The Tree and Its Image in the Cultic Practice of the Khakass Shamans (Late 19th – Mid 20th Century)
Problems of Archaeology Ethnography Anthropology of Siberia and Neighboring Territories January 1, 2025 V. A. Burnakov
Among the Khakass people, trees serve as both an essential economic resource and a central symbol with a broad semantic range, perceived as objects belonging simultaneously to the profane and sacred worlds. In shamanic practices of the late 19th to mid-20th centuries, the birch tree played a dual role: it embodied the concept of the world tree and the shaman's personal tree. Shamans traveled across the universe and conveyed sacrifices through the birch, which was called "Sacred birch with golden leaves." The shaman's attributes, vitality, and supernatural abilities were directly tied to this tree, which he received from patron spirits during his formative years.