The 41st public lecture in the series “The Future of Central Eurasia and Japan” was held on June 8, 2023. Dr. ANDASSOVA Maral, lecturer at the Institute for Advanced Study, Waseda University, delivered a lecture titled “Ancient Japanese Mythology and the Lore World of Central Asia – What Can be Seen from the Perspective of Shamanism.”
Professor Andassova, originally from Kazakhstan, specializes in ancient Japanese literature with a focus on the Kojiki. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Oriental Languages, Kazakh University of International Relations and Foreign Languages, and earned her MA and PhD in Literature from Bukkyo University.
In her lecture, Professor Andassova explored ancient Japanese mythology and Central Asian folklore through the lens of communicating with gods via dreams. She began by recounting stories from Japanese mythology, such as Emperor Sujin receiving guidance on quelling a plague from the god Omononushi in a dream, and Emperor Suinin’s son overcoming a speech impediment after a divine suggestion from the great god of Izumo received in a dream. She emphasized dreams as a pathway to divine communication.
Professor Andassova then delved into Central Asian folklore, highlighting traditions such as receiving prophecies in dreams during the construction of the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and Arystan Bab. She also discussed the tradition of Korkut, an 8th-century figure revered as a saint, shaman, and epic narrator. Variants of Korkut’s tradition reflect diverse interpretations, including conflicts with the god of death, interpreted differently by Muslim and non-Muslim narrators.
During the Q&A session, attendees posed questions about the presence of female shaman traditions in Central Asia, the state of shamanism in modern Central Asia, and other related topics. The lecture provided a captivating exploration of ancient Japanese and Central Asian traditions, offering insights into their cultural and spiritual dimensions.
