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Animals in Superstitious Signs of Mongolic Peoples

https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2018-15-67-80

Abstract

The article studies the traditional culture of Mongolic peoples, examines superstitions and dream imagery, defines and highlights their main typological patterns. Traditional folk culture performs such an important function as predictive action which is usually based on intentional knowledge and, in some cases, on externally derived signs or phenomena that require interpretation. Such signs may be ‘good’ or ‘bad’, and their interpretation depends upon an individual and his / her traditional backgroumd. 
Traditional folk culture has a set of tools required to interpret positive or negative signals and signs that have been accumulated and developed by the ethnic group throughout millennia.
The article aims to investigate superstitious signs and dream imagery of Mongolic peoples mirrored in minor forms and being echoes of archaic ideas about the world structures. The paper deals with signs and night images prognostically associated with animals, birds, insects, and is based on their behavioral patterns, appearances or encounters with them.
Signs and dream images convey stable forms of creative thinking and behavioral models of cultural agents, and in the cultural aspect most adequately – and as widely as possible – cover and mirror the ethno-linguistic picture of the world. Studies of different spheres of traditional folk culture are of great interest.

About the Authors

A. Lidzhiev
Gorodovikov Kalmyk State University (11, Pushkin Str., Elista, 358000, Russian Federation)
Russian Federation

Ph.D. in Philology (Cand. of Philological Sc.), Associate Professor, Department of Russian Language Studies for International Students and General Humanities



E. Vankaieva
Gorodovikov Kalmyk State University (11, Pushkin Str., Elista, 358000, Russian Federation)
Russian Federation

Assistant Lecturer, Department of Russian Language Studies for International Students and General Humanities



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Review

For citations:


Lidzhiev A., Vankaieva E. Animals in Superstitious Signs of Mongolic Peoples. Mongolian Studies. 2018;10(4):67-80. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2018-15-67-80

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