Historical and Ethnocultural Transformations of Kyrgyz Shamanism in the 20th – 21st Centuries

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the historical and ethnocultural transformations of Kyrgyz shamanism in the 20th – 21st centuries. Attention is focused on the evolving roles, practices, and worldviews of sacred specialists such as bakshi, bubi, kuuchu, and dubana. The impact of major historical factors, including the gradual Islamization of the region, Soviet anti-religious policies, and post-Soviet processes of nation-building and globalization changes in independent Kyrgyzstan are considered. It is shown that Kyrgyz shamanism possesses a high degree of adaptability and inclusivity, incorporating elements of Islamic ritual practice, Sufi mysticism, the cult of sacred sites (mazars), as well as contemporary spiritual trends and neo-shamanic movements. Particular attention is paid to the concept of transculturation, within which traditional beliefs about spirits (arbaks, genies) and ritual practices are reshaped under the influence of the intercultural contacts, colonial and postcolonial dynamics, as well as global spiritual trends. The changes in the spirit pantheon, ritual structures, initiation models, and the social status of shamans are traced after the author’s fieldwork (2011–2022), archival materials, and scientific literature. Modern phenomena, such as the institutionalization of shamanic practices, the spread of neo-shamanism, the emergence of religious tourism, and the influence of Tengrian ideology, are also described. It is concluded that modern Kyrgyz shamanism functions as a dynamic transcultural system that preserves key traditional elements while actively responding to contemporary challenges, serving as an important carrier of historical memory and cultural identity.

In the evidence

This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.

• State of the evidence: Shamanism ↑Supports

  Argues that Kyrgyz shamanism has been highly adaptable and inclusive across the 20th and 21st centuries, incorporating Islamic ritual, Sufi mysticism, mazar veneration, and neo-shamanic movements, and now functions as a dynamic transcultural system carrying historical memory and cultural identity.

  Synthesized September 20, 2026

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on shamanism, most cited first.