Khorchin Shamanic Attire: Ritual Functions, Symbolism, and Socio-Religious Influences
Chao Bo Yang, Oyun-Erdene Baasan, Azzaya Chimedbat
Architecture Image Studies January 30, 2026 DOI: 10.62754/ais.v7i1.1106 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Ethnography Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Shamanism |
| Key findings | Argues that Khorchin shamanic attire is not merely protective apparatus but a complex ethno-aesthetic system of ritual performance that channels the efficacy of the ongod (ancestral spirits), amplifies ritualistic actions, and facilitates the practitioner's psychological concentration. The authors propose that its elements evolved in alignment with traditional shamanic rituals and cultural systems. |
Abstract
The vestments utilized in shamanic rituals constitute a crucial component of tangible cultural heritage, signifying the shaman’s function in communicating with spirits and deities, as well as their socio-cultural status. The attire of the Khorchin shaman is characterized by a complex structure, comprising an inner deel (traditional robe), a ritual waistcoat (vest), a belt, headgear, boots, and auxiliary accouterments such as mirrors and bells. Each of these elements carries distinct symbolism and ritual functions.This study aims to analyze the structure, craftsmanship, artistic design of the embellishments, and the symbolic system of Khorchin shamanic attire from an ethnological and cultural studies perspective, with a view to determining the influence of regional historical context and socio- religious factors.Research findings indicate that the ritual attire of the Khorchin shaman is not merely a protective apparatus, but rather a complex ethno-aesthetic system of ritual performance. It serves to channel the efficacy of the ongod (ancestral spirits), amplify the potency of ritualistic actions, and facilitate the psychological concentration of the practitioner.By analyzing holistically the typologies, construction, aesthetic forms, and symbolic structures of Khorchin shamanic attire, this article elucidates how these elements have evolved in alignment with traditional shamanic rituals and cultural systems. This analysis provides a significant contribution to the fields of Mongolian shamanic studies and historical costume research.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on shamanism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Plantas con madre": plants that teach and guide in the shamanic initiation process in the East-Central Peruvian Amazon. Curanderos, apprentices, and herbalists in East-Central Peru, including Mestizo,... | 2011 | Qualitative study | n = 36 |
| Purging and the body in the therapeutic use of ayahuasca Healers and participants in shamanic tourism contexts of the Peruvian Amazon and... | 2019 | Ethnography with literature review | n = 227 |
| The Globalization of Ayahuasca Shamanism and the Erasure of Indigenous Shamanism Western tourists and indigenous peoples in Iquitos, Peru | 2016 | Ethnography | |
| Shamanism and Rock Art in Far Western North America Historic hunter-gatherer cultures of California and the Great Basin | 1992 | Ethnographic review and analysis | |
| Working with “La Medicina”: Elements of Healing in Contemporary Ayahuasca Rituals Ayahuasqueros and Western participants in shamanic tourism in Iquitos, Peru | 2012 | Ethnography |