Due to their isolation from neighboring cultures and frequent interactions with animals such as wolves, foxes, deer, bears, moose, and elk, Nanai people developed an intricate system of spiritual beliefs that governed every aspect of life including intimate relationships. This article will explore how these beliefs shaped intimate relationships between men and women, between parents and children, and within families, using sources from linguistic anthropology, ethnography, folklore, mythology, oral history, literature, and art.
Nanai cosmogony revolved around three fundamental principles: animism, shamanism, and totemism. According to this cosmogony, everything in the universe was alive and possessed a soul, which could leave or enter another body through intercourse. Shamans were believed to be able to control spirits, while totemic animals acted as mediators between humans and the spirit world. As a result, sex was seen as a sacred act that involved fear, reverence, and moral duty. The Nanai believed that sexual pleasure was obtained by pleasing the spirits and following strict rules regarding marriage and family structure. Men were expected to marry young girls to prove their strength and bravery, while women had to demonstrate fertility and virginity. Adultery and extramarital affairs were severely punished, especially if they involved members of different clans. Marriages were often arranged by the community, with families exchanging goods and services to seal the deal. Sexual education focused on teaching boys how to hunt and provide for their wives, and girls how to cook, gather food, and care for their husbands.
Fear and superstition were also important components of Nanai sexuality.
Men feared losing their virility if they did not satisfy their wives, who might then seek satisfaction elsewhere. Similarly, women feared becoming barren or unattractive unless they pleased their husbands. These beliefs led to an emphasis on premarital purity, monogamy, and sexual exclusivity within marriages. There were also numerous taboos associated with sex, such as the belief that too much pleasure would lead to illness or death.
Intimacy was closely linked to morality; sex was considered shameful outside marriage, while adulterers and prostitutes were shunned by society.
Despite these restrictions, Nanai relationships could be passionate and intense, fueled by a deep sense of spiritual connection and duty towards one another. Love songs, poems, and dances expressed romantic feelings in symbolic language, while physical contact between lovers was usually limited to brief encounters behind closed doors. Intimate relationships were built around mutual respect, support, and cooperation, with men and women sharing domestic responsibilities. Parents taught children about love and sex through stories and rituals, instilling values such as loyalty, honor, generosity, humility, and self-discipline.
Nanai religious teachings played a significant role in shaping intimate relationships through fear, reverence, and moral duty. By following strict rules and taboos, individuals ensured the well-being of themselves and their community.
This approach also limited individual freedom and resulted in rigid gender roles and social hierarchies. The impact of these beliefs can still be felt today, as many Nanai continue to prioritize family ties, tradition, and religion over personal desires and ambitions.
How did Nanai religious teachings shape intimate relationships through fear, reverence, and moral duty?
Nanai people practiced shamanism, an animistic religion that emphasized respect for nature, ancestors, and spirits. Accordingly, they believed that all living things possessed souls and that these souls could become angry if not treated properly. They feared misbehavior towards others and any disrespect towards elders or supernatural beings like shamans and spirits as such acts would lead to punishment from them.