Nomadic Traditions Research Articles

THE HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT OF KARAKALPAK NATIONAL MUSIC

The development of Karakalpak national music is a fascinating journey through the history and culture of the Karakalpak people. Nestled in the heart of Central Asia, the Karakalpak people have long cherished their traditional music as an integral part of their identity. From ancient nomadic traditions to modern influences, Karakalpak national music has evolved and adapted over the years, reflecting the rich tapestry of the Karakalpak culture. In this article, we will explore the origins, influences, characteristics, and modern developments of Karakalpak national music, as well as the ongoing efforts to preserve this musical heritage for future generations.

Resonance of Tradition: A Comprehensive Exploration of the Historical and Cultural Dimensions of Mongolian Ethnic Music in China

This paper studies the historical evolution and cultural inheritance of Mongolian ethnic music within China, particularly focusing on the nomadic traditions entrenched in Inner Mongolia. Tracing its roots from ancient times to the contemporary era, the research illuminates the profound connection between the musical heritage of the Mongolian people and their nomadic lifestyle. Through a meticulous historical analysis and literature review, the study unfolds the intricate layers of Mongolian ethnic music, showcasing the significance of traditional instruments and vocal techniques. The paper explores the impact of imperial influences, socio-political changes, and the challenges faced in the past decades on the musical landscape. Furthermore, it highlights the contemporary expressions and global resonance of Mongolian ethnic music, emphasizing its role as a cultural ambassador. The research not only contributes to the nuanced understanding of this musical tradition but also adds valuable insights to the broader field of ethnomusicology, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and addressing the dynamics of cultural preservation in a global context.

THE ROLE OF WOMAN IN BIRTH RITUALS OF KAZAKH AND TURKISH PEOPLE

This article delves into the captivating world of birth rituals in Kazakh culture, uncovering the rich tapestry of traditions, customs, and beliefs surrounding the sacred process of bringing new life into the world. Drawing upon ethnographic research, historical records, and interviews with Kazakh elders, this study aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of the significance and evolution of birth rituals within the Kazakh and Turkish community. The article begins by setting the cultural context of Kazakh society, emphasizing the deeply rooted respect for family, community, and spiritual connection. It highlights the fundamental role of birth in perpetuating the Kazakh lineage and its influence on the social fabric of the community. Moreover, the article delves into the historical origins of these rituals, tracing their roots back to ancient nomadic traditions and the interplay between Islam and local animistic beliefs. The subsequent sections of the article meticulously examine the diverse stages of birth rituals, commencing with preparations leading up to childbirth, followed by the actual delivery process, and concluding with postpartum practices. Each stage is scrutinized in terms of its symbolic significance, associated practices, and the roles of key individuals involved, such as midwives, elders, and family members.

Özbekçenin Gelişimindeki Sosyogenetik Faktörlerin Değerlendirilmesi

The emergence of modern Uzbek language is closely related to the migration movements of Turk communities towards today's Uzbekistan geography. Turks who reached this geography encountered settled city people of the Transoxiana cultural axis with a relatively high intellectual level. This situation resulted in the Turks, who have a nomadic tradition, being greatly influenced by the culture and language of the settled people. However, the political and social power of the Turks prevented this influence from reaching the level of assimilation. Especially after the Timurid Era, the influence of the Turks on the local folk culture gradually increased. In this article, the interaction between Turks and Indo-European settlers, it was interpreted with the hermenetic technique, taking into account historical, sociological, ethnographic and folklore data. In order to confirm the information interpreted with this technique, phylogenetic studies, which provide more objective data than other methods, were used, and the reasons for the common phonemicization and grammatical unification between Uzbek and Tajik were emphasized. In addition, as a result of these grammatical events, the distinguishing features of Uzbek from other Turk languages are discussed together with their historical reasons. Thus, it is aimed to determine in general terms the effects of the linguistic composition of today's Uzbekistan geography on Uzbek language.

