The Oriental studiesPub Date : 2020-12-30DOI: 10.22162/2619-0990-2020-52-6-1613-1622
Maria A. Ochir-Goryaeva, Eileen Eckmeier, Viktor Weizenegger
{"title":"Динамика процессов опустынивания в Республике Калмыкия с середины 1980-х гг. до настоящего времени","authors":"Maria A. Ochir-Goryaeva, Eileen Eckmeier, Viktor Weizenegger","doi":"10.22162/2619-0990-2020-52-6-1613-1622","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22162/2619-0990-2020-52-6-1613-1622","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. In the Republic of Kalmykia, agriculture is characterized by the prevalence of livestock breeding. Still, excessive grazing has resulted in land degradation. Materials. Analysis of buried soils from excavated kurgans reveals that the Late Bronze Age and Late Medieval Period witnessed extensive desertification processes across vast territories of Eastern European steppes. Those trends were determined by global climate aridization traced in other ecosystems too, i.e. were caused by natural changes. Results. Present-day desertification also takes place in the background of universal aridization but its enormous scale and destructiveness are aggravated by multiple anthropogenic impacts, i.e. human activity. For a qualitative assessment, the paper analyzes a time-series of satellite images made by Landsat-TM Earth observing sensor from 1985 to 2011, and makes statistical estimates of related NDVI and TGSI indices. There is an increase in vegetation cover within the investigated area, and this despite the fact that yearly temperatures during the period kept increasing, too. So, the reduced desertification rates have resulted not from favorable climatic factors but rather from purposeful countervailing efforts.","PeriodicalId":434355,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental studies","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130818828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Oriental studiesPub Date : 2020-12-28DOI: 10.22162/2619-0990-2020-51-5-1406-1414
Anita Sh. Ishmukhametova
{"title":"Лексико-семантический анализ лексемы балтырған (с использованием материалов корпуса башкирского языка)","authors":"Anita Sh. Ishmukhametova","doi":"10.22162/2619-0990-2020-51-5-1406-1414","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22162/2619-0990-2020-51-5-1406-1414","url":null,"abstract":"Identification of names of plant curatives and substances in folk and fiction texts shows close interactions between man and the world, attitudes of people towards nature. Research in phytonyms and medicinal plant names proper is most essential for the understanding of a nation’s cultural heritage. The paper examines the lexeme балтырған in Bashkir discourse. Materials. The analyzed materials include linguistic dictionaries, folklore and fiction texts of the Machine Fund of the Bashkir Language, and etymological dictionaries of Altaic languages. Goals. The study aims at a comparative investigation of the lexeme балтырған ‘hogweed’. Results. The term proves a widespread phytonym in Bashkir discourse, which is attested by that it denotes a wide range of plant species in Bashkir and has parallels in other Turkic and Mongolic languages. The lexeme is included in academic, explanatory, dialectal, phrasal, and mythological dictionaries of the Bashkir language. The comparative analysis shows that baltyrγan ‘hogweed’ usually denotes a plant of the order Apiales, a medicinal herb. Baltyrγan~ baltirγana contains the initial bal / baltir / baldir with the meaning ‘green, young, fresh’.","PeriodicalId":434355,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental studies","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130618662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Oriental studiesPub Date : 2020-12-28DOI: 10.22162/2619-0990-2020-51-5-1446-1455
Daria B. Gedeeva
{"title":"О жанровом многообразии калмыцкой деловой письменности XVII-XIX вв.","authors":"Daria B. Gedeeva","doi":"10.22162/2619-0990-2020-51-5-1446-1455","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22162/2619-0990-2020-51-5-1446-1455","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. The Kalmyks are one of the few peoples in Russia to have developed a script system of their own centuries ago. Spiritual culture of the ethnos can be traced in numerous original and translated texts of philosophical treatises, medical writings, historical chronicles, grammar essays, diaries of Buddhist pilgrims, fiction, recorded folklore materials, etc. The Kalmyk vertical script was also used for official writing. From the 17th century onwards, in the Lower Volga Kalmyks would expand their knowledge of Russian record keeping procedures (in diplomatic, military and economic contacts), however, adhering to their own writing traditions. Archival materials available attest to that the then