Tengrism
Steppe belief system centered on the sky god Tengri.
Tengrism, also called Tengriism, Tengerism, or Tengrianism, is a belief system that emerged on the Eurasian steppes. It draws on shamanism and animism and typically centers on the sky god Tengri. Some scholars say its followers see the goal of life as achieving harmony with the universe. This faith was the main religion of the Göktürk, Hun, Bulgar, Xiongnu, and Mongolic peoples. It also served as the state religion of several medieval states, including the First, Western, and Eastern Turkic Khaganates, Old Great Bulgaria, Volga Bulgaria, and the Mongol Empire. (Note: The First Bulgarian Empire officially adopted Christianity in 864 CE, and its earlier Tengrism is debated; Khazaria adopted Judaism as its state religion from the 8th–9th centuries, making its classification as a Tengrist state inaccurate.)
The term "Tengri" appears in the Irk Bitig, a ninth-century divination manuscript, as *Türük Tängrisi* ("God of Turks"). Many academics believe Tengrism was—and to some extent still is—a mostly polytheistic religion rooted in shamanistic animism. It was first influenced by monotheism during the imperial period, especially in the 12th–13th centuries. Scholar Abdulkadir Inan argued that Yakut and Altai shamanism are not identical to the ancient Turkic religion. Turkish historian Ahmet Taşağıl contends that Turkic Tengrism had its own distinct theological structure, different from classical shamanism. He describes what is often called "shamanism" as a "Buddhism-mixed steppe tradition" and "a system of magic," not a formal religion. Based on historical evidence, he proposes that ancient Turks were not shamanists but followed a unique Tengrist system centered on an abstract sky deity.
Today, the term also covers several contemporary Turkic and Mongolic native religious movements. All modern followers of "political" Tengrism are monotheists. Since the Soviet Union's dissolution in the 1990s, Tengrism has been promoted in intellectual circles in Central Asian Turkic nations (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan) and Russian regions (Tatarstan, Bashkortostan). It is still practiced and is undergoing an organized revival in Buryatia, Sakha, Khakassia, Tuva, and other Siberian Turkic areas. Similar modern movements include Altaian Burkhanism and Chuvash Vattisen Yaly.
The word *tengri* can refer to the sky deity Tenger Etseg—also called Gök Tengri, Sky Father, or Blue Sky—or to o
- Historical Adherents
- Göktürk, Hun, Bulgar, Xiongnu, Mongolic peoples
- State Religion Of
- First Turkic Khaganate, Western Turkic Khaganate, Eastern Turkic Khaganate, Old Great Bulgaria, Volga Bulgaria, Mongol Empire
Lore & Background
The term Tengrism is fairly new, with the current spelling found in the works of 19th-century Kazakh ethnographer Shoqan Walikhanov. It was introduced into scientific circulation in 1956 by French scholar Jean-Paul Roux and later in the 1960s as a general term in English-language papers. The Russian term Tengrianstvo was introduced by Kazakh poet and turkologist Olzhas Suleymenov in his 1975 book AZ-and-IA. The nature of this religion remains debatable: according to many scholars, it was originally polytheistic, but a monotheistic branch with the sky god Kök-Tengri as the supreme being evolved as a dynastical legitimation, especially by the 12th–13th centuries.
Reader's Guide
Tengrism's significance lies in its role as the state religion of major medieval steppe empires, including the Mongol Empire and various Turkic khaganates. It differs from contemporary Siberian shamanism in that it was a more organized religion, practiced by pastoral, semi-sedentary khanates and empires rather than small bands of hunter-gatherers. Unlike Siberian shamanism, which has no written tradition, Tengrism can be identified from Turkic and Mongolic historical texts like the Orkhon inscriptions, the Secret History of the Mongols, and Altan Tobchi. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, Tengrism has been advocated for in intellectual circles of Turkic nations in Central Asia and Russia, and it is undergoing an organized revival in several Siberian regions. The term also describes several contemporary Turkic and Mongolic native religious movements and teachings, with all modern adherents of 'political' Tengrism being monotheists.
Did You Know?
- The name Tengri is derived from Old Turkic: Tenk ('daybreak') or Tan ('dawn').
- In the Irk Bitig, a ninth-century manuscript on divination, Tengri is mentioned as Türük Tängrisi (God of Turks).
- According to some scholars, the name of the important deity Dangun of Korean folk religion is related to the Siberian Tengri ('heaven').
- In Mongolian folk religion, Genghis Khan is considered one of the embodiments, if not the main embodiment, of Tengri's will.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tengrism and where did it originate?
Tengrism (also spelled Tengriism, Tengerism, or Tengrianism) is a belief system that arose on the Eurasian steppes, blending shamanistic and animistic traditions around the worship of the sky god Tengri.
Who is the central deity in Tengrism?
The supreme figure is Tengri, the sky god, who anchors the entire cosmology and serves as the primary object of devotion for steppe peoples who followed this faith.
Which historical peoples and states practiced Tengrism?
It was the main religion of the Göktürk, Hun, Xianbei, Bulgar, Xiongnu, Yeniseian, and Mongolic peoples, and functioned as the state religion of the First, Western, and Eastern Turkic Khaganates, Old Great Bulgaria, the First Bulgarian Empire, Volga Bulgaria, and Khazaria.
What is the spiritual goal for a follower of Tengrism?
According to many scholars, adherents view the purpose of life as attaining harmony with the universe, a concept that flows naturally from the faith's shamanistic and animistic roots.
Is Tengrism still alive today?
Yes—modern revival movements are active in Buryatia, Sakha, Khakassia, Tuva, and other Turkic communities across Siberia, keeping the tradition in contemporary practice.
More in Turkic mythology 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record