Шундуинские хамниганы в XIX в.: этнический состав и расселение

Abstract

The ethnic composition of the ethnoterritorial group of Shunduya Khamnigans is of great interest in connection with studies of the ethnic history of the two territories ― Baikal Region and Ergune (Argun) Region. Although each of these regions is marked by unique ethnogenetic processes, in ancient times and the Middle Ages the ethnic history of these regions was integral to the ethnogenesis of not only the whole of Inner Asia, but also reveals somewhat Far Eastern ties with the Khingan-Amur Region. The Khitan people and subsequently the Daur population to have come into close contact with both the Tungus-Manchu and Barga-Buryat populations thus established a special layer ― the Khamnigans. However, in Russian documents the entire population of the Urulginskaya Steppe Duma, and the Shunduya District as its part, were referred to as ‘Tungus’. It should be taken into account that according to the 17th – 19th cc. Russian documents the Tungus population comprised different communities, including Daurs who together with Solons actually formed the backbone of this territorial group. Tribes referred to as ‘Dalat’, ‘Dolot’, ‘Zaltut’, ‘Kancelut’ can be well recognized as Daur population. The problem of the origin of the Namiats who had long remained in the Baikal Region influenced by the Barga-Buryat ethnogenetic processes is also interesting enough. The origin of the Uliat reflects the complex processes of connections between the Quriqan-Bargut population of the Baikal Region and the population of Ergune (Argun) Region. The Tungusic stratum was represented by the Chelkagirs who came from the valley of Barguzin and where the rest of this is tribe is still known as Chilchagir. The Duligats represented the Solon population. Studies of ethnic composition of the Shunduya Khamnigans makes it possible to single out several different layers that took part not only in the ethnogenesis of the Buryats, the Daur and Solons, but also the neighboring Tungus-Manchu and Mongol peoples, which indicates the inextricable link between the history of this subregion with Central Asia and North Siberia.