Abstract
Vivid zoomorphic images in the traditional worldview of different peoples of Europe and Asia include the images of spider and worm. These representatives of fauna have not yet been studied using the Buryat evidence. This article identifies and compares traditional beliefs of the Buryats associated with these animals using folklore and lexical information, including the works of various genres of Buryat folklore and ethnographic field materials. The structural-semiotic method used in the study has made it possible to select the symbols associated with spider and worm. In Buryat traditional worldview, they were endowed with ambivalent features. The common elements in their imagery were associated with enemy, disease, and demonic principle, as well as shapeshifting of evil forces. Differences in their images have been established. The boundaries of the category of worm, “khorkhoi” in the traditional worldview of the Buryats were blurry. Worm in the Buryat beliefs had a chthonic origin, symbolized some human vices (voluptuousness, greed) and physical infirmity, and was likened to livestock. Spider was considered to be a mediator between the worlds (Upper and Middle); it was treated with respect which might have been associated with its perceived “kinship” with the humans. The study has shown that a number of traditional beliefs of the Buryats related to spider and worm manifest some parallels with beliefs of the Turkic-Mongolian peoples (particularly, the Kalmyks), which proves the existence of close ethnic and cultural contacts between their ancestors in the past.
Keywords
Buryats, traditional worldview, zoomorphic images, worm, spider, folklore
References
Badmaev A.A. Obrazy osnovnykh zhivotnykh vodno-podzemnogo mira v traditsionnoi buryatskoi kul’ture. Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia, 2018, vol. 46, No. 4, pp. 94-99 (in Russ.).
Basangova T.G. Pauk v fol’klornoi traditsii kalmykov. Bulletin of the Kalmyk Institute for Humanities of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2016, vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 154-159 (in Russ.).
Bertagaev T.A. Ob ustoichivykh frazeologicheskikh vyrazheniyakh (na materialakh sovremennogo buryat-mongol’skogo yazyka). In Sborniktrudovpofilologii. Ulan-Ude: Buryad-mongol’skoe kn. izd-vo, 1949, pp. 64-119 (in Russ.).
Buryaad-orod toli. Buryatsko-russkii slovar’ in 2 vol. / sostaviteli K.M. Cheremisov, L.D. Shagdarov. Ulan-Ude: Respublikanskaya tipografiya, 2010, vol. I. A-N, 636 p.; vol. II. O-Ya, 708 p. (in Buryat., Russ.).
Burykin A.A. K rekonstruktsii mifologicheskikh predstavlenii o pauke-praroditele u tunguso-man’chzhurov i drugikh narodov Severo-Vostoka Azii po lingvisticheskim, fol’klornym i etnograficheskim dannym. In Formirovanie kul’turnykh traditsii tunguso-man’chzhurskikh narodov. Novosibirsk: SB RAS Publ., 1985, pp. 37-51 (in Russ.).
Dzhangar. Geroicheskii epos kalmytskogo naroda. Moscow: Vostochnaya literatura, 1960, 362 p. (in Russ.).
Fol’klor Kurumchinskoi doliny. Ulan-Ude: BSS SB RAS Publ., 1999, 136 p. (in Russ.).
Gura A.V. Simvolika zhivotnykh v slavyanskoi narodnoi traditsii. Moscow: Indrik, 1997, 912 p. (in Russ.).
Khangalov M.N. Sobranie sochinenii. Ulan-Ude: Buryatskoe kn. izd-vo, 1959, vol. 2, 444 p.; 1960, vol. 3, 421 p. (in Russ.).
Rassadin V.I. Legendy, skazki i pesni sedogo Sayana. Irkutsk, 1996, 249 p. (in Russ.).
Skazaniya buryat, zapisannye raznymi sobiratelyami. Zapiski Vostochno-Sibirskogo otdeleniya Imperatorskogo Russkogo geograficheskogo obshchestva, 1890, vol. 1, iss. 2, 160 p. (in Russ.).
Skazki buryat Mongolii. Ulan-Ude: Buryat Science Center SB RAS Publ., 1997, 122 p. (in Russ.).
Smolev Ya.S. Buryatskie legendy i skazki. Trudy Troitskosavsko-Kyakhtinskogo otdeleniya Priamurskogo otdela Imperatorskogo Russkogo geograficheskogo obshchestva, 1903, vol. VI, iss. II, pp. 61-85 (in Russ.).
Vinokurova I.Yu. Zhivotnye v traditsionnom miro-vozzrenii vepsov (opyt rekonstruktsii): doct. sc. (history) dissertation abstract. St. Petersburg, 2007, 46 p. (in Russ.).
Список литературы
Бадмаев А.А. Образы основных животных водноподземного мира в традиционной бурятской культуре // Археология, этнография и антропология Евразии. -2018. - Т. 46, № 4. - С. 94-99.
Басангова Т.Г. Паук в фольклорной традиции калмыков // Вестн. КИГИ РАН. - 2016. - Т. 24, № 2. -С. 154-159.
Бертагаев Т.А. Об устойчивых фразеологических выражениях (на материалах современного бурят-монгольского языка) // Сб. тр. по филологии. - Улан-Удэ: Бурмонгиз, 1949. - С. 64-119.
Бурыкин А.А. К реконструкции мифологических представлений о пауке-прародителе у тунгусо-маньчжуров и других народов Северо-Востока Азии по лингвистическим, фольклорным и этнографическим данным // Формирование культурных традиций тунгусо-маньчжурских народов. - Новосибирск: Изд-во СО РАН, 1985. - С. 37-51.
Буряад-ород толи. Бурятско-русский словарь / сост. К.М. Черемисов, Л.Д. Шагдаров: в 2 т. - Улан-Удэ: Ре-спубл. тип., 2010. - Т. I. А-Н. - 636 с.; т. II. О-Я. - 708 с.
Винокурова И.Ю. Животные в традиционном мировоззрении вепсов (опыт реконструкции): автореф. дис.... д-ра ист. наук. - СПб., 2007. - 46 с.
Гура А.В. Символика животных в славянской народной традиции. - М.: Индрик, 1997. - 912 с.
Джангар. Героический эпос калмыцкого народа. -М.: Вост. лит., 1960. - 362 с.
Рассадин В.И. Легенды, сказки и песни седого Сая-на. - Иркутск, 1996. - 249 с.
Сказания бурят, записанные разными собирателями // Зап. ВСОИРГО. - 1890. - Т. 1, вып. 2. - 160 с.
Сказки бурят Монголии. - Улан-Удэ: Изд-во БНЦ СО РАН, 1997. - 122 с.
Смолев Я.С. Бурятские легенды и сказки // Тр. КО-ПОИРГО. - 1903. - Т. VI, вып. II. - С. 61-85.
Фольклор Курумчинской долины. - Улан-Удэ: Изд-во БНЦ СО РАН, 1999. - 136 с.
Хангалов М.Н. Собр. соч. - Улан-Удэ: Бурят. кн. изд-во, 1959. - Т. 2. - 444 с.; 1960. - Т. 3. - 421 с.