Archival Records of G. S. Lytkin as a Source in Nineteenth-Century Kalmyk Ethnography
https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2023-1-57-82
Abstract
Introduction. The article examines and introduces into scientific discourse some archival materials of G. S. Lytkin recorded by the latter in Kalmyk Steppe and pertaining to folk medicine, calendar rituals, and ethnography of the mid-to-late nineteenth-century Volga Kalmyks. Goals. So, the paper aims to describe and introduce into scientific circulation some unpublished materials from the library of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies (Manuscript Dept.), St. Petersburg University. Materials. The study examines archival records of G. S. Lytkin stored at the mentioned repository. Results. The tale of a plant referred to as ‘[wild] boar root’ once used by Kalmyks to treat animal and human diseases is of essential interest. The paper publishes an Oirat-language (Clear Script) manuscript titled ‘Caγān sarayin bičiq’ (‘The Writing of [How] Tsagan Sar [Be Celebrated]’) containing a didactic narrative of Lord Buddha’s miracles shown during the first half of the first lunar month for lay Buddhists. Besides, the work tabulates some statistical data on Kharakhuso-Erdnievsky and Baga Tsokhor Districts (Kalm. ulus), including lists of clans (communities) and their zaisangs, tamgas, nomadic areas allotted, etc. The Supplement contains a table compiled by G. S. Lytkin and containing data on clans across eight districts of Kalmyk Steppe.
Keywords
ethnography,
Kalmyks,
G. S. Lytkin,
folk medicine,
boar root,
Tsagan Sar,
Buddha Shakyamuni,
Kharakhuso-Erdnievsky District,
Baga Tsokhor District,
zaisangs
Supporting agencies: The reported study was funded by Russian Science Foundation, project no. 22-78-10152 ‘Corpus of Old Kalmyk Clear Script Texts on the Lingvodoc Linguistic Platform: New Approaches to the Digitization of Written Heritage’.
About the Authors
Zayana I. Mandzhieva
Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS (8, Ilishkin St., 358000 Elista, Russian Federation)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Saglara V. Mirzaeva
Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS (8, Ilishkin St., 358000 Elista, Russian Federation)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Cand. Sc. (Philology), Senior Research Associate
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Review
For citations:
Mandzhieva Z.I., Mirzaeva S.V. Archival Records of G. S. Lytkin as a Source in Nineteenth-Century Kalmyk Ethnography. Mongolian Studies. 2023;15(1):57-82. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2023-1-57-82
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