Livestock Breeding Magic of Present-Day Altaians

Abstract

Magic and religion have been studied by different researchers through the examples of multiple ethnic cultures of the world. Nowadays there lots of materials on the topic of magic, myth, ritual, cult, and religion, e. g., works by J. Frazer, E. Tailor, B. Malinovsky, L. Levy-Bruhl, A. Radcliffe-Brown, C. Levy-Strauss, A. Zolotarev, S. Tokarev, M. Mauss, E. Evans-Pritchard, M. Eliade, G. Dumezil, A. Losev, V. Propp, V. Ivanov, E. Meletinsky, Yu. Semenov, Z. Sokolova, etc. With evidence from classic ethnological writings, the author’s field data, folklore, ethnomusicological and ethnographic works dealing with livestock breeding magic inherent to societies traditionally engaged in such economic activities, the article attempts to examine magic practices of present-day Altaians. The paper considers magic methods used nowadays by Altaian herders and aiming to protect the livestock and facilitate its multiplication. Livestock breeding magic of the Altaians exists in the forms of verbal-actional unities, i.e. any magic activity includes both verbal and corresponding actional components. Thus, in Altaian livestock breeding magic a word is by all means accompanied by an action. In the aftermath of a magic ritual the farmer does expect some measurable results: growth of livestock numbers, improvement of livestock's health and fleshing conditions, and eventually - prosperity for the family. So, whether the farmer herds, waters or tends for his/her animals, he/she applies some traditional magic methods in everyday work. Such methods include the use of placenta, navel cords, and bones of consumed animals. The magic actions are supposed to facilitate the growth of the herders’ wealth and preserve their delightful happiness. Such rituals are performed by regular people, owners of the livestock, who teach them to their children. The practives aim to preserve the happiness and wealth of a certain family. Whether a human being shall be rich or poor is, according to the traditional beliefs of the Altains, determined at birth and through the subsequent allotment of destiny. A rich man is a healthy man who can live long and have multiple children, grandchildren, and livestock. Until today within the system of Altaian ethnic values there are beliefs that a human's well being is determined by the number of livestock owned, which is illustrated by the phrasal unit attu-tondu 'he who rides a horse and wears a fur coat', i. e. a rich and wealthy individual.