genres of Kalmyk official writing were diverse enough, which makes it essential to reveal and investigate some authentic genre samples, classify the latter, identifying certain structural, stylistic, and language features. Goals. So, the paper seeks to essentially and structurally describe the revealed genres. Materials. The work analyzes documents stored by the National Archive of Kalmykia. Conclusions. Current research results indicate in the 17th-19th centuries the Kalmyks did possess a comprehensive official writing system characterized by genre diversity, which makes the introduction of the terms ‘Kalmyk official writing’ and ‘genre of Kalmyk official writing’ reasonable and necessary. The study delineates a number of functional genres, such as cāǰiyin biciq, zarcim (Cyrillic цааҗин бичг) ‘codes, regulations’, amur yabuxu biciq (Cyr. амр йовх бичг) ‘letter of discharge’, ayiladxal biciq (Cyr. әәлдхл бичг) ‘report, dispatch’, erelge (Cyr. эрлһ) ‘petition’, andaγār (Cyr. андһар) ‘vow’, tō (Cyr. то) ‘register’, and the vastest one — biciq (Cyr. бичг) ‘epistolary message’. However, there are still titles of documents to explore, e.g., biciq tamaγa (Cyr. бичг тамһ) ‘letter-seal’, elci biciq (Cyr. элч бичг) ‘letter (to be delivered by) a special messenger’, zarliq (Cyr. зәрлг) ‘order; decree’, etc. In this context, further research of Kalmyk official writing documents can be a priority focus of Mongolian studies. Archival sources are only being discovered, and have not been studied due to large numbers. Thus, the genre structure presented is incomplete and shall definitely be revised or extended.","PeriodicalId":434355,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental studies","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131594414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Oriental studiesPub Date : 2020-12-28DOI: 10.22162/2619-0990-2020-51-5-1389-1405
Altana M. Lidzhieva
{"title":"Парк культуры и отдыха «Дружба» в г. Элисте: формирование публичных пространств в городской среде","authors":"Altana M. Lidzhieva","doi":"10.22162/2619-0990-2020-51-5-1389-1405","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22162/2619-0990-2020-51-5-1389-1405","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. The article analyzes the formation of urban spaces as public places. Considerable attention is paid to the role of Druzhba Park of Culture and Leisure (Elista) in the city’s space. The paper suggests Druzhba Park be viewed not only as a natural zone in urban development, but also as a place for the identification of steppe people with urban environment. Goals. The article seeks to consider the place, functions and significance of the park in Elista’s public space. Methods. The study was conducted using the structural-and-functional method, and that of participant observation. Results. It is traced how changes in the political and sociocultural situations affected the visual attractiveness of the park. Urban development projects that have reconstructed the park’s space at the current stage are described. The work comes to the conclusion that the creation of Druzhba Park as a public space in the late 1930s was evidence of the spread of urban culture among the Kalmyk population.","PeriodicalId":434355,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental studies","volume":"518 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116674298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Oriental studiesPub Date : 2020-12-24DOI: 10.22162/2619-0990-2020-49-3-521-532
Shamil N. Isyangulov
{"title":"Смертность мусульманского населения Южного Урала в 1860–1910-е гг. (особенности половозрастной структуры)","authors":"Shamil N. Isyangulov","doi":"10.22162/2619-0990-2020-49-3-521-532","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22162/2619-0990-2020-49-3-521-532","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. The article discusses the sex and age structure of deceased Muslim individuals in Orenburg and Ufa Governorates in the mid-19th – early 20th centuries. Goals. The study aims to identify certain characteristics of sex and age structure thereof during the period under consideration. Materials and Methods. The paper mainly analyzes statistical data published by the Central Statistical Committee affiliated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Empire. Statistical, descriptive, and comparative-historical research methods were employed. Results. The study shows that the mortality rate of Muslim population of the Southern Urals in the examined period was significantly determined by infant and child mortality. Statistical data show that the level of infant mortality among Muslims was much lower than that among Orthodox Christians. This is explained by that Bashkir and Tatar women fed infants with breast milk all the way up to the age of 