Қазақ дүниетанымындағы кеңістік пен уақыт түсініктерінің қалыптасуы

The problem of space and time in philosophy was considered as one of the commonly important problems, regardless of what historical period, no matter what civilizational structures they entered. Space and time are base of our understanding of the world. The article identifies the problems of space and time that take a special historical and philosophical place in the content structure of the Kazakh worldview and the understanding is presented regarding the typical features through the analysis of the these categories. It also addresses the directions of the forms of space and time in the nomadic civilization and traditional Kazakh culture. The concepts of space and time in the worldview of the Kazakh people are clearly explained by various examples and the everyday use of the categories of space and time in the national vision of Kazakh people is provided. The presented article is intended to reveal the main dynamics of time and space in the worldview of the Kazakh people (time, past, world, nomadic tradition, life, etc.). The existence of special views of Kazakh thinkers, characteristic of space and time, is the essence of the research problem. Specific examples show that the Kazakh people had their own temporal and spatial dimensions and they were given a philosophical analysis. The article analyzes the features of comparison and identification in the use of the categories of space and time. The place of the categories of space and time as the basis of the nomadic life of the Kazakh people is determined. The relevance of the topic lies in the fact that the use and specificity of the categories of space and time in the Kazakh worldview are explained by various examples, and the role and significance in the development of mankind are revealed from a philosophical point of view.

IMAGES OF TURKISH ETHNOCULTURE IN KAZAKH DECORATIVE ART

The article examines the essence and content of folk decorative crafts in the system of art education, which is implemented in the country on the basis of such programs as “Cultural Heritage”, “Spiritual Revival”, “Seven Facets of the Great Steppe”. The manifestations of centuries-old Turkic culture in Kazakh decorative crafts are considered in detail, its character in the theories of Turkic ethnoculture is analyzed from historical, spiritual, artistic points of view. On the basis of the Turkic knowledge, the stylistic, symbolic and figurative features of some handicrafts, especially headdresses, such as saukele, takiya, and the use of ornaments in them, characterizing the features of the Turkic ethnoculture, are analyzed. The similarities of folk crafts of the Kazakh and other Turkic peoples in the Turkic ethnoculture are shown, as well as evidence that the development of folk crafts is in close connection with the worldview, beliefs, way of life, economy of the peoples. National ornaments, symbolic images, motifs in the crafts of the Turkic peoples are compared, their semantic features are described as signs of the Turkic ethnoculture. The special place of Kazakh crafts in the Turkic ethnoculture as a direct successor of nomadic traditions on the land of the Great Steppe is determined, historical, ethnographic and artistic scientific explanations are given to them.

유목문화가 카자흐스탄과 투르크메니스탄 독재체제 형성에 미친 영향 분석

On January 2, 2022, protests took place in Zhanaozen, a small town in western Kazakhstan, against the sharp increase in the price of LPG from 38 Tenge to 120 Tenge. After these protests, the first president, Nazarbayev, who had been in power for virtually 31 years, was forced to resign. On the other hand, in the Turkmenistan presidential election on March 12, 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Serdar, son of former President Berdimuhammedov, who had maintained power for 15 years, was elected with 73% of the votes.<BR> Based on the above facts, this study assumes that the nomadic traditions and cultures of both countries influenced the formation, maintenance, and succession of the dictatorship system. This study has the following main contents.<BR> First, the characteristics of power and politics in the nomadic traditions and culture of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan will be analyzed. To do this, it is necessary to understand the nomadic production method. And through this, the power structure and the political relationship between rulers and members will be analyzed.<BR> Second, it will be analyzed how Nazarbaev, Niyazov, and Berdimuhamedov used their nomadic traditions and culture to form their own dictatorship. Here, the policy of settlement and Soviet citizenship promoted under the Soviet system and the change in the political structure between tribes, nationalism and nepotism in both countries after independence, and process and content of application of nomadic culture and tradition to Stalin’s personality cult policy will be analyzed in detail.<BR> Third, the characteristics of the dictatorships of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan will be compared and analyzed. The characteristics of each country

Early Medieval coarse wares from northern Bactria-Tokharistan. Archaeological and archaeometric characterization

