Finno-Ugric World

DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.011.2019.01.032-044

The symbolic significance of bone, stone and metal in the context of traditional views of the Ob Ugrians on reincarnation

Tatyana V. Voldina,
Candidate Sc. {History}, Leading Research Fellow, Ob-Ugric Institute of Applied Researches and Development, e-mail: tatyanavoldina@yandex.ru

The article continues the series of materials devoted to the problem of reincarnation in the traditional culture of the Ob Ugrians (“Finno-Ugric World”, “Bulletin of Ugric Studies” (2014–2018). The theme of reincarnation of the human soul is directly related to the question about the vital forces and their carriers. In traditional practices for determination whose “soul” reincarnated, the leading ones were the traditional divination and prediction of dreams, but also the attention was paid to the internal (character, preferences, etc.) and the external likeliness of a children to the reincarnated ancestor. It is not main, but very important parameter, confirming the correctness of the definition of the reborn “soul”.
Part of the mythical traditions of the Khanty and Mansi is the so-called “bodily” magic, where special attention is paid to the bones (skeleton) as the basis of the human body. According to the bone structure, people could determine the fate and qualities of a person. Special attention was paid to the spine (or to the back), because the vitality of the human body depended on its strength. The safety and integrity of the skeleton was considered an important condition for subsequent reincarnation. Echoes of ancient beliefs can be found in the mythological texts about the ancestors and customs related to the bear cult.
Relationship between the ideas about the bones with the worship of ancestral guardian spirits is universal. At the same time among the Ob Ugrians bones are also associated with stones. It explains sacralization of natural stone objects, in which “heroes of the past” have “turned”; a stone has generative, protective and deadly functions. The identity of bone and stone can be seen in folklore texts about heroes or miraculous arrows (bone and stone), which appear from the miracle stones, and these arrows are used by the heroes to defeat the supernatural creatures. Metal in its sacred functions is close to bone and stone. Metal products also symboliz a magical protection, ancestral spirits and the human soul (needle, knife, arrow tip).

Key words: Ob Ugrians; mythology; traditional worldview; reincarnation; bone; stone; metal.

For citation: Voldina TV. The symbolic significance of bone, stone and metal in the context of traditional views of the Ob Ugrians on reincarnation. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2019; 1: 32–44. (In Russian)

DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.011.2019.01.056-060

Etiology and methods of treatment of toothache in traditional medicine of Karelians

Tatiana V. Pashkova,
Doctor of History, Associate Professor, Department of Baltic-Finnish Philology, Petrozavodsk State University
(Petrozavodsk, Russia), tvpashkova05@mail.ru

The article discusses the representation of all groups of Karelians (Karelians, Livvik and Ludik Karelians) on the causes and ways of treatment of toothache (rational and irrational).
The study used comparative-historical and comparative-comparative methods. The research involved the works of Russian and Finnish researchers who address various aspects of Karelian traditional medicine. In addition, the author used field materials collected in the Olonetsky and Pryazha districts of the Republic of Karelia.
The Karelians noticed one of the causes of toothache, which was the result of a cold, a natural cause. However, since even after the conversion to Christianity the Karelians remained the beliefs of pagan origin, and in the toothache (as a symptom) was viewed from mythological view.
The Karelians looked at a toothache as a serious, painful disease. In order to prevent its occurrence, the Karelians used salt and performed ritual preventive actions. As well as the causes of toothache, treatments could be rational and irrational. From the rational treatment methods, Karelians practiced warming and compresses, made tincture and ointments from medicinal herbs. Bleeding was considered effective for relieving toothache. Irrational methods of treatment included sorcery. This can be seen in all Karelian groups.

Key words: folk medicine; Karelian traditions; mythology; rational methods of treatment; irrational methods of treatment.

