PIAO HAN: THE CREATION OF MANZU IDEmRY AND THE SHAMAMC TRADITION tome Todd Holyoak A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Antiiropology University of Toronto O Copyright by Lome Todd Holyoak (2000) National LÏbfafy Bibliothèque nationale 1+1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliograp hic Services services bibliographiques 395 Weflingtm Street 395. rue Weilingtm OttawaON KlAûN4 OüawaON K1AW canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive Licence allcwing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or seii reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/fïlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retaùis ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or othenvise de celle-ci ne doivent êîre imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Piao Han: The Creation of Manzu Identity and the Shamanic Tradition, Doctor of Philosophy, 2000, Lome Todd Holyoak. Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto. Abstract The Guan are a Manzu clan living in the village of Yi Lan Gang, Heilongjiang province. People's Republic of China. Research was undenaken in China from 1995 to 1997. A discussion of social relations in north-east China is provided to establish context. The Manzu way of life is described diachronically using the work of Sergei Shirokogoroff and the author's own research. The various anthropological approaches to shamanism are reviewed and consideration of the social and political role of sharnanism is proposed. Analytical categories of ethnicity are developed that are reflected in Manzu communities, where concerns with tradition, authenticity, and regional variation lead to an active consideration of the nature of sharnanism. By examining what occurs while the Guan are planning and perfonning their ceremonies. the meanings of sharnanism for the Manzu are revealed. The Guan shamans counteract opposition to the retention of their ethnic identity by stressing the importance of their genealogy and adjusting their shamanic practice to emphasise aspects of their ethnicity that they wish to promote. They use shamanism to improve giian xi with potential collaborators in their project to preserve the integrity of the clan and the sense of ethnicity that entails. Much of what was distinctive about their ethnicity has changed profoundly. but they believe deeply that they are piao han, meaning fearless and competent. and that this is the core of Manzuness. Shamanic rituals honouring the ancestors are used to reconstitute the essential elements of Manzu identity for the benefit of the clan menibers. The sharnanic performance is a symbol that provides an opportunity for the people to consider an idealised reflection of themselves and integrate that image into their understanding of who and what they are. Acknowledaements The research for this dissertation was supponed by University of Toronto Open Fellowships, UT0 Travel Grants, the Royal Anthropological Society of Great Britain and Ireland Emslie Homiman Award, Ontario Graduate Scholarships, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council doctoral research grant. 1 wish to acknowledge the assistance and support of rny friends Lei Hong-Ni and Mu Dai, and al1 at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences and the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences. The advice and encouragement offered early in the research process by Professor Stuart Philpott made an important contribution to the success of this project. 1 would like to thank the members of my examining cornmittee, Dr. Michael Levin, Dr. Michael Lambek and Dr. Jean-Guy Goulet for their advice and insights that helped to shape the dissertation. My family, especially my father. stood by me through the many years 1 have been a student, and never doubted me. 1 am tmly grateful. My supervisor Dr. David Turner has always done his utmost to ensure that 1 stayed true to my ideals and objectives, and that 1 respected the people of Yi Lan Gang. His advice was always timely and his support never waivered. 1 am equally grateful to dl the people of Yi Lm Gang, and especially Guan Jia Kai and Shimu, who tolerated so much and explained so many things. Thank you for welcoming me into your homes. My wife, Lisa Hansen, worked harder than anyone else to make sure that 1 completed rhis project and produced a worthwhile contribution to the discipline of anthropology. Thank you for the innumerable excellent suggestions, the many hours of editing and the many years of patience. This dissertation is dedicated to the memory of Edith Lluella Holyoak and Daniel Davies. Table of Contents .. Abstract ..................... ... .............................................................................................................. il ... Acknowledgements ................... ................................................................................................ 111 Map of Fieldwork Sites.................. ... ........................................................................................ vi introduction: Accessing the Field .................................................................................................. 1 In traduction ....................................................................................................................... -1 Closel y Bound Connections................................................................................................ -2 Popular Ethics ...................................................................................................................... 7 Fear and Loathing in Shenyang ......................................................................................... 10 Making Guan Xi Work for Me ........................................................................................... 12 Chapter One: Overview of the Manzu ........................................................................................... 20 Introduction .................. ..... ............................................................................................-20 Theories of Ethnicity ..........................................................................................................24 Who are the Manzu? .......................... .. ........................................................................... 28 Emergence of the Manzu ................................................................................................... 30 The Manchu in the Late Nineteenth Century ..................................................................... 34 Ethnicity as a Chinese Problem ......................................................................................... 43 Chapter Two: Understanding Shamanism .................................. ... ........................................... 53 Conceptual Bias ................................................................................................................. 55 A Question of Etymology .................................................................................................. 57 Approaches to Shamanism.................... .............. ............................................................ 38 The Shaman and the Stmcturalist ...................................................................................... 60 Ps ychologicai Approaches ................................................................................................. 62 Comprehensive Approaches ............................................................................................. -66 Models of Sharnanisrn ....................................................................................................... -72 Chapter Three: The Contemporary Manzu ................................................................................... 75 The Manzu Then and Now .............................................................................................. 81 Social Life .......................................................................................................................... 83 Social Organisation ............................................................................................................ 92 Economic Activity .......................................................................................................... -105 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 112 Chapter Four: Ceremonial Activities ........................................................................................... 1 14 Sharnanism and Ancestor Worship in China ...................................................................114 Local Knowledge ............................................ ... .............................................................. 117 Ri tuai Variations ................................... ..... ................................................................... 1 20 S hamanism in Yi Lan Gang ................ .... ....................................................................1