What is Mongolian Shamanism?
Mongolian shamanism is an all-encompassing system of belief that includes medicine, religion, a reverence of nature, and ancestor worship. Central to the system are the activities of male and female intercessors between the human world and the spirit world, shamans (böö) and shamanesses (udgan). At its core is the veneration of Tengri—the Eternal Blue Sky—and a cosmology organized around multiple classes of spirits including sky deities (tengri), earth spirits, ancestors, and nature beings. What is Mongolian shamanism meaning in practical terms? It is both a cosmological framework and a set of ritual practices enabling communication with and influence over spiritual forces that govern health, weather, fortune, and the balance between human and natural worlds.
Origins & Lineage
Mongolian shamanism is one of the world’s oldest spiritual systems, with roots stretching back at least 10,000 years, according to archaeological evidence. It has been developed on the basis of the belief in totemism and dates back to 300 to 400 BC. The Huns, ancestors of the Mongolians, worshiped shamanism and made it the state religion. The spiritual framework is often called Tengrism, referencing Tengri, the supreme sky god. The Mongolians practiced mainly tengrism, a form of polytheistic animist shamanism stemming from ancient Turkish religions, was popularized in Mongolia through Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire.
During the time of Genghis Khan in the 13th century, shamanism was the main religious system in Mongolia’s vast steppe. Before each battle, shamans were invited to call the grace for the warriors and prophesy its development. The Secret History of the Mongols, a thirteenth-century chronicle, documents the political power shamans held at court. During the 16th century, Tibetan Buddhism began to spread across Mongolia, blending with shamanic beliefs in a unique form of spiritual syncretism. This created Yellow Shamanism, which integrates Buddhist deities and rituals.
Under Soviet influence after the 1921 Mongolian Revolution, Communist authorities severely repressed traditional spiritual practices. By the 1930s, during Stalinist purges, many shamans were persecuted, imprisoned, or executed, and countless sacred artefacts were destroyed. With the peaceful Democratic Revolution of 1990, Mongolia transitioned to democracy, and religious freedom was restored. Since then, there has been a remarkable revival of shamanic traditions.
How It’s Practiced
Shamans, known as böö (male) and udgan (female), act as intermediaries between humans and the spirit world. Through rhythmic drumming, chanting, and trance-induced journeys, they communicate with spirits of nature, ancestors, and deities, providing counsel, healing, and spiritual protection. The drum is the shaman’s primary ritual tool, used to enter altered states of consciousness. Practitioners also wear elaborate costumes adorned with metal objects, bells, and ritual mirrors that serve protective and symbolic functions.
Mongolian shamanism recognizes 99 tengri (sky spirits) organized into hierarchies. There are 99 tengri, or sky spirits, and 33 gods, led by Qormusta Tengri, or the “King of the Gods” according Tengriism. Spirits are often categorized into white or yellow spirits—benevolent forces associated with healing—and black spirits, more unpredictable deities connected to weather manipulation, protection, and traditional Mongolian identity. Rituals include offerings at ovoo (stone cairns on mountain passes), fire ceremonies, and divination.
In Mongolia, shamanism is chiefly practised by minority groups such as the Darkhat, the Buryat or the Uriankhai. Each ethnic group maintains distinct pantheons, ritual styles, and initiation processes, though commonalities persist across traditions.
Mongolian Shamanism Today
In the modern age, Mongolian Shamanism has not faded into obscurity; instead, it has adapted to coexist with contemporary lifestyles. Amidst the bustling streets of Ulaanbaatar and the vast Mongolian steppes, shamans continue to play a pivotal role in the lives of the people. While urbanization and technological advancements have reshaped the landscape, the spiritual pulse of Shamanism continues to beat strong. Urban shamanism has emerged in Ulaanbaatar, where shamans maintain offices and healing centers. The phenomenon of urban shamanism and the emergence of shaman associations and shamanic enterprises in Ulaanbaatar began in the 2000s, with influential organizations including the ‘Golomt Center’ and the ‘Heaven’s Dagger’ association.
Contemporary seekers encounter Mongolian shamanism through cultural tours to regions like Khövsgöl Lake and the Darkhad Valley, where traditional shamans perform ceremonies. Shamanic festivals now celebrate the tradition publicly. Healing sessions addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual ailments remain central to practice. Some shamans work with mentorship models, training apprentices over years before they accept clients independently.
Common Misconceptions
Mongolian shamanism is not a codified religion with scripture or centralized authority. Shamanism is not a religion or a way of life. It is a set of beliefs dictated by a holistic and animistic view of the world. The term “Mongolian shamanism” itself is a modern scholarly construct. Although the term bö’e (alternatively böge or böö), referring to spiritual practitioners such as shamans, appears early in the literature from the thirteenth century onward, the combination böö mörgöl and khara shajin meaning ‘black religion’ is fairly recent and first appeared in sources from the nineteenth century. Its latest version, böögiin shashin, has an even shorter history dating as recently to 1980s.
Practices vary significantly across ethnic groups and individual practitioners; there is no single orthodox form. The relationship with Buddhism is complex—not purely antagonistic or harmonious, but syncretic and contextual. Contemporary urban shamanism may incorporate eclectic or New Age elements distinct from hereditary lineage-based traditions. What is Mongolian shamanism for beginners requires understanding this diversity rather than seeking a monolithic system.
How to Begin
For those seeking to understand Mongolian shamanism meaning beyond theory, direct encounter is essential. Travel to Mongolia to participate in or observe authentic ceremonies, particularly in regions like the Darkhad Valley, Buryat communities near Lake Khövsgöl, or during the summer festival season. Engage respectfully with local shamans through cultural guides who can facilitate introductions and translate.
Academic study provides historical and ethnographic context. Manduhai Buyandelger’s scholarly work on contemporary Mongolian shamanism offers ethnographic depth, particularly regarding post-Soviet revival and memory. The Secret History of the Mongols, though not explicitly about shamanism, documents the tradition’s political role during the Mongol Empire.
Begin by studying Tengrism and Central Asian animistic traditions more broadly. Learn about the role of drumming, trance states, and ancestor veneration in shamanic cosmologies. Recognize that authentic initiation typically follows hereditary lines or spontaneous spirit calling rather than workshop attendance. Approach with humility, cultural sensitivity, and awareness that you are engaging with a living tradition shaped by colonialism, suppression, and ongoing revival.