The Shaman's Canoe Journey to the Underworld
A Nanai shamanic epic describing a powerful shaman's journey in his spirit-canoe to the underworld (buni) to retrieve a dying person's soul. According to Nanai tradition, the underworld is a mirror of the world above but reversed — the rivers flow backward and the seasons are opposite. The shaman must navigate treacherous waters in his magical canoe, defeat hostile spirits, pass through a narrow strait guarded by monstrous creatures, and bargain with the lord of the underworld for the soul's release. The journey takes many days and the shaman must leave his physical body in a trance state. If