Tengrianism and the cult of the sky: parallels of difference in Turkic and Chinese traditions

Abstract

In this article, the concept of worldview of ancient Turks is considered. The role and place of Tengrism (Tengrianism), defining this phenomenon as a worldview, including religious perception elements, which forms the basis of the spiritual culture of the Turks. The aim of the study is to analyze the concept of Tengrism as the ancient Turks worldview and to draw a parallel between the Turkic ‘Tengrism’ and the Chinese ‘Cult of Heaven.’ As there are clear similarities in some aspects that give reason to wonder whether one worldview emerged from the other or whether these are two independent cults that existed each on its own in parallel. Main areas include an exploration of the pre-religious and cultural characteristics of the ancient Turks, particularly Tengrism and ancestor worship. The scientific significance lies in an in-depth examination of the Turkic worldview and its connections with other ancient cultures. Historical approach principle and descriptive method were applied in writing the article as tools for accumulating theoretical and practical data. Based on the material presented and previous studies conducted by scholars in this field, it can be assumed that the similarities between the concept of Tengrism among the ancient Turks and the Cult of Heaven in Chinese tradition can be explained by cultural interinfluence. The value of this study lies in expanding the understanding of the role of Tengrism in the culture of the ancient Turks and identifying new aspects of cultural interaction across Eurasia. The contribution of this research consists in a detailed comparison of the two worldviews, opening new horizons for studies in religion and philosophy.  Additionally, the results presented in this article can serve as a foundation for further research in the field of the study.

Keywords: Tengrism, Cult of Heaven, Ancestor Worship, Turks, Chinese People