For citation: Pashkova TV. Etiology and methods of treatment of toothache in traditional medicine of Karelians. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2019; 1: 56–60. (In Russian)

Finno-ugric ethnomusicology: encyclopedia of historical knowledge

Larisa V. Brazhnik,
Doctor of Arts, Professor,
Department of Theory of Music and Composition,
N. G. Zhiganov Kazan State Conservatory
(Kazan, Russia), kazconsnauka@mail.ru

The book of poems as a large genre form in modern poetry of Mordovia

Svetlana P. Gudkova,
Doctor of Philology, Professor,
Department of Russian and Foreign Literature,
Ogarev Mordovia State University
(Saransk, Russia), sveta_gud@mail.ru

Aleksandr Efimovich Kitikov – 90

Valerij N. Maksimov,
Candidate Sc. {Philology}, Associate Professor,
Department of the Mari language and Literature,
Mari State University
(Yoshkar-Ola, Russia), sernur@rambler.ru

Natalia N. Glukhova,
Doctor of Philology, Professor,
Department of Finno-Ugric and Comparative Philology,
Mari State University
(Yoshkar-Ola, Russia), gluhnatalia@mail.ru

A. S. Lusgin, an ethnographer, an expert in Finno-Ugric studies, and a public figure (on the 70th birth anniversary)

Vladimir I. Rogachev,
Doctor of Philology, Professor,
Department of Literature and Methods of Teaching Literature,
M. E. Evsevev Mordovia State Pedagogical Institute
(Saransk, Russia), rogachev-v@bk.ru

DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.011.2019.01.093-106

Epos as a factor of formation of ethnic identity of a personality (on the example of Republic of Mordovia)

Valentina P. Minichkina,
Candidate Sc. {Economics}, Deputy Director for research,
Scientific center of socio-economic monitoring
(Saransk, Russia), minichkina@mail.ru

Elena S. Rus’kina,
Research Fellow, Editorial and Publishing Department,
Scientific center of socio-economic monitoring
(Saransk, Russia), redizd@mail.ru

The preservation and development of ethnic and cultural diversity of the peoples of Russia, the harmonization of national and interethnic relations can be achieved through the education of a person, a representative of a particular ethnic group (the bearer of its culture), as well as the development of a person, a citizen of one’s country. In other words, it can happen through the formation of ethnic and closely related civil identity of the individual within the framework of ethno-cultural education.
In the work the institutional approach is applied to the problem of ethno-cultural education, which reveals its possibilities from the perspective of relationships with the ethnic group, socio-cultural sphere and society. It allows to consider ethno-cultural education not only as a mechanism for the transfer of knowledge and training, but also as a cultural institution, which is an important means of preserving and developing the individual’s human and national identity.
Ethno-cultural education employs various methods and means of influence on the individual, aimed at preserving ethnic identity and national worldview. Epos becomes a powerful means of education and preservation of the national genetic code in the younger generation, and the formation of not only national but also universal values. The Mordovian epos “Mastorava” has received world popularity. Its literary version was created by a scholar and a poet A. M. Sharonov on the ancient Erzya and Moksha myths and epic songs. Meanwhile, it remains insufficiently studied, and its educational opportunities remain unrealized.
The authors conclude that it is expedient to be included in the process of ethnocultural education in a multinational region by the means of the study of epic works of the peoples inhabiting it, which will contribute to the formation of the ethnic identity of the individual.

Key words: identity; ethnic identity; civil identity; local identity; ethnic culture; education; ethno-cultural education; ethno-cultural upbringing; ethno-cultural component.

Acknowledgement: the research was carried out with the financial support of RFFR and the Government of the Republic of Mordovia in the framework of scientific project № 18-411-130015 pa.

For citation: Minichkina VP, Rus’kina ES. Epos as a factor of formation of ethnic identity of a personality (on the example of Republic of Mordovia). Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2019; 1: 93–106. (In Russian)

DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.011.2019.01.086-092

Tapestry art in Mordovia today

Sergey V. Gavin,
Professor, Department of “Design-textile”,
Moscow State Stroganov Academy of Design and Applied Arts (Stroganov Academy), corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Arts, Honored artist of Russia (Moscow, Russia), sergey-gavin@yandex.ru

Zoya A. Tanshina,
Candidate Sc. {Art History}, Lectuer, Department of “Design-textile”,
Moscow State Stroganov Academy of Design and Applied Arts (Stroganov Academy)
(Moscow, Russia), tanshina.zoya@mail.ru

The article discussed the role of contemporary tapestry art in modern culture, the history of the formation and growth of national decorative-applied and monumental art schools in the Republics of former Soviet Union, the importance of both group and personal tapestry exhibitions organized by regional creative organizations of the Union of Artists and the Russian Union of Artists as well as the state Museum-Reserve “Tsaritsyno”. It emphasizes the importance of using richest traditions of folk art, stories and legends of the people living in multiethnic Russia.
The works of teachers and graduates of the Department “Folk Art Culture and Contemporary Art” of the Institute of National Culture of Ogarev Mordovia State University have been demonstrated as an example of those who apply modern tapestry in architectural space design. The paper also defines prospects for the development of tapestry art in the works of young artists.

