature, and the applying person is called as “Shaman”. Shaman, who is considered within the borders of this belief system, could establish communication with underground powers and with the powers on the ground as well as with animals, plants, mountains, rivers when necessary; and convey the demands between god-humans-spirits. The secret of a healthy and peaceful life lies in preserving the satisfaction and balance between creatures in the nature and supernatural powers. The lack of written sources for Shamanism showing the theological principles, basic principles and dogmas make it difficult to understand it. This situation makes it compulsory to analyze the existing materials to define and analyze the Shamanic world view. The most important material among these is the sacred clothes used by Shaman in rituals. Shaman clothes host the basic factors of forming the Shamanic traditions and cultural codes, and constitute a precious source for the definition of accessories that are full of symbolism and to define the Shaman belief and set its limits by considering cultural diversity and regional deviations. Although the basic elements are preserved, Shaman clothes vary depending on the helping spirits of the Shaman, and their shapes and accessories denote specific objects, and are concrete indicators of Shaman practices. The purpose in this study is to analyze the Shaman clothes and relevant rituals in terms of the reasons for preparations, processes, principles, and the objects on which the time-place-concept variables are considered to represent almost the whole universe, which makes Shaman clothes to be considered as a specific form, and to evaluate the belief and intellectual structure of the relevant people.

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