Chinese spirit possession

Model humanity: Main philosophical traditions: Ritual traditions: Devotional traditions: Salvation churches and sects: Confucian churches and sects: Chinese spirit possession is a practice performed by specialists called jitong (a type of shaman) in Chinese folk religion involving the channeling of Chinese deities who are invited to take control of the specialist's body, resulting in noticeable changes in body functions and behaviour.

Movements by shamans practicing spiritual possession often led peasant rebellions against the ruling dynasty during Chinese history.

[2] Larry Clinton Thompson, in his book "William Scott Ament and the Boxer Rebellion: Heroism, Hubris and the ”Ideal Missionary”, has a description of the spirit possession practiced by Chinese boxers: ... whirling and twirling of swords, violent prostrations, and chanting incantations to Taoist and Buddhist spirits.

When the spirit possession had been achieved, the boxers would obtain invulnerability and superhuman skills with swords and lance.

[3]Spiritual possession practitioners during the Boxer Rebellion and 20th century warfare claimed that once these incantations were chanted, Chinese deities would descend to offer protection, so that cannon fire or gunshots would not harm the human body.