The article presents an analysis of the directions of religious searches of the Far Eastern emigration (first of all, the writers of Russian Harbin). Despite the dominance of the Orthodox Church, this center of the eastern branch of the Russian emigration has historically been characterized by policonfessionalism, religious tolerance and a tendency to cultural and religious syncretisation. The interest in magic, occultism, spirituality, inherent in the daily life of ordinary Harbin people, paired with the pan-mystic sentiments of the spiritual elite. In the minds of émigré writers, the “transcendent” was embodied in various forms and spiritual practices: from theosophy and passion of N. Roerich to astrology, spiritualism and yoga. On the material of creativity, correspondence and memories of Alexei Achair, Valery Pereleshin, Larissa Andersen, the authors explore the religious quest of poets of the older and younger generation of Far Eastern emigration.

Key words: Russian Harbin, ethnocultural identification, polyconfessionalism, religious syncretism, Chinese religions, theosophy, Agni Yoga, “folk Orthodoxy”, pantheism, yoga, spiritual practices.

DOI: 10.22250/2072-8662.2018.4.131-144

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About the author 

 

Anna A. Zabiyako – Doctor of Philology, Full Professor, Head of the Department of Literature and World Arts, Amur State University;

21 Ignatievskoe shosse, Blagoveschensk, Amur region, Russia, 675027; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Olga E. Tsmykal – post-graduate student (Amur State University), Assistant at the Department of Literature and World Arts;

21 Ignatievskoe shosse, Blagoveschensk, Amur region, Russia, 675027; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.