The Human Perspective

AbstractThis article examines possible perspectivist phenomena in the ritual practices and ontology of the Duha reindeer herders of Northern Mongolia. My theoretical point of departure is Viveiros de Castro’s recent theories on perspectivism in the Amazon, and Pedersen’s theories about a distinct In...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Inner Asia (White Horse Press) 2007, Vol.9 (2), p.275-289
Main Author: Kristensen, Benedikte Møller
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amulets
Animal behavior
Anthropology of religion
Asia
Asian studies
Children
Dialectic
Dukhas
Field work
Humans
Hunting
Mongolia
Ontology
Perspectivism
Power
Predators
Ritual
Shamanism
Shamans
Social organization
Soul
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Summary:AbstractThis article examines possible perspectivist phenomena in the ritual practices and ontology of the Duha reindeer herders of Northern Mongolia. My theoretical point of departure is Viveiros de Castro’s recent theories on perspectivism in the Amazon, and Pedersen’s theories about a distinct Inner Asian perspectivism limited to the human realm. Based on my fieldwork amongst the Duhas, I propose that, laypersons’ manipulations of amulets and shamanic rituals are indeed perspectivist phenomena, where humans switch perspective with the ongons (shamanic helper spirits) and vice versa. It will be shown how the fundamental dialectic in Duha perspectivism is one between seniority (mastery) and juniority (submission), and howthis dialectic serves to challenge and broaden the mainly hierarchical nature of everyday social life.
ISSN:1464-8172
2210-5018
DOI:10.1163/146481707793646467