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Mongolian Studies

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Vol 10, No 3 (2018)
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ЭТНОЛОГИЯ

4-12 184
Abstract

The article publishes a diary kept by the author during the Soviet-Mongolian Comprehensive History and Culture Research Expedition. The expedition began its work in 1969, and the diary examines the earliest arrangements. Further parts of the diary shall be published in subsequent issues of the journal.

13-22 206
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.

23-33 239
Abstract

The article analyzes decorative elements of nomadic household utensils, i.e., felting ornamental patterns of the Kalmyks. Identification of ethnic features manifested in quilted felting ornaments results in exploration of ancient beginnings of felting arts. Being the most archaic layer of ornaments, the linear geometrical felting decorative patterns constitute a distinctive artistic tradition of Kalmyk applied arts. In terms of traditions the nomadic worldview embraces the structure of ornamented felts created with the aid of figured stitch means. In this perspective, the folk ornamental patterns are of fundamental importance for constructing ornamental compositions of felt mats. The ornament as a concentrate of applied arts synthesizes historical twists and turns in the fate of the nation that gave rise to graphic expressiveness of quilted (stitched) ornamental felting patterns and the polychromic structure of the ‘zeg’ embroidery pattern. The technique of stitched ornaments accompanied by embroidery and applique methods stems from ancient felting traditions. This is illustrated by archeological materials from Noin Ula moumds (Northern Mongolia) that give insight into nomadic economic activities, their beliefs, obsequies, visual arts, and felting ornamental techniques. The archaic decorative patterns manifest the conception memory of ancestors and form the stylistic peculiarity of Kalmyk applied arts.

SOURCE STUDIES

34-53 276
Abstract

The article examines a report by Baron N. Vrevsky that attempts to review the socio-economic development of Kalmyk Steppe in the mid-to-late 19th century. N. Vrevsky’s text provides a detailed description of Kalmykia’s livestock. Besides, N. Vrevsky emphasized a number of shortcomings in the work of the executive office of the Kalmyk People’s Administration (Rus. УКН) that had resulted in that bureaucrats were divorced from understanding Kalmyk people’s actual needs and aspirations. The main outcome of N. Vrevsky’s efforts was that he showed the fragility and instability of Kalmyk livestock breeding that could run into trouble and decline at any moment. The helplessness of livestock breeding resulted from losses of major wintering grounds and a lease of pasture territories. Moreover, any calamity (drouth, epizooty, snow winter, etc.) would result in significant deprivations that could adversely affect Kalmyk households for many years to come. The narrative is abundant in subjective assessments of the author, but those do contain actual data about livestock economies of the Kalmyks. The report as such, corresponding conclusions and proposals made by N. Vrevsky and aimed to improve the Kalmyk people’s socio-economic conditions proved unwanted since those disagreed with opinions of Ministry executives regarding the mentioned population. In general, due to the fact the author interrogated quite a number of informants from throughout the Kalmyk uluses, Baron N. Vrevsky’s work is a precious source on Kalmykia’s socio-economic development in the mid-to-late 19th century. 

54-62 245
Abstract

The article publishes an excerpt from the Kalmyk Steppe of Astrakhan Governorate: Studies by the Kuma-Manych Expedition. It was written in the immediate aftermath and on the basis of materials obtained during the comprehensive research expedition to Kalmyk Steppe which ended in 1862, and is a valuable source on the history of Kalmykia in the mid-to-late 19th century. The book describes the geographical location of Kalmyk Steppe, its administrative and territorial structure, natural resources, economy and everyday life of the population, roads and routes of migrations; it also contains information on Kalmyk history and ethnography, provides recommendations for optimization of regional resources management. The published text gives an overview of the geography and times of migrations which were the most important element to the livestock breeding system of the Kalmyks.

63-76 196
Abstract

The paper examines socio-political views of N. Maslakovets (1833–1908), a remarkable executive and military leader in post-reform Russia, a chronographer of Don Kalmyks. It publishes excerpts from Nomadic Territories of Don Kalmyks: A Statistical Description (Novocherkassk, 1874) characterizing the then conditions of agriculture — namely, livestock breeding — among the Don Kalmyks. The book was prepared by the author when the latter was serving as a member of the Land Survey Commission of Don Host Oblast, and is the earliest comprehensive domestic study of Don Kalmyks viewed as a separate sub-ethnos. 

