Article

Name: Military culture in the heroic legends of the peoples of Siberia and the Far East

Authors: S. A. Unru

The Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia

In the section Эпосоведение

Abstract: The paper studies the military culture of indigenous peoples in heroic epos of the Tungus-Manchurian, Ob-Ugric, and Paleo-Asiatic peoples. The Evenk folklore reflects the period of wars with Changites and Deptygirs. The descriptions of the bogatyrs’ battles with enemies show a special formula condemning the confrontation. High-status characters warn the warriors of their responsibility to the spirits for the destruction. In Chukchi and Koryak folklore, some peoples unite to fight against others for land and deer herds. The heroes protect the community and family honor by following the custom of blood feuds. There are still legends about wars and ancestors’ attempts to make a truce. The main Khanty and Mansi heroic tales are about the military campaigns for matchmaking or blood feuds, fights for deer, and territorial claims, the plots often ending with a peace agreement. Also, the battle could be for deer herds, grazing, prisoners, often resulting in bloodshed. One enemy would be left alive to inform tribesmen about the end of the war. The legends describe peace agreements confirmed by a joint meal. Folklore translates the peaceful life value and condemns war. The relations of Siberian and Far Eastern ethnic groups have been developing for centuries. They share the history of struggle for territories and resources, marriage and trade relations, heroic competitions. Northern ethnic legends tell about the contacts and wars with the nearest neighbors and the importance of peaceful coexistence. The folklore descriptions of military ethics and formulas calling for peace form a culture of inter-ethnic interaction.

Keywords: indigenous peoples of Siberia and the Far East, heroic epos, interethnic contacts, military culture, traditional ethics

Bibliography:

Antropova V. V. Voprosy voennoy organizatsii i voennogo dela u narodov Kraynego Severo-vostoka Sibiri [Questions of military organization and military affairs among the peoples of the Far North-East of Siberia]. Sibirskiy etnograficheskiy sbornik [Siberian ethnographic collection]. Moscow, Lеningrad, 1957, vol. 2, 245 p. (In Russ.).

Asadova S. Skazki babushki Tymnekvynoy [Tales of granny Tymnekvyna]. Moscow, Childhood, Adolescence, Youth, 2010, 63 p. (In Russ., in Chukchi).

Balandin A. I. Yazyk mansiyskoy skazki [The language of the Mansi fairy tale]. Moscow, 1939, 78 p. (In Russ.).

Lebedev V. V., Simchenko Yu. B. Achayvayamskaya vesna [Achaivayamskaya spring]. Moscow, 1983. 143 p. (In Russ.).

Lukina N. V. Predislovie [ Introduction]. In: Mify, predaniya, skazki khantov i mansi [Myths, legends, tales of the Khanty and Mansi]. Per. s khantyyskogo, mansiyskogo, nemetskogo yazykov. Sost., predisl. i primech. N. V. Lukinoy, pod obshch. red. E. S. Novik. Moscow, Nauka, 1990, 568 p. (Skazki i mify narodov Vostoka [Tales and myths of the peoples of the East]). (In Russ.).

Mansi mahum pes yis ergyt = Starinnye pesni naroda mansi. V zapisi Bernata Munkachi, 1888–1889 gg. [Ancient songs of the Mansi people. In the notes of Bernat Munkachi, 1888–1889]: scientific edition. Auth. comp. T. D. Slinkina; ed. by E. I. Rombandeeva. Khanty-Mansiysk, Yugra format, 2015, 231 p. (In Mansi, in Russ.).

Mify, predaniya, skazki khantov i mansi [Myths, legends, tales of the Khanty and Mansi]. Per. s khantyyskogo, mansiyskogo, nemetskogo yazykov. Sost., predisl. i primech. N. V. Lukinoy, pod obshch. red. E. S. Novik. Moscow, Nauka, 1990, 568 p. (Skazki i mify narodov Vostoka [Tales and myths of the peoples of the East]). (In Russ.).

Nefedkin A. K. Voennoe delo chukchey (seredina VII – nachalo XX v.) [Military affairs of the Chukchi (mid XVII – early XX centuries)]. St. Petersburg, 2003, 93 p. (In Russ.).

Romanova A. V., Myreeva A. N. Fol’klor evenkov Yakutii [Folklore of the Evenks of Yakutia]. Leningrad, Nauka, 1971, 330 p. (In Russ.).

Shatilov M. G. Vakhovskie ostyaki: (Etnograficheskie ocherki) [Vakhovsky ostyaks (Ethnographic essays)]. Pod red. S. Parkhimovicha. Tomsk, Izdanie Tomskogo Kraevogo Muzeya, 1931, 285 p. (Trudy Tomskogo Kraevogo Muzeya; T. 4 [Works of the Tomsk Regional Museum, vol. IV]). (In Russ.).

Skazki Chukotki [Tales of Chukotka]. Zapisala O. E. Baboshina; pod red. i s predisl. D. Nagishkina. Moscow, Gos. izd-vo khud. lit-ry, 1958, 262 p. (In Russ.).

Skazki i mify narodov Chukotki i Kamchatki (aziatskie eskimosy, chukchi, kereki, koryaki i itel’meny) [Tales and myths of the peoples of Chukotka and Kamchatka (Asian Eskimos, Chukchi, Kereks, Koryaks and Itelmen)]. Moscow, Nauka, 1974, 645 p. (In Russ.).

Skazki, predaniya i bylichki verkhnesos’vinskikh mansi [Fairy tales, legends and stories of Upper Sosva Mansi]. M. V. Kumaeva (Author-comp.). Khanty-Mansiysk, Yugrafika, 2012, 176 p. (In Russ.).

Voskoboynikov M. G. Bytovye predaniya evenkov [Household legends of the Evenks]. In: Yazyki i fol’klor narodov Kraynego Severa [Languages and folklore of the peoples of the Far North]. M. G. Voskoboynikov (Ed.). Lеningrad, 1969. 266 p. (In Russ.).

Zemlya Koshach’ego Lokotka = Kan’ Kunsh Olăӈ [ The Land of the Cat’s Elbow]. Timofey Moldanov (Comp.). Tomsk, 2001, iss. 2, 244 p. (In Khanty, in Russ.).