Matrilocal, Areal and Religious Symbolic in Traditional Wedding Rituals of the Tuvans and Buryats in Late 19th – Beginning of 21st Century
https://doi.org/10.25205/1818-7919-2021-20-7-169-178
Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of the paper is to reveal archaic matrilocal and the cult of fire, areal, shaman and late Buddhist symbols in wedding traditions of the Buryats and Tuvans. A comparative ethnographic method is applied in the research according to which the symbols are considered and compared in terms of synchronic and diachronic aspects. The paper is current due to representation of unity of nomadic family-tribal orientation based on the example of similarities in wedding traditions of Turk and Mongol peoples. High interest in wedding rituals in traditional society is connected with religious and magical elements that represent praying to local spirits for tribal development and safety.
Results. As a result, the authors come to the following conclusions: firstly, similarity of many elements of wedding ceremonies is defined by nomadic traditions and ideals of a family tribal structure by northern Buryats to Turk peoples and southern Tuvans to Mongolia. Secondly, the late arrival of Buddhism to Barguzin valley and Tuva was a reason of preservation of archaic cults of shamanism.
Conclusion. In summary, it is important to note that comparative analysis of wedding traditions among the Tuvans and the Buryats helps to reveal historical evolution and transformation not only in wedding traditions but in their traditional world view in general. Similarities in diachronic elements of the ritual show unity of many cults that point to tight interactions between the Tuvans and the Mongols, Buryats and the Turk neighborhood. For instance, archaic cults of mother and fire are similar among the Tuvans and the Buryats. Many Shaman and Buddhist cult symbols do not change in Tuvinian and Buryat culture because their philosophies have not been changed on their corresponding territories for a long time. To conclude, comparative research of wedding traditions of Turk and Mongol peoples offers rich material for future research of historical evolution of many cults because the wedding, as one of the most important stages in humans’ life, is always connected with religious rituals of initiation, safety and sanctification.
Keywords
Siberia,
Buryats,
Tuvans,
symbols of wedding rituals,
Mother’s cult,
areal symbolics,
Shamanism,
Buddhism,
religious syncretism
Supporting agencies: The research was carried out as part of the State assignment of FASO Russia (project no. 0329-2016-0006 “Symbol and Sign in the Culture of the Peoples of Siberia in 17th – 21st Centuries: Actualization and Conservation Strategies”) and State assignment of FASO Russia (project no. 121031000302-9 “Monuments of scripts of the peoples of Russia and Inner Asia in oriental languages and archival documents of the 18th and early 21st centuries in the context of intercivilizational interaction”)
About the Authors
V. V. Lygdenova
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Victoria V. Lygdenova, Candidate of Philosophy, Researcher
Novosibirsk
E. G. Batonimaeva
Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies SB RAS
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Elena G. Batonimaeva, Candidate of Philosophy, Researcher
Ulan-Ude
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Review
For citations:
Lygdenova V.V., Batonimaeva E.G. Matrilocal, Areal and Religious Symbolic in Traditional Wedding Rituals of the Tuvans and Buryats in Late 19th – Beginning of 21st Century. Vestnik NSU. Series: History and Philology. 2021;20(7):169-178. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25205/1818-7919-2021-20-7-169-178
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