Key words: tapestry, tradition, monumental-and-decorative art, exhibition, Mordovia national art, contemporary.

For citation: Gavin SV, Tanshina ZA. Tapestry art in Mordovia today. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2019; 1: 86–92. (In Russian)

DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.011.2019.01.073-085

Ethnic structure of Zaonezhie population at the end of the XV Century

Boris I. Chibisov,
Candidate Sc. {History}, Lecturer, Department of Theology,
Tver State University
(Tver, Russia), chibisov.bi@tversu.ru

On the northern coast of Lake Onega there is the Zaonezhsky Peninsula, or Zaonezhie, which has retained a significant number of Baltic-Finnish geographical names. The medieval ethnic history of this region remains poorly researched because the Novgorod scribal books date back to the end of the 15th century and their toponymic and anthroponymic materials remain not much required by historians. The study of this material makes it possible to shed light on the ethnic history of Zaonezhie.
The research is mainly based on the scribal book of Obonezhskaya pyatina of 7004 (1495/96). The descriptive method of research consists in identifying and fixing Baltic-Finnish oikonyms (names of rural settlements) and anthroponyms mentioned in scribal book. Baltic-Finnish anthroponyms were revealed by analyzing the formal indicators of adoption of anthroponyms.
The medieval colonization of Zaonezhie by the Slavs led to mixed ethnic composition of the territory. The claims of the boyars to the local lands, mastered by the Baltic-Finnish peoples, led to conflicts in the second half of the XIV century. The names of the inhabitants of Zaonezhie are represented mainly by calendar names in the Slavic form, which reflects a significant proportion of Slavs in this region. Also, it is important to consider the influence of the Slavic cultural and religious traditions on the local Baltic-Finnish population, many of whose, judging by their names, became Orthodox.
The scribal book in the surviving fragments and earlier acts indicate that by the end of the XV century the northern coast of Lake Onega was inhabited by various ethnic groups: Slavs, Karelians and Vepsians, as evidenced by the anthroponyms and toponyms of the Zaonezhsky peninsula.

Key words: Novgorod land; scribal books; Zaonezhie; onomastics; Karelians; Vepsians.

For citation: Chibisov BI. Ethnic structure of Zaonezhie population at the end of the XV Century. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2019; 1: 73–85. (In Russian)

DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.011.2019.01.061-072

Estonians on the Vasilyevsky Island Of Saint Petersburg

Sergei A. Tambi,
Post-Graduate student (MA),
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
(Moscow, Russia), sergey.tambi@gmail.com

The subject of the article is the analyzes of the life of Estonians, who came from the Estland and Lifland provinces in the eastern direction to the Vasilyevsky Island of St. Petersburg, the birthplace of the Estonian community of the city. The object of the study is the the life of Estonian immigrants who came to this place in search of a better life for themselves and their descendants. The aim of the study is to reveal Lutheran parishes of the Vasilyevsky Island, attended by the Estonians; describe the founding and work of local Estonian organizations, as well as cultural and educational institutions. The author tells about the events held by the Estonians living on the Vasilyevsky Island; Estonian shops and educational institutions. Practical significance of the paper lies in the fact that the it reveals the specific features of the cultural life and traditions of the local Estonian community of the Vasilyevsky Island of St. Petersburg. The author also tells about the famous Estonians who were born, worked, lived or served on the Vasilyevsky Island, and their contribution to the development of science and culture of St. Petersburg, Russia and Estonia.
The main methods used in the study are the generalization, the system approach, the historical-descriptive method, the analysis of the documents, and empirical description. Numerous articles from Estonian newspapers and magazines have been used to reconstruct the features of the life of the Estonians on the Vasilyevsky Island.
The author shows how Estonian community of St. Petersburg emerged and developed on the Vasilyevsky Island. It showed Estonian organizations of the island, as well as cultural and academic staff of Estonian origin, whose life was closely connected with the Vasilyevsky Island. Living on the island, the Estonians represented a united and unique community inhabiting the Vasilyevsky Island. At the same time, their community was not isolated and it established a wide network with the Estonians in other districts of St. Petersburg. Due to natural assimilation and migration, the Estonians are represented on the Vasilyevsky Island in a rather poor number at the present time.
The Estonians lived on the Vasilyevsky Island made the significant contribution to the development of culture and science of St. Petersburg, as a multinational city, hosting Russians, Ingrian Finns, Tatars and the representatives of other nations since its construction. The phenomenon of the Estonians of the Vasilyevsky Island is unique and interesting for further research.