2, and introduced complementary feeding at relatively late stages. However, high child mortality rates resulted in high birth rates. In childhood, boys tended to die more often than girls. The situation changed after the age of 15. At the age of 15-45, mortality rates among Muslim women turned higher than those among men. Still, after the age of 45, male mortality increased again. Characteristic features of mortality among Muslims were as follows: a relatively low level of infant mortality (compared to that of Orthodox Christians), a high level of child mortality, increased mortality among fertile-aged women which sometimes proved several times as large as that among men of the same age, and others. Conclusions. The research materials demonstrate that mortality rates of Muslim population of the Orenburg and Ufa Governorates in the mid-19th – early 20th centuries were consistently lower than those of the entire population of the region, including Orthodox Christians. It is concluded that the demographic transition, i.e. the transition from a large to small family, among the Muslim peoples of the region had not yet begun then.","PeriodicalId":434355,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental studies","volume":"76 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130155727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Oriental studiesPub Date : 2020-12-24DOI: 10.22162/2619-0990-2020-49-3-661-687
E. Bakaeva
{"title":"Почитание Большой Медведицы в среде ойратов и калмыков: древнейшие представления и буддийские напластования. Часть 2","authors":"E. Bakaeva","doi":"10.22162/2619-0990-2020-49-3-661-687","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22162/2619-0990-2020-49-3-661-687","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. Ursa Major is the constellation most venerated by Mongolic peoples. Goals. The article seeks to examine related beliefs traced in folklore and collected field data, reveal key mythological characteristics, and cast light upon diachronous layers in the beliefs of Kalmyks and Oirats (Western Mongols). So, the work aims at analyzing basic Kalmyk and Oirat folklore plots dealing with origins of the Great Bear in comparison to those of other Mongolic cultures; and at examining the concept of Ursa Major against the background of some calendar rites and revered mythological images with due regard of contemporary ceremonies addressed to the constellation. Materials. The paper analyzes folklore and ethnographic materials. Results. Part 1 of the article identifies main variants of mythological texts about Ursa Major (Mong. Долоон бурхан, Долоон өвгөн, Kalm. Долан бурхн, Долан одн) existing in Kalmyk and Oirat discourses, comparing the latter to myths of other Mongolic populations. It shows that basically the myths narrate about seven male characters (siblings, sworn brothers, or thieves) or an ox-man, though etymology of terms may tie the constellation (its emergence) to the archaic plot of day and night alternation as a chase of shedeer, and the solar theme at large. Part 2 further analyzes Ursa Major-related beliefs and compares the latter to some calendar rites and mythological images revered in Kalmyk and Oirat culture. The paper informs that the constellation was sometimes referred to by the Oirats as ‘Seven Maral Deer’ (Oir. Долоон марал), which implies our analysis may extend to the legend of how the heavenly hunter pursued a flock of she-deer. The Oirat oral tradition believes that both the characters of Ursa Major stories and Khukhedei Mergen the Hunter (whose chase made three she-deer turn into the three stars of Orion’s Belt therefore referred to by the Mongols as ‘Three She-Deer’, Mong. Гурван марал, Kalm. Һурвн марл) can be considered masters of the two horses tied to the ‘Golden Pole’ (i.e. Pole Star) — two stars of Ursa Minor. Oirats and Kalmyks also associate Ursa Major with thawing weather, protection of children, livestock (from wolves), and increase of its numbers, remission of sins — similar functions attributed to the White Old Man (Kalm. Цаhан аав) revered by the Oirats as the Lord of the Altai, while Kalmyks tend to view him as a protector deity of the nation, one of his manifestations being that of the Lord of the Year (Kalm. Җилин эзн). The article also analyzes contemporary Buddhist rites dealing with Ursa Major among Mongolic populations.","PeriodicalId":434355,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental studies","volume":"20 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123776131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Oriental studiesPub Date : 2020-12-20DOI: 10.22162/2619-0990-2020-50-4-866-875
L. V. Kuras, Bazar D. Tsybenov
