Abstract

This study is based on specific region and specific ethnic group，which intend to grasp the development of Shamanism in history through the analysis on forms and content of Daur Shamanism. It is our intention to find out the crux of the social problems on region inhabited by ethnic groups，through analysis of the relations between Shaman and social groups，revelation of internal relations between Shamanism and traditional Daur social structure.

It illustrated the definition of culture，and laid the theoretical framework for study of customs and culture of Daur Shamanism in Introduction. I also introuduce the background and significance，the overseas and domestic trends，and the goal and methods of the research.

The first part：Aummeriging the historical origin and the distribution of Daur，and the basic components of Ahamanism. Daur origins from the Khitans who moved north community in Liao Dynasty.Daur means large ethnic group，and formed a new united ethnic community during the process that Khitans and local ethnic groups defensed from invasion.Language change and language contact are regarded as main clue to analyse the development of Daur social culture.

According to the differences of geographical distribution，Daur can be divided into five social groups：Butaha group，Qiqihar group，Hailar group，Sinkiang group and Aigun group.

All natural lives are reviewed as gods，and equal in Shamanism. Shamanism is a natural religion that came from the nation for forest hunting，and based on the clan society and public ownership economy. Shaman has played an important role in ancient Daur social life，only he can fulfill the communications within human，ghosts and gods. Different gods have different work and functions.

The second part：Understanding the meaning of Shaman is important to realize the origin and function of Shamanism.All Daur wizards are called yadegen，which means prophet or soothsayer in Daur.

Shaman has special traits influenced by his ecological enviroment and life style.He will suffer from torments mentally and physically if one wants to be a Shaman. Under guaidance and training of Shaman master，he can be accepted as a Shaman.Succession of Shaman follows two different ways—hereditary and non-hereditary，and the two different successive forms are dream and inspiration.

Because people believes that Shaman can revive after death，so the wind burial and The tree burial are usually used for their funeral ceremonies.Each year people holds the ritual activies.

Finally，we focus on introducing come religious activities，such as healing ritual，Aominan ceremony，purifying bath，divination，religious instruments and costumes.

The third part：Shamanism is of importance in various fields as the soul of clan society. Shaman has been in different positions during different periods，who evolved from tribal leaders to cooperator with authorative and ordinary people.

Shamanism is an important power to maitain social order，it is also an important source for moral ideas which sanctified people's life and activity through religious ceremony. This mainly expressed in it's family or marriage view that ancestors worshiped，ecological perspective with nature worship and zoolatry，and virtues and vices based on demonolatry.

The fourth part：Shamanism is Daur inherent religion. It experienced the full bloom period in ancient，the period of declination in mordern time，and the cultural reconstruction period in contemporary age. In current situation，rescue and protection of Shamanism culture have been put in the catogory of Intangible Cultural Heritage，which draw the attention of society. Preparation for museum of Shamanism culture stimulates the development of turism in those areas.

Treatment taken by Shamanism can not be seen as the feudal superstition completely，it has positive function in psychological adjustment of the balance and psychotherapy，and some functions can not be substituted by the mordern medicine，therefore Shamanism can not be eliminated completely in a short time，that is the main reason why Shamanism still survives.