Shamanism and folklore of Ainu, the Japanese and the peoples of Siberia: comparative aspect

The article gives examples of similarities between beliefs of peoples of Siberia, the Ainu and the Japa nese in terms of ethnography and religion. Shamanism was recorded in Siberia and northern Europe in several types: entrancement with the help of tambourine, «obsession by a spirit», etc. Shamanism of Eastern Japan belongs to the «obsession» type, and a up to 1970 the ceremony was performed with the use of onion. Japanese female shaman priestess used onion until the New Era, and the ritual featuring onion may also be a more ancient form in Central and Northern Eurasia. There is barely any evidence of Ainu shamanism, except the records by B. Pilsudski, but traces of shamanism can be found in folklore. Zoomorphic deities figure in «The collection of Ainu legends and myths» (1923) compiled by Tiri Yukie: the Spirit of Deer and the Spirit of Fish (Salmon). The idea that deities and spirits give people prey are found in the notes of N. A. Nevsky. A similar zoomorphic deity is known in Eastern Siberia and Japan. In modern popular culture, there are mentions about shamanism and zoomorphic deities that have common features in many cultures.