{"title":"Дальневосточная республика как «колыбель» Монгольской революции (к 100-летию ДВР и Монгольской революции 1921 г.)","authors":"L. V. Kuras, Bazar D. Tsybenov","doi":"10.22162/2619-0990-2020-50-4-866-875","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22162/2619-0990-2020-50-4-866-875","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. The Far Eastern Republic that emerged in the spring of 1920 suited all political players — Moscow, Tokyo, Washington, Irkutsk Political Center, and other peripheral political forces of the Far East. The ‘buffer’ state also played an important role in the transnational history of the Mongolian world. Mongolian revolutionaries stayed in the territory of the Far Eastern Republic in the summer and autumn of 1920. At that time, they were deeply imbued with the ideas of the Bolsheviks. Goals. The study seeks to examine the organizational role of the Far Eastern Republic as an outpost of the Mongolian Revolution of 1921. The objectives be tackled are as follows: investigation of the Russian-Mongolian revolutionary interaction in 1918-1920; analysis of activities of O. Maksteneck, an authorized representative of the RSFSR People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs to Mongolia; exploration of the route and work of three groups of Mongolian delegates in the territory of the Far Eastern Republic and Soviet Russia in 1920; insight into activities of the first congress of the Mongolian People’s Party in Troitskosavsk in March 1920. Materials. The paper analyzes archival documents dealing with the history of Russian-Mongolian military cooperation in the early-to-mid 20th century, considers works by domestic and Mongolian authors dedicated to the creation of the Far Eastern Republic and the Mongolian Revolution of 1921. Conclusions. The leadership of the Far Eastern Republic headed by B. Shumyatsky and the authorized representative of the RSFSR People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs O. Maksteneck played a crucial role in organizing the activities of the Mongolian revolutionary delegates. They convinced the Mongolian revolutionaries of the need to rely on Soviet power and its armed forces in the struggle for Mongolian independence.","PeriodicalId":434355,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental studies","volume":"13 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129883670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Oriental studiesPub Date : 2020-12-20DOI: 10.22162/2619-0990-2020-50-4-890-901
Aybulat V. Psyanchin, Rezeda Z. Hizbullina, Liliya A. Zaripova
{"title":"История становления метеорологических наблюдений на востоке России и в ряде восточных странах","authors":"Aybulat V. Psyanchin, Rezeda Z. Hizbullina, Liliya A. Zaripova","doi":"10.22162/2619-0990-2020-50-4-890-901","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22162/2619-0990-2020-50-4-890-901","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. The article reviews the history of the origin and development of meteorological observations in the East of Russia and some Eastern countries of Eurasia. Goals. The paper seeks not just to describe the sequence of events from the history of the development of meteorology as a science in the East, but rather to find patterns that lead to the chain of research on the nature of the region, identify the main stages or periods thereof, consider and clarify the development of meteorology in the East of Russia and Eastern Eurasia. Materials. The work employs a set of complementary research methods, such as theoretical analysis of geographical and historical literature on the problem under consideration; provides insights into archival materials and published sources; conducts comparative analysis of events from the history of the origin and development of meteorological science on the Eastern borders of our country. Conclusions. The study of archival materials and published sources made it possible to determine trends in the development of meteorological research in the region. The article primarily focuses on the influence of the Beijing Magnetic Meteorological and Main Physical Observatories on the emergence and development of the meteorological network of the East.","PeriodicalId":434355,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental studies","volume":"34 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122358593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Oriental studiesPub Date : 2020-10-12DOI: 10.22162/2619-0990-2020-48-2-305-317
Khishigt Norovsambuu, L. V. Kuras, Bazar D. Tsybenov
