Sacred Places (Objects) in Kalmyk Culture: the Single Poplar
https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2017-11-91-101
Abstract
The article describes rites of worshipping the tree, the cult of which had anticipated the emergence of the main world religions. The Single Poplar is a sacred object of present-day Kalmyk culture believed to have the ability of bestowing good fortune, progeny, and sound health. The rituals performed near the old tree are essentially ancient and have intertwined with the Buddhist tradition.
About the Author
A. Heichieva
Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS (Elista, Russian Federation)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Junior Research Associate, Department of History, Archаeology and Ethnology
References
1. Agapkina T. A. A Tree and a Man: One Fate for Two. In: Ethnolinguistica Slavica. Мoscow, 2013. Pp. 42–58. Available at: http://slawa.su/weles/2772-derevo-i-chelovek-odna-sudba-na-dvoikh.html (accessed: 3 December 2017). (In Russ.)
2. Bakaeva E. P. Buddhism in Kalmykia: Main Stages of History. Buddhism of Russia. 2009. No. 42. Pp. 9–18. (In Russ.)
3. Bakaeva E. P. Ethnic Specificity of Kalmyk Buddhism. New Historical Bulletin. 2011. No. 29. Pp. 16–24. (In Russ.)
4. Bakaeva E. P., Sangadzhiev Yu. I. Symbolism of the Centre in Traditional Dwelling of Kalmyks: from Nomadic to Sedentary Way of Life. In: Material and Spiritual Foundations of the Kalmyk Statehood within Russia. Conf. proc., dedicated to the 360th anniversary of the birth of khan Ayuka (Elista. 22–25 May 2002). Elista: Kalmyk State University, 2002. Pp. 3–5. (In Russ.)
5. Basangova T. G. Demonological Characters in the Folklore of Kalmyks. New Research of Tuva. 2011. No. 2–3 (10–11). Pp. 269–278. (In Russ.)
6. Basangova T. G. The Cultural Hero in the Mythology of Kalmyks. In: World of Central Asia-3. Ulan-Ude, 2012. Pp. 616–619. (In Russ.)
7. Basangova T. G. The Snake in the Kalmyk Mythology. New Research of Tuva. 2014. No. 2 (22). Pp. 75–79. (In Russ.)
8. Basangova T. G. The Tree in the Kalmyk Folklore Tradition. In: National Images of the World in Artistic Culture. Conf. proc., dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the outstanding literary critic, philosopher, cultural studies George Dmitrievich Gachev (1929–2008) (Nalchik. 24–26 October 2014). Nalchik: Kabardino-Balkar State University Publ., 2015. Pp. 594–600. (In Russ.)
9. Burykin A. A. Why is the Handle of Hongor’s Whip Made of a Single Cornel Tree? (Another Ethnographic Commentary on the Motifs of “Dzhangar”). In: Kalmyks and their Neighbors in the Russian State. Conf. proc. (Elista, 7–11 September 2001). Elista: Kalmyk Institute of Humanitarian Research of the RAS, 2002. Pp. 162–164. (In Russ.)
10. Dordzhieva G. S. Bagsha Purdash — Ochir Jungruev. In: Problems of National and General History. Elista: Kalmyk State University Publ., 2007. Pp. 43–47. (In Russ.)
11. Goryayeva B. B. Mythological Three Worlds in the Kalmyk Heroic Epos “Dzhangar” and Fairy Tales. In: “Dzhangar” and Epic Traditions of Turkic-Mongolian Peoples: Problems of Preservation and Research. Conf. proc., devoted to the 75th anniversary of Kalmyk Institute of Humanitarian Research of the RAS (Elista. 15–16 September 2016). Elista: Kalmyk Institute of Humanitarian Research of the RAS, 2016. Pp. 88–91. (In Russ.)
12. In Kalmykia Lonely Poplar Needs Help. Available at: http://riakalm.ru/news/society/8648-v-kalmykii-odinokij-topol-nuzhdaetsya-v-pomoshchi (accessed: 1 September 2017). (In Russ.)
13. Kichikov A. Sh. The heroic epic “Dzhangar”. Comparative and Typological Study of the Monument. 2nd ed. Moscow: Nauka, 1994. 320 p. (In Russ.)
14. Lonely Poplar, a Monument of Wildlife. Available at: https://vkalmykii.com/odinokij-topol-pamyatnik-zhivoj-prirody (accessed: 15 September 2017). (In Russ.)
