Totem Beliefs in Karachay-Balkar Folklore and Literature
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7596/taksad.v8i1.2057Keywords:
Totem, Ritual, Mythoepic thinking, Symbolic image, Folklore, Karachay-Balkar literature.Abstract
The paper considers a set of the totemic beliefs as archaic views spread among ancient Turkic peoples, in particular the Karachays and Balkars. We have studied ways and forms of pagan manifestation in the ethnic traditions, cultural consciousness and Balkar literature. In the course of the study, we have touched upon issues concerning the mythoepic tradition and symbolic generalizations. We have used folklore to trace the continuity of artistic thought-tide in understanding and interpreting symbols (tree, stone, etc.). We have also identified mythologems (mother goddess) through zoomorphic images (deer, she-wolf).
One can still find mythology and folklore samples in other nations’ literature presenting ancient legends of totem ancestors. They synthesized the rudimentary forms of religion. The characters of the stories were endowed with both zoomorphic and anthropomorphic traits.
In addition to the traditional animal cult worshiped by the Turkic peoples there were the cult of ancestors, obeisance to the spirits of the dead. The ritual to distribute the meat portions of a sacrificial animal between members of the same clan also considered as a symbolic act.
References
Anthology of folk music of Balkars and Karachais (2015). V. I. Mythological and ritual songs and tunes. Nalchik: Publishing houses M. and V. Kotlyarovyh.
Bittirova, T. S. H. (2018). Literature and folklore of the Karachay-Balkarian diaspores. Nalchik: Printing House.
Bolatova (Atabieva), A. D. (2015). Philosophical and aesthetic basis of Z. Tolgurov’s novel “The Blue Tipchak”. Proceedings of the Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 4 (66), 189-195.
Gucheva, A. V. & Guliyeva (Zanukoeva), F. Kh. (2016). Adyghe and Karachay-Balkarian Narts epos: traditional clothing and footwear (from ancient times to the Middle Ages). History of science and technology. 10, 69-79.
Guziyeva (Sarbasheva), A. M. (2018). Folklore as means of reflecting of ethnopsychology. Philological sciences. Questions of theory and practice.
Karachay-Balkar folklore / comp., Introduction by Khadzhieva T. M. (1996). Nalchik: El-Fa, 529 Malkonduev, Kh.Kh. (2014). Karachay-Balkar folk tale. The motives of the snake and the fox. Composition. Bulletin KBIGI. 4 (23), 99-116.
Karaketov, M. D. (2014). Traditional Beliefs. Peoples and Cultures. Karachay. Balkars. Moscow: Nauka. 394-443.
KBIHR Archives, Balkar Folklore Fund. 2d folder, 23 passport, Recorded by B. Berberov.
Kerimova, R. A. (2018). The image of the motherland in the military lyrics of K. Kuliev. Bulletin Bulletin KBIGI. 2 (37), 105-109.
Malkonduev, Kh. (2018). Continuity of the cult and the image of the dog in the Karachay-Balkarian folklore and poetry of Kyazim Mechiev and Kaisyn Kuliev. News of the KBSC RAS. 1 (81), 75-84.
Sagalaev, A. M. & Oktyabrskaya I. V. (1990). The traditional worldview of the Türks of Southern Siberia. Sign and Ritual Retrieved from http://academia.edu/23266253
Uzdenova, F. T. (2016). The artistic space of Karachai-Balkarian poetry: the ethnocultural context. Nalchik: Print Center.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
All papers licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 CC-BY.- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Under the following terms:
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.