MANCHU SHAMANIC INVOCATION OF SPIRIT

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The gods' pole (Chinese: 神杆 shéngān or 神柱 shénzhù; Manchu: somo) is a sacred ritual object in Manchu shamanism, serving as a crucial medium to establish spiritual connection with Heaven and the pantheon of gods.

Context and Function:

The gods' pole is utilized in both common and imperial Manchu rituals.

It functions as a vertical axis or conduit between the earthly realm and the sky, symbolically connecting the worshippers and shamans directly to the universal sky god, called Abka Enduri ("Sky God") and other deities.

These poles are central to shamanic rites, anchoring the ritual space and facilitating communication between humans and spirits.

The spirits and gods are believed to reside in or travel via the pole during ceremonies, enabling shamans to invoke their presence and request intervention or protection.

Ritual Usage:

The pole is prominently used during the main ancestral rituals standardized under the Qianlong Emperor's manual (18th century), which include:

The dawn sacrifice (chaoji),

The sunset sacrifice (xiji),

The midnight "light-extinguishing" sacrifice (beidingji).

Shamans conduct invocations at the gods’ pole to open channels of communication and to ask for blessings, health, prosperity, and protection from the deities.

Symbolic Meaning:

The gods’ pole represents the axis mundi, the cosmic pillar linking Heaven and Earth, a universal theme in shamanic and animistic religions.

It embodies mediation between the human and divine worlds, allowing shamans — regarded as intermediaries — to perform ecstatic journeys and spiritual dialogues.

In imperial contexts, the Qing dynasty erected a gods’ pole in the women’s quarters of the Forbidden City to conduct official shamanic ceremonies.

Summary:

The invocation involving the gods' pole (shéngān, shénzhù, or šomo) in Manchu shamanism is a sacred act where shamans employ the pole to connect with Heaven and the gods. This process entails ritual offerings, chants, and ecstatic practices aimed at invoking divine favor, ancestral guidance, and cosmic harmony.