The paper focuses on the archaeological contextualization and archaeometric characterization of Early Medieval coarse wares from the town of Khosijat Tepe and the castle of Balalyk Tepe (southern Uzbekistan), located in ancient northern Bactria-Tokharistan. From the 5th to the 8th centuries CE, this territory was marked by the successive arrival of nomadic tribes (Chionites/Kidarites and Hephthalites) which interacted with the Kushano-Sasanian population and contributed to the development of regional traditions and specific cultural characteristics. The study of ceramic artifacts is fundamental to ascertaining these processes, but the research conducted to date on this issue is very limited. Thus, we aim, first, to examine the morphological and technological features of some cooking wares, storage jars, and common wares, proposing a functional and morphological classification. Second, we want to detect the changes introduced by the nomadic tribes and evaluate the extent of these changes through a comparison with coeval ceramics from nearby sites. Optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray fluorescence were performed on 16 specimens to evaluate the provenance and to determine the manufacturing processes (choice and working of raw materials, shaping methods, surface treatments, and firing regime). The results of the investigation revealed that all the vessels analyzed are local/regional products; however, the procurement and processing of the raw materials vary considerably depending on provenance and function. The appearance of new shapes and decorations, which have parallels in several settlements of northern Bactria, bears witness to the spread of nomadic traditions at the regional level.

Sahrawi Migration in the Context of a Protracted Refugee Situation – a Description of the Phenomenon and Critical Analysis of the State of Research

Algerian-based Sahrawi refugee camps were established 46 years ago. From that moment, Sahrawis have continuously migrated within organized mobility projects and individually. The aim of the article is to describe this migration as well as critically analyse the state of research. On the basis of a literature review, I have identified both research gaps and some methodological and analytical tendencies: a lack of reliable statistical data, a focus on easily accessible locations and certain groups of migrants, the problem of relating contemporary migration to nomadic traditions, ahistoricism and a lack of processualism in the description of Sahrawi migration, the problematical question of gender in migration processes and the agency of migrants within refugee regimes. Overall, the article introduces the question of Sahrawi migration within a protracted refugee situation and raises questions for further research.

Political invention of the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan

This paper examines ‘invention’ of a new ‘tradition’, that is of nomadic games in Kyrgyzstan blessed by its prehistoric past of nomadism. Since 2012 the Kyrgyz government had introduced the World Nomad Games (the WNGs) in Kyrgyzstan. The country hosted three spectacular games in the northern oblast of the country – Yssyk-Kul. Hundreds of sportsmen worldwide took part in these events and thousands of tourists rushed into the country to watch the games. In fact, Kyrgyz nomadic games are more than just a revival of old nomadic traditions, but they are political inventions. Using Hobsbawm’s framework of ‘invented traditions’ (1983), I examine the World Nomad Games as invented tradition. I argue that the Kyrgyz leadership invented tradition of nomadic games to tackle with contemporary issues, such as a need for attraction of foreign investment and promotion of tourism. As I illustrate the WNGs project was a timely response to improve the country image after a series of political instabilities the country underwent in its recent history.

The Heart of Hearths: Some Reflections on the Significance of Hearths in Nature, Culture and in Human Memory

Starting from new discoveries of classical Saami hearths in an area where they hitherto have been unknown, the author claims that the organization of the Saami hut can be explained by what can be considered as a shamanistic nomadic tradition common to Eurasia and Greenland. The comparative ethnographic material is supplied by the Evenks at the river Yenisey in Siberia. The expressions of the shamanistic cosmology are to be found in the midpassage or linear structure of the arctic huts with the hearth at the centre. This structure has been used also in the practice ofthe shamans. The metaphoric and cosmological potential ofthe fire and the hearth is furthermore explored in sedentary societies, with examples in Classical Antiquity and in Scandinavia. Some implications concern different types of cairns. Iconographical aspects are also treated. The similarities are tentatively explained as consequences of the archetypes of the transforming and regenerating fire, but also as a means of upholding social boundaries in a literary as well as a figurative sense.

