Family-Tribal Fetishes of the Turks of Hongoray

Abstract

Purpose. The author analyses a traditional cult of fetishism, which used to be common in the traditional life of turks of Hongoray (Khakassia) and others nations of Sayan-Altai region. The scientific novelty is in systematizing the materials available belonging to different ethnic groups of the Khakass (the Kachints, Sagai, Kyzyls, Beltyrs). Results. Functional particularities of the Khakass fetishes “tös” described used to protect clan and family health and served as patrons of cattle breeding and hunting. The author discovers many previously unknown signs and describes their ancient roots. Related myths recorded in Khakassia by the author are of great interest. The first research on the famous fetish “tös” of the Khakass was conducted by ethnographer D. A. Klements, who presented special work on these items. He made a description of them according to his personal collections and observations. Now his collection of “tös” is stored in the Minusinsk Museum of Local History. Unfortunately, D. A. Klements did not speak the Khakass language, so many of the item names were not translated properly. In present work, the author describes new functional features of Khakass fetishes “tös”, especially those related to the protection of the health of the family, the patronage of cattle breeding and hunting. Many previously unknown designations have been discovered, and the ancient roots of such representations have been revealed. At present, the cult of fetishism for the Khakas is a thing of the past; therefore, this research seems to be relevant for ethnographic science in terms of ancient myth-making of the population of Hongoray and neighboring regions of southern Siberia. Conclusion. There is evidence of a significant historical depth of the origin of the “tös”. So, as a result of studying anthropomorphic images on the “engraved pebbles” of the Late Bronze Age originating from Khakassia, their certain successive connections with the Hongors’ “tös” were traced. Thus, having a uniform name and functional characteristics, the cult of “tös” to a certain extent characterizes the origin of the popular beliefs of the Hongoray Turks, as well as their evolution in the historical borders of Sayano-Altai and Central Asia.