The Telengits of Southern Siberia

Landscape, Religion and Knowledge in Motion

Agnieszka Halemba author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:6th Feb '18

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The Telengits of Southern Siberia cover

In a new and engaging study, Halemba explores the religion and world outlook of the Telengits of Altai. The book provides an account of the Altai, its peoples, clans and political structures, focusing particularly on on the Telengits, whilst also considering the different elements of religious belief exhibited among these native peoples.

Paradoxically, as the demand for national recognition grows among such people, and with it the need for more formal state structures, built around the nation, religion too begins to become formalized, and loses its natural, all-pervasive character. With the Telengits, whose natural religion includes elements of Buddhism, this takes the form of a debate as to whether the state religion of their polity is to be Buddhism or, contrary to the character of shamanism, a formal, structured, fixed shamanism. This is a comprehensive anthropological account of the contemporary religious life of the Telengits, holding important implications for wider debates in sociology and politics.

'...rich and engaging ethnography of a fascinating place...' - Alexander D. King, University of Aberdeen, The Journal of the Royal Antropological Institute, Volume 15, Number 1, March 2009

ISBN: 9781138500174

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 453g

240 pages