15. Mandzhieva B. B. Concerning Studying the Image of the Hero of the Kalmyk Heroic Tale. Literary Review: History and Modernity. 2015. No. 5(5). Pp. 6–63. (In Russ.)
16. Mandzhieva B. B. Hero Nomination in Kalmyk Fairy Tales. Bulletin of Dagestan State Pedagogical University. Ser. Social and Humanities Sciences. 2016. Vol. 10. No. 4. Pp. 108–112. (In Russ.)
17. Myths of the Peoples of the World. Encyclopedia. In 2 vol. S. A. Tokarev (ed.). Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1987. Vol. 1. Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1987. 671 p. (In Russ.)
18. Myths of the Peoples of the World: Encyclopedia. In 2 vol. S. A. Tokarev (ed.). Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1988. Vol. 2. 719 p. (In Russ.)
19. Neklyudov S. Yu. Mythology of Mongolian Peoples. In: Myths of the Peoples of the World. Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1988. Vol. 2. Pp. 170–174. (In Russ.)
20. Nikolaeva D. A. The Image of the Tree in the Mythological Views and Ritual Practice of the Buryat (late 19th – early 20th cc.). Bulletin of East-Siberian State Institute of Culture. 2017. No. 1 (12). Pp. 14–19. (In Russ.)
21. Pyurbeev G. Ts. The Epic “Dzhangar”: Culture and Language. 2nd ed. Elista: Dzhangar, 2015. 280 p. (In Kalm.)
22. Sacred “Lonely Poplar” Suffered from Lightning Strike, but Survived. Available at: http://uralan.info/index.php/culture/item/6370-svyashchennyj-odinokij-topol-postradal-ot-udara-molnii-no-vystoyal (accessed: 1 September 2017). (In Russ.)
23. Sanchirov V. P. Concerning the Toponym “Oryn gants modn” in the 18th Century Oirat Work “The History of Ho-Urlyuk”. Mongolian Studies. No. 5. Elista: Kalmyk Institute of Humanitarian Research of the RAS, 2011. Pp. 57–64. (In Russ.)
24. Seleeva Ts. B. Specific and Universal in the Image of a Hero of the Kalmyk Heroic Tale and Epic “Dzhangar”. Bulletin of Kalmyk Institute of Humanitarian Research of the RAS. 2015. No. 2. Pp. 151–155. (In Russ.)
25. Sharaeva T. I. Concerning Studying the Markers of the Genus: Symbolism and Functions of “oelgts”. Mongolian Studies. No. 2. Elista: Kalmyk Institute of Humanitarian Research of the RAS, 2003. Pp. 265–271. (In Russ.)
26. Sodnompilova M. M. The World in the Traditional Worldview and Practical Activity of Mongolian Peoples. Ulan-Ude: Buryat Scientific Center of the RAS, 2009. 366 p. (In Russ.)
27. Traditional World Outlook of Turks of South Siberia: Person. Society. Novosibirsk: Nauka, 1989. 243 p. (In Russ.)
28. Traditional Worldview of the Turks of Southern Siberia. Space and Time. The Real World. Novosibirsk: Nauka, 1988. 225 p. (In Russ.)
29. Travelling to Tibet of Kalmyk Bakshi Purdash Dzungruev. At the Shrines of Tibet. In: Problems of Mongolian Philology. Elista, 1988. Pp. 139–140. Available at: http://uralan.info/index.php/culture/item/6370-svyashchennyj-odinokij-topol-postradal-ot-udara-molnii-no-vystoyal (accessed: 4 December 2017). (In Russ.)
30. Ubushieva D. V. The Upper World of the Mythological Trimirium (on the Material of Bagatskhokhur Cycle of the Kalmyk Heroic Epos “Dzhangar”). In: United Kalmykia in United Russia: through Centuries to the Future. Conf. proc. Elista: Kalmyk Institute of Humanitarian Research of the RAS, 2009. Pp. 624–628. (In Russ.)
31. Zhukovskaya N. L. Categories and Symbols of Traditional Mongolian Culture. Moscow: Nauka, 1988. 194 p. (In Russ.)
Review
For citations:
Heichieva A. Sacred Places (Objects) in Kalmyk Culture: the Single Poplar. Mongolian Studies. 2017;9(2):91-101. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2017-11-91-101
Views:
324
Email this article 