About the movie "Shamans of the Heavens"

(Saman = Shaman)

This is a film that shows the crisis of the traditional culture of the Manchurian people who live mainly in northeastern China. It is a documentary project that took about nine years to complete, focusing on the endangered language of the Manchurian people and the rituals of samanism (shamanism) that they believe in.

The Manchurian people who built the Qing Empire, the last dynasty in China, currently have a population of about 11 million. At present, there are only about a dozen people who can speak Manchurian natively. The Manchurian language is considered one of the world's cultural heritages that is in danger of disappearing. Only a few villages still observe the saman rituals and the festivals that express their beliefs. In the past few years, several elderly samans have died, leaving only one elder saman in his 90s. If, due to various causes, the customs and beliefs of one's people were to disappear, and if their language also were to disappear, the fundamental spirituality and soul of the people would also be lost. This would be a lamentable fate. 

In this film the director, who has a Manchurian father and a Japanese mother, travels throughout China with his camera. He visits unknown and remote villages and follows the people who are struggling to pass on their precious culture. He meets Manchurian samans, films interviews with them about  the precious ceremonies of the Manchurian saman religion, and he further explores the current state of the Manchurian language. The director also produced the film’s music by recording a few of the remaining Manchurian folk songs and sacred songs. This might be the last chance to experience this reality.

Today, we are facing a severe and dangerous crossroads of the times. As this film hands down its unique culture to future generations, it may serve as a warning call for those who inherit it. This challenge represents a problem faced not only by the Manchurian people, but also by people in Japan and in the rest of the world as we face the threat of the disappearance of the traditional customs and cultures of ethnic groups.

In today's chaotic society, samanism may help us to sustain human spirituality and provide a new wisdom in the invisible world. We can say that the times require the power to connect "heaven, earth, and people". I believe that knowing one's existence and identity and exploring the soul and spirit of one's own culture are essential qualities for deepening our understanding of all cultures.

Kin Taii (film Director, Composer)