Tengrism

[4] According to many academics, Tengrism was, and to some extent still is, a predominantly polytheistic religion based on the shamanistic concept of animism, and was first influenced by monotheism during the imperial period, especially by the 12th–13th centuries.

[7] Tengrism has been advocated for in intellectual circles of the Turkic nations of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan with Kazakhstan) and Russia (Tatarstan, Bashkortostan) since the dissolution of the Soviet Union during the 1990s.

According to some scholars, the name of the important deity Dangun (also Tangol) (God of the Mountains) of the Korean folk religion is related to the Siberian Tengri ("Heaven"),[15] while the bear is a symbol of the Big Dipper (Ursa Major).

[25][26][27] It is suggested that Tengrism was a monotheistic religion only at the imperial level in aristocratic circles,[28][29][30] and, perhaps, only by the 12th-13th centuries (a late form of development of ancient animistic shamanism in the era of the Mongol empire).

The Huns of the northern Caucasus reportedly believed in two gods: Tangri Han (or Tengri Khan), considered identical to the Persian Esfandiyār and for whom horses were sacrificed, and Kuar (whose victims are struck by lightning).

Now, if, being true to your words, you send your soldiers at the appointed time and, worshipping Tengri, we conquer those citizens (of Damascus together), We will give you Orislim (Jerusalem).

Also, if, adding any additional messages, you let your ambassadors fly (to Us) on wings, sending Us luxuries, falcons, whatever precious articles and beasts there are from the land of the Franks, the Power of Tengri (Tengri-yin Kuchin) and the Majesty of the Khan (Khagan-u Suu) only knows how We will treat you favorably.

Temujin afterward tells his earliest companions Boorchi and Zelme that they will be appointed to the highest posts because they first followed him when he was "mercifully looked upon by Tengri" (paragraph 125).

Temujin prays to "father Tengri" on a high hill with his belt around his neck after defeating the Taichiud at Tsait Tsagaan Tal and taking 100 horses and 50 breastplates.

Genghis sends Subutai with an iron cart to pursue the sons of Togtoa and tells him "If you act exposed though hidden, near though far and maintain loyalty then Supreme Tengri will bless you and support you" (paragraph 199).

Genghis orders Dorbei the Fierce of the Dorbet tribe to "strictly govern your soldiers, pray to Eternal Tengri and try to conquer the Khori Tumed people" (paragraph 240).

The followers of Tengrism in the paramilitary organisation Grey Wolves, mainly inspired by his work, replace the Arabic designation of the god "Allah" with the Turkish "Tanri" in the oath and pronounce: "Tanrı Türkü Korusun" (Tengri, bless the Türks!).

[66][67] The poet, literary critic and Turkologist Olzhas Suleimenov, the eulogist of the Kazakh national identity, in his book AZ-and-IA that was banned after publication in 1975 in Soviet Kazakhstan, USSR, presented Tengrism ("Tengrianstvo") as one of the most ancient religions in the world.

[69] Presenting Islam as foreign to the Turkic peoples, as Semitic religion together with Christianity and Judaism, adherents are found primarily among the nationalistic parties of Central Asia.

[80] The ideology of de-Judaization and the revival of Tengrism is imbued with the works of the leaders of the Crimean Karaites and Krymchaks of Crimea, who traditionally professed forms of Judaism (Igor Achkinazi (1954–2006), David Rebi [ru] (1922–2019), and others).

[81] They are related to Tengrism or are part of it also movements within the framework of the anti-shamanistic Burkhanism (Ak Jang) that arose in 1904 in Altai (its famous proponents were the painter Grigory Gurkin and poet Paslei Samyk [alt], 1938–2020) [82] and the ethnic faith Vattisen Yaly in Chuvashia, Russia.

[86] Since 2007, every two years, International scientific conferences "Tengrism and the epic heritage of Eurasian nomads: origins and modernity" have been held in Russia, Mongolia and other countries (the first was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Spiritual Development of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia)).

