Personal and public hygiene of Nomads: a Case Study of Related Concepts and Practices

Introduction. Since early times, traditions of different nations gave rise to ideas about purity of the body, clothing, and household items; so, certain rules have been developed to observe hygiene and behavioral norms during natural physiological processes inherent to the human body. The Turko-Mongolic nomads to have inhabited the dry and arid regions of Inner Asia developed a peculiar culture of personal and public hygiene. Objectives. The paper seeks to investigate the traditional culture of personal and social hygiene of Mongols – and more widely Turko-Mongolic nomads of Inner Asia. Materials and Methods. The main corpus of sources used in the research consists of archaeological, ethnographic, and historical materials that demonstrate some daily routine and culture of Inner Asian nomads — from the Xiongnu to later Turkic and Mongolic peoples connected with the region.  The harsh natural conditions of the territory and the nomadic lifestyle created certain difficulties for practicing personal hygiene and especially complicated women’s life. On the other hand, many hygienic problems, such as overcrowding, accumulation of garbage and sewage, emergence of rodents spreading parasites and disease, – disappeared (i.e. there were no favorable conditions for spreading pathogenic bacteria). Results. The article reveals that nomadic communities established original ideas of purity of the body, clothes, utensils, and dwelling – completely correlate with the spiritual sphere and not closely connected with the hygiene as such. However, a number of ideas and traditions served as special measures to prevent any spread of infectious diseases. So, there was a custom to use one’s own dish while travelling or paying visits, and there was a ban to wear other people’s clothes.  The dry and frosty climate did not contribute to the growth of pathogenic bacteria for most of the year. Archaeological finds of the Xiongnu and Khitan periods indicate the presence of special sets of hygienic devices which had been integral parts of men’s and women’s costumes, and were preserved in costumes of nomadic cultures to the 19th – early 20th centuries. Among the archaeological finds, toothbrushes attract particular attention. Under the conditions of water shortage and cold winters, it was most difficult to observe body hygiene. Hands and face were washed daily, in winter skin was rubbed with snow. Body washing procedures mainly occurred during the warm season. Women, fearing the wrath of the owner of the water, made ablutions in secluded places. During the menstruation period, animal hair and moss were used as pads. Oil and fat were used as a means to protect skin from moisture loss under conditions of frost and strong winds. Furthermore, the nomadic way of life determined the observance of hygienic requirements in nomadic dwellings. Due to regular changes of residence, the felt yurt would not become a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria and parasites and was well ventilated. Stationary wooden dwellings of Siberian Turkic peoples and Buryats were aired, freezed and thoroughly washed with sand and water during seasonal movements. The mentioned groups regularly dried, aired and freezed household items (bedding, carpets) and clothes.

Inner Asia, nomads, hygiene, personal hygiene items, clothes, dwelling

1. Author’s Field Data

2. Informant: Ts. Galdanova, Khongodor, b. 1908. Tsagan-Morin, Zakamensky District, Republic of Buryatia (Russia). Recorded in 2003.

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