TRADISI MERANTAU MASYARAKAT MELAYU MENERUSI TEKS TERPILIH KARYA HAMKA

As recorded in selected texts written by Buya Hamka, the nomadic tradition of the Malays is loaded with culture and custom elements. The use of selected texts, namely ‘Merantau Ke Deli’ and ‘Di Bawah Lindungan Ka’bah’, was appropriate for the study. This paper also differs from other research due to applying a Western theory to a localised topic such as the Malays’ nomadic tradition. Overall, this study aimed to identify the nomadic tradition by the Malays through specific Hamka works and analysed factors that triggered that phenomenon by applying the theory of migration or the ‘Push and Pull’ Theory introduced by Everett S. Lee (1966). The researchers utilised a qualitative approach, strengthened by Lee’s theory. The theory suggests four factors – factors found within the place of origin, factors in the destination, obstacles and other personal factors. The study found that the Malay characters in Hamka’s works travelled to leave their origin due to poverty and gender issues. Factors at the destination were the promise of a more comfortable life and receiving higher education. It is hoped that this paper could be beneficial and used by researchers in future. Keywords: nomadic tradition, the Malay community, factors, concepts, Theory of Migration by Everett S. Lee.

Матрилокальная, пространственная и религиозная символика в традиционной свадебной обрядности у тувинцев и бурят в конце XIX – начале XXI века

Purpose. The purpose of the paper is to reveal archaic matrilocal and the cult of fire, areal, shaman and late Buddhist symbols in wedding traditions of the Buryats and Tuvans. A comparative ethnographic method is applied in the research according to which the symbols are considered and compared in terms of synchronic and diachronic aspects. The paper is current due to representation of unity of nomadic family-tribal orientation based on the example of similarities in wedding traditions of Turk and Mongol peoples. High interest in wedding rituals in traditional society is connected with religious and magical elements that represent praying to local spirits for tribal development and safety. Results. As a result, the authors come to the following conclusions: firstly, similarity of many elements of wedding ceremonies is defined by nomadic traditions and ideals of a family tribal structure by northern Buryats to Turk peoples and southern Tuvans to Mongolia. Secondly, the late arrival of Buddhism to Barguzin valley and Tuva was a reason of preservation of archaic cults of shamanism. Conclusion. In summary, it is important to note that comparative analysis of wedding traditions among the Tuvans and the Buryats helps to reveal historical evolution and transformation not only in wedding traditions but in their traditional world view in general. Similarities in diachronic elements of the ritual show unity of many cults that point to tight interactions between the Tuvans and the Mongols, Buryats and the Turk neighborhood. For instance, archaic cults of mother and fire are similar among the Tuvans and the Buryats. Many Shaman and Buddhist cult symbols do not change in Tuvinian and Buryat culture because their philosophies have not been changed on their corresponding territories for a long time. To conclude, comparative research of wedding traditions of Turk and Mongol peoples offers rich material for future research of historical evolution of many cults because the wedding, as one of the most important stages in humans’ life, is always connected with religious rituals of initiation, safety and sanctification.

Touristic experience at a nomadic sporting event: Craving cultural connection, sacredness, authenticity, and nostalgia

Despite the advancement of event research, which provides necessary foundations on large and mega events that are based on multiple countries joining together to exercise sports competitions, there is a lack of attention paid to nomadic sporting events, such as the Naadam that is joined by nomadic tribes. The study investigates a nomadic sporting event called the Naadam, which is held in the Republic of Mongolia, part of Russia, and several provinces of China. Such an event renders an opportunity for tourists to appreciate a rich culture and history, sacredness, and authentic offerings. The objective of this study aims to examine tourist views of nomadic events through the lens of cultural connection and sacredness with data collected from the Naadam festival in Inner Mongolia, China. A person-administered face-to-face survey was conducted. The tourists were mainly from Inner Mongolia and its neighboring provinces. By modeling differences among tourists with respect to their ethnicity and gender, this study provides a deeper understanding of what tourists appreciate most about these eloquent manifestations of nomadic traditions.

ARCTIC NOMADIC DESIGN (THE NENETS CASE)

Abstract The nomadic technologies of reindeer herders from Yamal Peninsula, in their multidimensional complexity – from the space-time continuity of mobile camps on the open tundra to multi-functionality of material things – enable and facilitate mobility in the extreme environment of the Arctic. The nomadic tradition contains a whole array of concepts (or principles), which, on the one hand, are ultimately practical and, on the other, deserve a theoretical projection. These include: nomadic transformer, mobile module, movement effect, techno-animation, material austerity, space-time continuity, arctic aesthetics. A study of nomadic design implies the usage of new methods of movement recording – MTA (mapping–tracking–acting), including visual data such as UAV mapping, GPS-tracking and 3D-modelling.

