Свадебные обряды баитов (по материалам Архива востоковедов Института восточных рукописей РАН)

Abstract

Introduction. The article examines a manuscript describing a wedding ceremony of the Bayad Mongols who nowadays inhabit northwestern parts of Mongolia. The paper suggests the manuscript may have been authored by A. Burdukov (1883–1943). This is a Russian-language text with colloquial phrases and lexemes characteristic of the early 20th century. Goals. The article seeks to introduce the archival document of A. Burdukov as evidence of his life in Mongolia that facilitated his scholarly shaping and growth as a researcher and collector of oral and written texts representing the cultural heritage of Mongols. The manuscript is not only a source on traditional Mongolian customs and rites but is also a description of Bayad household life. The samples of minor folklore genres contained therein — such as well-wishes/blessings (Mong. yürööl) — may be instrumental for researchers to explore Mongolian vocabulary and elements of the oral tradition typical for this region. Conclusions. Three main parts within the Bayad wedding agenda can be identified from the succession of events described in the text, namely: prenuptial, nuptial, and postnuptial ones. The Bayad wedding rites contain elements similar to those of all nomadic societies and are distinguished by some livestock breeding-related attributes. The study of Mongolian traditions makes it possible to reveal both general trends of oral folklore and particular ones rooted in individual ethnocultural and historical contexts.