The book ‘Chukchi. Part 2. Chukchi Religion’ was the main work by V. G. Bogoraz on religion. It was written initially in English for the publication in the U.S.A. in the early twentieth century (The Chukchee Religion (Plate XXXII-XXXIV, Figures 200-301)// Jesup North Pacific Expedition. Volume VII. Memoir of American Museum of Natural History. Volume XII, New York. Part II, 1907, pp. 277-536), and the author translated it in Russian by himself, but published in Russia only after his death on the initiative and under the supervision of Yu. P. Frantzev who did not share the B.’s views on the origin and the early forms of religion (see: editor’s introduction).
The book consists of seven chapters.
Chapter I: Religious ideas. Stages of evolution of the primordial religious conceptions. Material objects perceived as living ones. Animals as human beings. Owners. Comparative notes. Kelet. Generous creatures. Directions. The Sun and the Moon. Stars and Constellations. The other ‘creatures’ of the system of the winds. Monsters. Cosmogonic beliefs. Soul. The land of deads.
Chapter II: Protectors and sacred objects. Amulets. Materialized spirits. Personal protectors. Beads. Family protectors of the Deer Chukchi. Hearth. Wooden flint. Bunches of protectors. Frame drums. Huts. Care for sacred objects. Smearing with blood. Melodies. Protectors of the Sea Chukchi. The rite of smearing. Masks. Dolls.
Chapter III: Feasts. Feasts of the Deer Chukchi. Autumnal deer killing. Winter deer killing. The horns feast. Sacrifices for the hunting success. The feast of getting wild deer bucks. The thanksgiving feast. Runs. Feasts of the Sea Chukchi. Ritual house. Sacrifice to the sea. The autumnal feast. The Kretekun’s feast. Exchange of gifts. The trade dance. The feast of Asian Eskimo people. The loon feast. The feast of a circle ceremony. The exchange dance. The canoe feast. The heads feast. Sacrifice for the fire. Sacrifice for the constellation of Pegitten. The feast of Kilvey. The whale feast. Tossing up on the walrus pelt. Runs. Stuck pole.
Chapter IV: Shamanism. Family Shamanism. Shaman’s ecstasy. The preparations period. The psychology of Shamans. Classification of Shamans. Paying for Shaman’s rites. Preparetions for Shaman’s state. Shaman’s actions in the inner canopy. Ventriloquism and other tricks. Magic advices. Fading. Shaman’s actions in the outer canopy. Shaman’s tricks in the day light. Sexual perversions in Shamanism, and Shamans of perverted sex. Shaman’s costume. Magic healing.
Chapter V: Magic. Spells. Evil influence. Divination. Dreams. Signs. Taboo.
Chapter VI: Translation of spells. Spells for taming wild animals. Spell of the people of Middle Anadyr’ for hunting on wild deers. Spell for hunting on sea animals. Spell for softening the weather. Spell against coming of kelet. Spell for protecting the herd of deers from the hooves disease. Spell against wolves attacks. Spells of the healing magic. Spells returning the dying people. Spell of evil influence. Love spells. Spell of a jealous woman. The Raven spell. Spells for the competition in running.
Chapter VII: Birth and death. Deliverance. Smearing with blood. Protecting spells. A state of a child in a family. Hygiene. Death. Deceased as protectors. Deceased as enemies. Funeral ritual of the Deer Chukchi. Dressing the dead. Divination. Laying the corpse. Protecting spells. Arranging the grave. Burning the corpse. Sacrifice for the deceased. Funeral ritual of the Sea Chukchi.