Key words: Estonians on the Vasilyevsky Island; Vasilyevsky Island; Saint Petersburg; Estonia; migration; colonists; eestlased Vassili saarel.

For citation: Tambi SA. Estonians on the Vasilyevsky Island Of Saint Petersburg. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2019; 1: 61–72. (In Russian)

DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.011.2019.01.045-055

Subculture of family-related assistance to the Mordovian young family in the countryside

Eliena N. Kasarkina,
Candidate Sc. {History}, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of Social Work,
Ogarev Mordovia State University
(Saransk, Russia), eienovik@mail.ru

In the crisis conditions of modern Russia, a young family (an object of the research) faces many problems and is unable to cope with them alone. Of particular importance for a young family is family-related assistance determined by the social parameters of territorial community and national characteristics of socio-cultural cohesion. The purpose of the research is to substantiate the role and potential of family-related assistance in overcoming the crisis of the Mordovian young family in the countryside. The novelty to the solution of the problem is based on objective and subjective aspects of the functioning of the Institute of assistance in various subsystems of family relations (for example, parents and young rural families).
The most significant role in determining the methodological approaches of the study had the concepts of development of a young family. Among them there are crisis, modernization and system. The formation of the theoretical analysis of the research problem also considered the scientific positions of scholars who study the determination of the characteristics of family life by regional-settlement, cultural, and ethnic factors. For following methods were used for this work: general analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization, interpretation, system method, and secondary analysis of empirical data. The research was based on the questionnaire, and sociological survey of young spouses and their parents.
As a result, the demand for the traditional role of the Mordovian parent family in helping and supporting the young families is empirically proved. It showed the influence of family-related assistance on the success of a young family, as well as the value orientations of young people in the field of family and family relations.
The study showed that family-related assistance in Mordovians is a traditional and popular social institution. The subculture of family-related care includes characteristics of timeliness and diversity, is based on kinship and/or property, is universal and dynamic.

Key words: young family; Mordovians; family values; family-related assistance; countryside.

For citation: Kasarkina EN. Subculture of family-related assistance to the Mordovian young family in the countryside. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2019; 1: 45–55. (In Russian)

DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.011.2019.01.006-013

The use of plural form of the noun in the Finnish language

Nadezda S. Bratchikova,
Doctor of Philology, Professor, Department of Finno-Ugric Philology,
Lomonosov Moscow State University
(Moscow, Russia), n.bratchikova@mail.ru

The focus of the study is the category of plurality of the noun in the Finnish language. The article studies plural forms of the noun in the Finnish language. The aim of the publication is to study the grammatical and semantic features of the plural forms in the Finnish language, to show the interrelation of different linguistic means related to vocabulary and morphology, using them to express the plurality, to reveal the features of the functioning of these means in the context of the utterance. The study was conducted on the material of artistic and journalistic literature in Finnish. The main research method is a synchronous analytical description using elements of the component, contextual, distributional methods, as well as the method of a functional semantic field. The method of analysis is presented by both an onomasiological approach, meaning «from functions to means», as well as semasiological approach meaning «from means to functions».
The work systematizes categorical meanings transmitted by the plural forms. In the situation with quantification, the division of substances into continuous and discrete is significant. The dual category in modern Finnish is not fully represented. The grammatical forms of its manifestation are preserved in possessive affixes. The value of singularity / multiplicity, denoted by these affixes, is determined by the syntactic environment or by using the context. Analysis of the contexts of the use of the plural form allowed us to distinguish two types of characteristics – common and lingo-specific. The presented illustrative material clearly demonstrates the conditions for the implementation of these characteristics. The category of number in Finnish is related to the ideas of certainty-uncertainty.

Key words: Finnish; grammatical category of plural forms; continuum; discrete word.

For citation: Bratchikova NS. The use of plural form of the noun in the Finnish language. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2019; 1: 6–13. (In Russian)

Index – 2018

Finno-ugric conference in Estonia

Vladimir K. Abramov,
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor
(Saransk, Russia), abramovvk@mail.ru