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1. (n.) shamanism
the animistic religion of N Asia, embracing a belief in powerful spirits that can be influenced only by shamans.
2. shamanism
any similar religion.
Etymology: (1770–80)
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| Definition of 'shamanism' |
Princeton's WordNet |
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1. (noun) shamanism
any animistic religion similar to Asian shamanism (especially as practiced by certain Native American tribes)
2. (noun) shamanism, Asian shamanism
an animistic religion of northern Asia having the belief that the mediation between the visible and the spirit worlds is effected by shamans
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| Definition of 'shamanism' |
Webster Dictionary |
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1. (noun) shamanism
the type of religion which once prevalied among all the Ural-Altaic peoples (Tungusic, Mongol, and Turkish), and which still survives in various parts of Northern Asia. The Shaman, or wizard priest, deals with good as well as with evil spirits, especially the good spirits of ancestors
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| Definitions of 'shamanism' |
The Nuttall Encyclopedia |
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1. shamanism
the religion of the native savage races of North Siberia, being a belief in spirits, both good and evil, who can be persuaded to bless or curse by the incantations of a Priest called a Shaman.
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| Definition of 'shamanism' |
U.S. National Library of Medicine |
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1. shamanism
An intermediate stage between polytheism and monotheism, which assumes a "Great Spirit", with lesser deities subordinated. With the beginnings of shamanism there was the advent of the medicine man or witch doctor, who assumed a supervisory relation to disease and its cure. Formally, shamanism is a religion of Ural-Altaic peoples of Northern Asia and Europe, characterized by the belief that the unseen world of gods, demons, ancestral spirits is responsive only to shamans. The Indians of North and South America entertain religious practices similar to the Ural-Altaic shamanism. The word shaman comes from the Tungusic (Manchuria and Siberia) saman, meaning Buddhist monk. The shaman handles disease almost entirely by psychotherapeutic means; he frightens away the demons of disease by assuming a terrifying mien. (From Garrison, An Introduction to the History of Medicine, 4th ed, p22; from Webster, 3d ed)
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Definitions of shamanism 