[67] A symbol used by many Tengrists, representing the runic spelling of god Tengri and "shangrak" (an equilateral cross in a circle), depicting the roof opening of a yurt, and a shaman's drum.

Deities may be related to natural aspects of the world, such as earth, water, fire, the sun, the moon, stars, air, clouds, wind, storms, thunder and lightning, and rain and rainbows.

[8]: 23 In Turkic mythology within Siberian Central Asian religious systems[100] there is the "celestial world", the ground to which "Earth-Water" (Yer-Su) belongs too, and the "underworld" ruled by the spirits beneath the earth.

Julie Stewart, who devoted her life to research in Mongolia described the belief in the soul in one of her articles: Humans are the product of (father) heaven and (mother) earth.

Aya gaihamshig huvilgaan bogdos haadiin yazguuriig odii todii tuuhnees Ayag ha tehimlig shashnaa dara Luvsandanzan guush beer Ahui ih uls zalgan uztugei hemeen hicheen bichuulsen tuugeer Amitan buhen tsagaan buyanaar ezlen, amin nasan urt bolood Amgalan jargalantan boltugai Erht Tengerees isht haadiin sahiusan beer saitar tetgen ivgeej Evedchin, zud, totgor, tsag busiin uhel ustan amarlij Ed tavaar delgeren, ur taria arvidan, nasan buyan nemj Enh esen amar jargalan, osge hur met olzii hutag orshtugai Aya!

The origin of the marvelous divine Khans from miscellaneous histories Collected by the faith-professing monk Luvsandanzan guush [Buddhist title] Written with effort so that the great nation may read for generations.

By it, May all beings rule through white virtue, living long lives And become possessors of peace and happiness With the spirits of the Khans descended from mighty Tengri blessing thoroughly May sickness, zud, obstacles and untimely death be removed and pacified May merchandise spread, crops flourish and longevity increase May peaceful health and happiness prevail, and auspicious luck come like rain The figure of the God of War (Daichin Tengri) was iconographically depicted in Buddhist-influenced form and carried into battle by certain armies even in the modern era.

Thus, "Gök Tengri" (the "blue Sky") was called Allah, the "spirit of the earth" Shaitan, demons became div, peri or jinn, but the idea behind them remained shamanic.

Deus...locutus est auo nostro Chingischan per Temptemgri (nomen quod interpretatur propheta dei) eiusdem cognatum futuros euentus miraculose temporum reuelans eidem per dictumi Teptemgri nunciando significans: "In excelsis ego sum deus omnipotens solus et te super gentes et regna constitui dominatorem Nos igitur per uirtutem Mengutengri (id est dei uiui) Huyleu cham, dux milicie Mungalorum illustri regi Francorum Ludwico uniuersis et singulis tocius regni Francie Barachmar (id est salutem) Nunciando predictam reuelationem notificamus ut nobis mandatum dei uiui exegentibus eo indubitancius acquiescere uelitis quo potestatem nostram ab ipso Mengutengri collatam diligencius consideretis

papam Francorum regem uel imperatorem fuisse credidisse, sed postea diligentiori inquisitione habita intelleximus ipsum esse uirum sanctum deum iugiter orantem pro nationibus uniuersis ipsius Misicatengrin (id est filii dei uiui)

[127] There are elements of syncretism between Tengrism and Nestorian Christianity with overlapping notions of monotheism and a traditional view of Christ as Misicatengrin probably dating back to the Keraite conversion in 1007.

His successor Abaqa Khan would take part in the Ninth Crusade with the future King Edward of England in 1271 and also storm the Krak des Chevaliers in February 1281 with the Hospitallers of Margat.

[132] Murat Auezov, former head of the National Public Library of Kazakhstan,[133] regards Tengrism as a manifestation of an worldview in which mankind is identified with nature, in contrast to anthropocentric religions.