Feudal Lords, Nomads, Empires: on the Subject of Medieval Studies

The article deals with the concept of medieval history, which is the basis for the second volume of “World History”. Its main differences from the methodology of “World History” edited in the USSR are determined. In addition to the text of the volume, its maps are analyzed because they reflect the features of the volume. The new revised edition, published in 2019, in the context of a “global turn” and an increased interest in national “World histories”, is based on the principle of synchronization of events, phenomena, and processes, on the desire to show the connectedness of the world and to see features of similarity in the development of different societies, but above all to understand the originality of the “world Middle Ages” in comparison with other periods of world history. The most important distinguishing feature of this edition is showing the key role of nomads and especially nomadic empires. The answer to their challenge was the strengthening of sedentary empires, which had to pay a high price for the opportunity to organize effective resistance.Some countries adopted the imperial model of government; in others, bearers of certain nomadic traditions came to power, and still, others embraced the results of the interaction of nomadic and sedentary empires.The interaction process between the nomadic and sedentary world went far beyond the limits of the border territories themselves; they served as centers from which waves of mutual influences radiated. The zonesmost protected from nomadic empires included Western Europe, which in many ways made the “European miracle” possible. It is in the context of the interaction of nomadic and sedentary empires that “European miracle” appears not as a general pattern but as a historical anomaly, which, however, played a crucial role in subsequent history.

Кочевники Севера: ментальность и мобильность

В статье представлены полевые наблюдения автора 2013–2018 гг. в трех тундрах — на Чукотке, Ямале и Кольском полуострове среди чукчей, ненцев, саамов и коми-ижемцев. Отмечается, что кочевые технологии оленеводов в их сложности и многомерности, от пространственно-временного дизайна кочевий до полифункциональности вещей, обеспечивают мобильность в экстремальных условиях Арктики. Кочевая традиция содержит в себе целый набор концептов (или принципов), включая слитное пространство-время, которые, с одной стороны, предельно практичны, с другой — заслуживают теоретической проекции. В отличие от оседлой картины мира, где пространство и время разделены, в ментальности кочевника они нерасчленимы. Как время движется (кочует) по пространству — у каждого месяца есть свои пространственные отметки — так и пространство не существует вне времени. Если в оседлой ментальности пространство и время воспринимаются как объективные измерения человеческой жизни, то кочевое пространство-время субъективно и не движется без человека. Ценностные установки кочевников обозначают преимущества динамики над статикой, активности над пассивностью, маневра над ожиданием. Арктическая номадология вносит вклад в общую теорию движения/мобильности, которая может создать в гуманитарных науках эффект, сопоставимый с воздействием теории относительности на классическую физику.

The ‘Late Avar reform’ and the ‘long eighth century’: A tale of the hesitation between structural transformation and the persistent nomadic traditions (7th to 9th century AD)

AbstractResearch on late antique and early medieval economic and social processes during the past three decades called for, and enabled, a fresh look at the history of the ‘Late Avar period’ of the Carpathian Basin, corresponding exactly to the ‘long eighth century’ of the Mediterranean and European world. This paper offers a rather sketchy new model, alongside raising questions and framing a research programme focusing on social and economic historical processes. Therefore, using the archaeological evidence as a solid foundation, I have proposed a set of research hypotheses as starting points for regional and micro-regional studies.

