THE MEDICAL CHARMS: SEARCH FOR UNIVERSALS IN THEGENRE (BASED ON SLAVONIC AND KORYAK MATERIALS OF MEDICAL CHARMS)
DOI: 10.23951/2307-6119-2021-2-124-136
In this paper comparative analyses of therapeutic charms recorded from such ethical groups as Koryaks and Slavonic people are represented. Interaction between these groups (Koryaks and Slavonians) was minimal and they unrated genetically. During analysis comparative-typological method enabled to find similar typological phenomenon while comparing different empirical material. In folkloristic research charm traditions of native people from Far East is relatively poorly studied. At the same time Slavonic charm tradition has substantial background, which allows to use it as comparative material to find typologically similarities. There is no uniform structure of the charm text in different cultures, though some overlaps in the motives can be found in texts. In the charm text modulation of the situation with sacral character has a place but the character is specific for the traditional culture. In the plot of therapeutic charms, the sacral character has a function of healer who helps fight diseases. The route motive of the healer is universal. This motive is not only plot-forming for several charm texts, but also represents the initial point of the spell and magical healing ritual. The use of the spell requires special mental condition of the healer which is symbolized in the texts as a path, space crossing. The motive of disease banishment is also universal. The roots of this can be found in ancient representation of disease as an evil creature. Another characteristic feature of traditional healing process is appeal to daily circles. In particular, the sunrise id represented as healing time. Due to this concept in many ethnical tradition’s spells are pronounced and rituals are held during the sunrise. Despite ethnical tradition belief in magical healing agent is characteristic. Notably, elements of the fauna, teeth for example, are believed to have special power. The believe of the animal beginnings being equal to magical ones shows mythological basis for these motives. Even nowadays pieces of this mythological basis can be found in healing charms of different cultures.
Keywords: cultural universals, Slavonic folklore, Koryak folklore, healing charms, Slavonic charms, Koryak charms, sacral character, motive of the route
References:
Agapkina T. A. Sjuzhetika vostochnoslavjanskih zagovorov v sopostavitel'nom aspekte [The plots of East Slavonic charms in comparative aspect] // Slavjanskij i balkanskij fol'klor. Semantika i pragmatika teksta. Iss. 10. Moskva, 2006. P. 10–123. (in Russian)
Zhukova A. N. Materialy i issledovanija po korjakskomu jazyku [Materials and research on the Koryak language]. Leningrad, 1988. – 194 p. (in Russian)
Karabulatova I. S., Jermakova E. E., Zinnatullina G. I. Territorija detstva kak jetnolingvokul'turnyj fenomen: zagovory, obrjady i kolybel'nye Tjumenskoj oblasti [The territory of childhood as an ethno-linguistic and cultural phenomenon: Charms, rituals, and lullabies of the Tyumen region]. Tjumen', 2005. 227 p. (in Russian)
Kljaus V. L. Sjuzhetika zagovornyh tekstov slavjan v sravnitel'nom izuchenii. K postanovke problemy [The plots of the charm texts of the Slavdom in comparative study. To statement of the problem]. Moskva, 2000. 192 p. (in Russian)
Levkievskaja E. E. Slavjanskij obereg. Semantika i struktura [Slavonic amulet. Semantics and structure]. Moskva, 2002. 336 p. (in Russian)
Mal'tseva A. A., Golovaneva T. A., Tiron E. L. Golosa koryakskoy kul'tury: Aleksandra Kergil'khot [Voices of Koryak culture: Alexandra Kirgilkhot]. Novosibirsk, 2019. 276 p. (in Russian)
Meletinskij E. M. Strukturno-tipologicheskij analiz mifov severo-vostochnyh paleoaziatov (Voronij cikl) [Structural-typological analysis of North-Eastern paleoasian’s myths (Raven cycle)] // Meletinskij E. M. Izbrannye stat'i. Vospominanija. Moskva, 2008. P. 105–162. (in Russian)
Oinotkinova N. R., Grinevich A. A., Golovaneva T. A. Kul'turnye universalii: sakral'noe prostranstvo v mifologii narodov Sibiri i Dal'nego Vostoka [Cultural universals: sacral space in Siberian and Far East folk myths] // Siberian Philological Journal, 2020. № 3. P. 9–22. (in Russian)
Podosinov A. V. Ex oriente luxl. Orientacija po storonam sveta v arhaicheskih kul'turah Evrazii [Ex oriente luxl. Orientation in the world directions in the archaic Cultures of Eurasia]. Moskva, 1999. 720 p. (in Russian)
Polesskie zagovory (v zapisjah 1970–1990 gg) [Polessky charms (in the records 1970–1990)] / Comp., comments T. A. Agapkina i dr. Moskva, 2003. 752 p. (in Russian)
Stebnitskiy S. N. Ocherki etnografii koryakov [Essays on ethnography of koryaks]. St. Petersburg, 2000. 236 p. (in Russian)
Uspenskij F. B. Magicheskaja rech' objekta i sposoby manifistacii avtorstva v tekstah skandinavskogo srednevekov'ja [Magical speech of an object and ways of authorship manifestation in the texts of the Scandinavian Middle Ages] // Zagovornyj tekst. Genezis i struktura. Moskva, 2005. P. 112–122. (in Russian)
Fedorova V. P. Chelovek i slovo v zagovorah: Juzhnoe Zaural'e. Konec XX veka [Man and the Word in charms: The Southern Trans-Urals. The end of the XXth century]. Kurgan, 2003. 288 p. (in Russian)
Jung K. G. Pis'ma [Letters]. Pt. III. 1952–1956. Moskva, 2017. 316 p. (in Russian)
Jochelson W. The Koryak. Lejden-New York, 1908. 378 p. (In English)
( 919.61 kB ) 
( 845.97 kB )
Issue: 2, 2021
Series of issue: Выпуск № 2
Rubric: ANTHROPOLOGY
Pages: 124 — 136
Downloads: 1523