Preview

Mongolian Studies

Advanced search

Kalmyk Wedding Rites: the Gift Exchange

https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2018-14-13-22

Abstract

The article examines the gift exchange rites within the system of Kalmyk wedding traditions. Being a Mongolic people, the Kalmyks attached great importance to gift exchanges (‘a gift — a return gift’) as a communicative means to strengthen social ties. The wedding rites included gifts in the forms of garments and related accessories, livestock and certain product sets. The gift exchange tradition among the Kalmyks is closely connected to the concept of ‘dem’, a compulsory material aid rendered by kindred individuals when preparing for a wedding.

About the Author

T.  Sharaeva
Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS (8, Ilishkin Str., Elista, 358000, Russian Federation)
Russian Federation

Ph.D. in History (Cand. of Historical Sc.), Senior Research Associate, Department of History, Ethnology and Archaeology



References

1. Batmaev M. M. Kalmyk traditions: family and marriage. Elista: Gerel, 2008. 256 p. (In Russ.)

2. Dushan U. D. Customs and rituals of pre-revolutionary Kalmykia. Etnograficheskiy sbornik. Is. 1. Elista: Kalm. Res. Inst. of Lang., Literat. and Hist., 1976. Pp. 5–89. (In Russ.)

3. Erdniev U. E. The Kalmyks: historical and ethnographic essays, late 19th – early 20th cc. Elista: Kalm. Res. Inst. of Hist., Lang. and Literat., 1970. 312 p. (In Russ.)

4. Kalmyk–Russian dictionary. B. D. Muniev (ed.). Moscow: Russkiy Yazyk, 1977. 768 p. (In Kalm. and Russ.)

5. Nebolsin P. I. Kalmyks of Khoshoutovsky Ulus: essays on everyday life. St. Petersburg: Tip. Karl Kray, 1852. 190 p. (In Russ.)

6. Shalkhakov D. D. SThe Kalmyks: family and marriage (19th – early 20th cc.). Elista: Kalm. Book Publ., 1982. 86 p. (In Russ.)

7. The Great Code of Laws (Ikh Tsaaz): a 17th-century monument of Mongolian feudal law. A translation of the integrated Ikh Tsaaz text and Galdan Khan’s laws. Reprint (online): Ikh Tsaaz: (The Great Code of Laws): a 17th-century monument of Mongolian feudal law. G. D. Sanzheev (ed.). Moscow: Nauka, 1981. 148 p. An Internet resource: see hyperlink above (accessed: 15 July 2018). (In Russ.)

8. Traditional Buryat culture: rituals. D. B. Batoeva et al.; T. D. Skrynnikova (ed.). Moscow: Vost. Lit., 2002. 222 p. (In Russ.)

9. Zhitetsky I. A. Essays on everyday life of Astrakhan Kalmyks: ethnographic observations, 1884–1886. Moscow: M. G. Volchaninov, 1893. 87 p. (In Russ.)

10. Zhukovskaya N. L. Traditional culture of Mongols: categories and symbols. Moscow: Nauka, 1988. 196 p. (In Russ.)


Review

For citations:


Sharaeva T. Kalmyk Wedding Rites: the Gift Exchange. Mongolian Studies. 2018;10(3):13-22. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2018-14-13-22

Views: 203


ISSN 2500-1523 (Print)
ISSN 2712-8059 (Online)