Belief Systems of the Uzbek People: Shamans and Bakshis

Abstract

In contemporary world folklore studies, the study of each people’s folklore that expresses their national identity – along with the distinctive aspects of the composition of these folklore genres, their historical-genetic foundations, and the semantic-structural, functional characteristics and poetics of their songs – has become one of the pressing scientific directions. This is due to the fact that, at the dawn of a people’s way of thinking, mythological worldviews and knowledge expressed through symbols and allegories are known to have served as the foundation for the emergence and development of all customs and ceremonies, art forms, folklore, and literature. The processes of transition from mythological thought to artistic-aesthetic thought have unfolded in a distinctive manner. The field of Uzbek mythology, through the study of these processes, examines and explains the stages in the development of the people’s artistic thinking. Furthermore, it highlights the place of the Uzbek people in world civilization by showcasing their rich mythological system, including its imagery, plot types, and leading motifs. It identifies the role and function of myths in the genesis and artistic essence of contemporary folklore genres and contributes to the emergence of new interpretations of mythological plots and images in modern art and literature.