S0869-54150000392-4-1

Article

Published

Issue 2

169-182

Drawing on her own field research data, the author enquires into the question why a Nanai shaman needs an audience that observes the kamlanye ritual. Even though it was not always required that an audience should perform any particular actions during the ritual, the very presence of the audience was required for the ritual to be held. While watching the shaman's performance, the audience was testing the shaman and thus his status, which could be essential in matters related to his initiation or any change of his social position. Furthermore, in certain cases, the shaman's apparent dominance over the audience could be inverted or subverted, for the audience might in fact be able to prevent the shaman's attempt to dodge his ritual duties, for instance. The author argues that the importance and power of the audience had to do with the worldview of shamanic cultures, with its complex balance of spiritual authorities.

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