{"title":"Отто Иванович Макстенек: у истоков монгольской революции 1921 года","authors":"Khishigt Norovsambuu, L. V. Kuras, Bazar D. Tsybenov","doi":"10.22162/2619-0990-2020-48-2-305-317","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22162/2619-0990-2020-48-2-305-317","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. The Mongolian Revolution of 1921 was the result of active bilateral interaction between Mongolian and Soviet revolutionaries. It was the authorized representative of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR to Mongolia O. I. Makstenek who contributed a lot to the preparation of the Mongolian Revolution of 1921: he participated in the Soviet-Mongolian negotiations of 1920-1921, and met Mongolian delegates who arrived at the border point of Troitskosavsk from Outer Mongolia. Goals and Objectives. The article studies O. I. Makstenek’s activities when a Soviet Russia’s plenipotentiary representative to Mongolia from June 1920 to March 1921. To facilitate this, the work 1) examines the then political situation in Mongolia and adjacent territories – the Russian Far East and Baikalia (as reported by O. I. Makstenek), 2) introduces into scientific discourse some archival materials dealing with his informational, organizational, diplomatic, political, and economic efforts. Materials. The study investigates documents stored by the Archives of Mongolia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs titled ‘O. I. Makstenek, Authorized Officer of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs in Mongolia, and Results of His Work: 1 June 1920 to March 1921’. Results. The study reveals previously unknown and valuable facts about diverse and productive activities of O. I. Makstenek. It casts light on details and peculiarities of his 1920 Troitskosavsk-based meetings with MPRP (Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party) members, February 1921 debates on the occupation of Maimaicheng; identifies names of involved Soviet, Mongolian and Chinese leaders, White Guard commanders. Conclusions. The authorized representative of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR to Mongolia O. I. Makstenek could not leave for Urga staying in Troitskosavsk between June 1920 and March 1921 but did a great job in preparing the Mongolian revolution of 1921. It was through his efforts that the Mongolian delegates without any restrictions were travelling via Troitskosavsk to other cities of the Far Eastern Republic and Soviet Russia, and would organize meetings of the MPRP in Troitskosavsk.","PeriodicalId":434355,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental studies","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114587061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Oriental studiesPub Date : 2020-10-12DOI: 10.22162/2619-0990-2020-48-2-405-421
Chimiza K. Lamazhaa, S. Mainy
{"title":"Свадебная обрядность тувинцев: от установления семейных связей до социальной презентации","authors":"Chimiza K. Lamazhaa, S. Mainy","doi":"10.22162/2619-0990-2020-48-2-405-421","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22162/2619-0990-2020-48-2-405-421","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. Scholarly studies of Tuvan wedding rites date back to the late 19th century, and include quite a number of works by ethnographers, sociologists, and cultural scientists that tended to focused on topics inherent to general stages of Tuvan studies throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. The most significant achievement of the latter is detailed descriptions of rites and identification of their place in traditional culture. Goals. The article presents a sociocultural analysis of Tuvan wedding rites, and their past — and present — functions in the social life of the ethnic community. Moreover, such functions of rites have been considered only sporadically. Materials. The study investigates published data and conclusions on wedding rites of past periods, as well as authors’ field materials and observations of Tuvan weddings in the 2000s. The paper also scrupulously describes a full cycle of modern Tuvan wedding rites, and one wedding ceremony held in 2019 in Kyzyl. Results. The article combines available conclusions of researchers for the first time, and presents the general evolution of changes in sociocultural functions. In different periods — from the late 19th century to the present days — Tuvan wedding rites are considered as 1) traditional elements supposed to strengthen family ties between different tribes and help solve some economic issues, 2) means of social legitimization according to Soviet policies of equal rights for men and women, under ‘neolocality’ conditions, 3) modern rites for social presentation which is a combination of various traditions, innovations and borrowings. Conclusions. The current situation is characterized by a number of problems such as excessive theatricalization, significant expenses, specific competition between parties of relatives, waste of gifts, etc.","PeriodicalId":434355,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental studies","volume":"349 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133139801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}