LINGUISTICS

77-97 198
Abstract

The article analyzes phraseological units with the meanings of ‘be subject to punishment’ and ‘punish / execute’ contained in the Kalmyk heroic epic of Jangar, the core component of the former being the verb харһх.
The study included the use of the contextual method, analysis of word definitions (dictionary entries), and valency analysis. The database to have included 28 texts of multitemporal recordings of the Kalmyk heroic epic of Jangar serves as the research source materials.
Quite a number of synonymic phraseological units with the meanings of ‘be subject to punishment’ and ‘punish / execute’ and the word харһх as a key element have been identified. The structure of the phraseologisms is strictly determined, and basically includes two components, such as a nominal part and the verb form харһх. All the seven phraseological units are combinations constituted by a nominal stem with a syndetical affix and a core element — the verb харһх in the active or causative voices. The nominal part may be accompanied by some explanatory word.
The mentioned phraseologisms are also characterized by certain features, namely: similar forms of the categorial meaning; denotation of same concepts regardless of differing structures; nominal lexemes within the constructions may be both synonymically close or remote to each other (e.g., comp. засг — цааҗ, цухл — хәәч, etc.); phraseological invariants may afford expressive and semantic fluctuations within the main meaning. Analysis of use of the phraseologisms in terms of respective chronological and spatial frameworks also reveals that it is the early Baγa Tsokhor Cycle of the Epic that shows the widest variability range.

LITERATURE AND FOLKLORE STUDIES

98-115 200
Abstract

The article examines songs of the Jangar from the prominent Kalmyk jangarchi Dava Shavaliev’s epic repertory. The whole of the jangarchi’s repertory to have included a prologue and four epic songs was recorded by the renowned Russian Mongolist A. Burdukov in 1939. 
The paper studies compositional schemes, motifs and common features (episodes) traced in Dava Shavaliev’s epic songs, and provides a comparative amalysis. The conducted work makes it possible to conclude that the rhapsode would follow the traditional performance patterns. Being aware of the essential structural principles of the epic, the jangarchi constructed the narratives of his within a certain framework to have included five compositional elements, namely: 1) selection of a hero (warrior), 2) his departure, 3) accomplishment of the task, 4) his return to homeland, 5) feast.
Dava Shavaliev made ample use of traditional and standard poetic formulas, stylistic and compositional means that significantly added to the expressiveness of his songs.

116-125 166
Abstract

The article analyzes the content of the fairy tale published by the famous Xinjiang poet Na. Usme. The text is an oral version of the written work known as The History of Uneker Torliqtu Khan. The analysis reveals that the text examined is not actually a folk work. It is a literary poetic tale with the respective characteristic features and was created by Na. Usme on the basis of existing oral and written versions of the fairy tale.

126-139 274
Abstract

The article examines the problems of Kalmyk to Russian translation of folklore texts from theoretical and practical perspectives. The paper studies texts of household fairy tales within the bilingual academic series — Kalmyk Folklore Corpus. Scientific translation plays an important role in the perception of unique verbal folklore samples. Due to the quality work performed by the translators representatives of other cultures have the opportunity to learn the precious folklore compositions. The paper stresses the importance of expressing traditional ethnic features. 

140-155 209
Abstract

The article considers the motif of the Three Worlds within the Kalmyk heroic epic of Jangar, The Tale of Mani Vadr Khan (recorded from the taleteller N. Nadvidov), and Kalmyk folk tales contained in the Research Archive of of the Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS. The conducted comparative analysis of the mentioned texts reveals that those have retained their respective mythological bases. The paper examines mythological representations of the Kalmyks about nature, such as emergence of the luminaries, birth of primal forefarthers, etc.; religious worldview based on beliefs in supernatural creatures and phenomena, including philosophical aspects constituting a system of representations and knowledge about the world and the human, and relations between the latter. All the investigated genres of Kalmyk folklore basically cluster with respective world folklore genres in terms of typological properties. Quite a number of archaic mythological plots had been mutually borrowed from folklore traditions of other Turko-Mongols. The epic of Jangar and folk tales contain vast materials for further studies of mythological representations of the Kalmyks about the Three Worlds that actually date back centuries.

156-167 190
Abstract

The article deals with some text elements of Kalmyk heroic tales, the latter being compared to samples of epic genres of other peoples, mainly those of Siberia’s Turkic populations. Recent publications of Kalmyk heroic tales provide new opportunities for comparing the fabulous texts with songs (chapters) of the Kalmyk heroic epic of Jangar and studying the interaction between epic and fairy-tale forms. There are distinct traces of mutual influence between Kalmyk heroic tales and fairy tales of the Altai Tuvans, which is interesting enough and is essential for further studies of the interaction between the Mongolic (Oirat) and Turkic oral traditions. Separate motifs that manifest themselves in the Kalmyk epic and heroic tales have analogies among the Samoyedic peoples, and have probably been inherited by Kalmyk folklore from the West Siberian or South Siberian folklore traditions.



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