The Pentateuch: Exodus–Deuteronomy

The Pentateuch:Exodus–Deuteronomy Christopher T. Begg, Fred W. Guyette, Thomas Hieke, Joseph E. Jensen, and Paul R. Redditt 329. [Exodus 5–12] Rainer Albertz, "Die Plagen-Auszugs-Erzählung: Ex 5–12 zwischen Endtextexegese und Fortschreibungsmodell," Pentateuchstudien, 121-37 [see # 710]. A.'s study of the "plague-exodus narrative" segment in Exodus 5–12 unfolds in four parts. First, he reviews the findings of synchronic scholars who have highlighted the well-structured character of this material and its movement toward a dramatic climax with the killing of the Egyptian firstborn. Thereafter, A. focuses on the problem of the precise delimitation of the above segment, given the variety of "competing" textual signals that point toward different beginnings and endings of the segment. Next, he critically surveys recent diachronically oriented studies of the passage, noting their tendency to assign ever larger portions of this to late redactional hands and to posit multiple, small-scale "supplementations" (Fortschreibungen) within it. Against this background, A., in the final section of his essay, briefly presents his own "slimmed-down" proposal for the formation-history of Exodus 5–12, this featuring a base narrative that underwent three successive stages of amplification at the hands, respectively, of the Exodus redactor, a first P redactor, and a later Deuteronomistic redactor.—C.T.B. 330. [Exod 6:23; etc.] David Fried, "Discerning Nashon's Character from Textual and Intertextual Nuance," JBQ 46 (2018) 169-78. Nashon could so easily escape our notice, but we can profit from his example of bravery and devotion. Exodus 6:23 says he was found worthy enough to marry the sister of Aaron, and he is mentioned again in Numbers 7 as a tribal chieftain. According to the Talmud and Midrash (Mechilta, Beshalach 5; Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer 42; Exodus Rabbah 13) when Moses was leading the people out of Egypt, they came to the Red Sea with Pharaoh's soldiers in hot pursuit, but no one would dare set foot in the water. Who was the first brave soul to do that? Nashon went in first, and then the rest of the Hebrews followed and the waters parted. Later on, after Moses built the Tabernacle in the desert, Nadab and Abihu [End Page 100] perished when they made mistakes in performing the rituals prescribed by the Lord. When the people saw this, they were all afraid, and no one wanted to be "next." But Nashon stepped forward with his own quiet form of courage and performed the sacrifice without being harmed.—F.W.G. 331. [Exod 10:21-22] Stanley Schneider and Morton Seelenfreund, "The Plague of Darkness: Hysterical Blindness?" JBQ 46 (2018) 179-88. In Exod 10:21-22, there is a description of the ninth plague, the plague of darkness. This darkness is thick enough to be "felt." Its purpose was to incapacitate the Egyptians so that normal life would stop and the economy of Egypt would grind to a halt. From a medical and psychological point of view, we ought to consider the possibility that this was a case of hysterical blindness. Isaac Abravanel (1437–1508), e.g., thought the Egyptians' collective blindness could be explained by fear; they had already experienced eight plagues and were filled with dread at the expectation that there was more to come, to such an extent that they temporarily lost their sight.—F.W.G. 332. [Exodus 12] Hans-Christoph Schmitt, "Nomadische Wurzeln des Päsach-Mahls? Aporien bei der Rekonstruktion einer Vorgeschichte der Päsach-Feier von Ex 12,1-13*.28," Ästhetik, sinnlicher Genuss und gute Manieren, 241-62 [see #720]. It is difficult to find an old nomadic tradition behind the Passover account of Exodus 12. Here, the Pg text (12:1, 3aα b, 5, 6b-8a, 8b*, 9-13, 28) presupposes sedentary conditions (see 12:4, 7). Nor is it possible to reconstruct a pre-P nomadic ritual in 12:1-13*. Finally, 12:21-23(24-27) constitutes a post-P expansion (cf. the postexilic conception of a "destroyer angel" in 12:23). [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 333. [Exod 13:19; etc.] Christoph...

Ethnocultural contacts of the medieval population of the Eastern Aral Sea region on the data of archaeological research of the XX century

The article analyzes material evidence of contacts of the nomadic and sedentary population of the Eastern Aral Sea region during the Middle Ages, which are known from written sources. The article is based on materials of archaeological research presented by Soviet scientists in the territory of the Eastern Aral Sea region. Comprehensive archaeological research of the monuments of Kesken-kujuk-kala, Khodja-kazgan 3, Kyz-Molla, Zangarkala, Sarlitam-kala, Saikuduk-kala, Asanas, Khoja-Kazgan 1, Jan-kala (Jend), Murzaly, Kzay, Uigarak , Irkibay, Kum-kala 2, Martyk, Kos-tobe, Beshtam-kala and others on the whole confirms the information of written sources that two cultural traditions coexisted on the territory of the Eastern Aral region - sedentary and nomadic. The nomadic tradition is a symbiosis of Oguzo-Kypchak elements, which is clearly manifested in the analysis of species, forms and ornaments of vessels.