Introduction. Being a key point on the Russian-Turkish agenda during the period in question, the Caucasus was influenced not only by the traditional logic of geopolitical rivalry between the two powers but also by somewhat tectonic shifts in the system of international relations. The world was anticipating a global war, and this did affect regional policies of the powers too. Moreover, the Caucasus was (and still is) particularly sensitive to geopolitical issues in general. So, the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries witnessed an evolution in the foreign policy dimension across the Caucasus, since the more or less obvious confrontation was then replaced by complicated interactions between the powers, the latter never to exclude rivalry but would involve elements of constructive relationship as well. Materials and methods. The study is essentially interdisciplinary, which makes it possible to organically combine methods of historical research and some approaches to the study of international relations. The key sources are documents from the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire, Archive of Russian State Military History, and State Archive of the Russian Federation. Results. One of the aspects of Russian-Turkish interaction was the migration of Muslims from both the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia: for a number of indigenous peoples religious commonness was reinforced by their Turkic roots. Historical sources confirm Turkey’s emissaries would launch active campaigns among local populations, while a group of Caucasians were actually residing in the two empires. So, the Caucasian borderland became a haven for ethnic Armenians seeking salvation from systematic violence in the Ottoman Empire. The compact Armenian-inhabited areas on both sides of the Russia-Turkey border made the problem of reforming Turkey’s Armenian wilayahs particularly urgent for Russian officials in St Petersburg and especially in the Caucasus. Conclusions. The work resumes on the eve of the war the Caucasus — despite being part of the Russian state — became a Russia-Turkey contact zone, which still implied hidden geopolitical rivalry.

Introduction. The mid-to-late nineteenth century witnessed increased endeavors aimed at identifying ancestral lands of Hungarians, their initial habitats and migration routes. To facilitate these, over a dozen research expeditions across Eurasia were undertaken. A most prominent of the latter was the one organized by Count J. Zichy to the Caucasus and Central Asia in 1895. Goals. The article attempts a detailed insight into the expedition to pay closer attention to its previously overlooked aspects. So, the study shall duly seek to recognize certain prerequisites and objectives of the campaign, examine the preparation process, trace the course of the journey proper, specify the role of its leader, and outline some key results. Materials and methods. The analysis involves multiple sources, such as the published expeditionary report, a diary by the expedition member L. Szádecky-Kardoss, documents from the State Archive of Stavropol Krai articulating the Russian Government’s attitude to the travelers, and messages in the then periodicals. Results. The expedition organized by J. Zichy was to celebrate the millennial anniversary of the Hungarians’ arrival in the Middle Danube (1896). So, there were two main objectives. The first one was to obtain historical, archeological and linguistic evidence to confirm J. Zichy’s hypothesis Hungarians had come from the North Caucasus. The second one was to collect materials for an ethnographic section of the anniversary exhibition. The initiator, organizer, leader and sponsor of the journey was Count Jenő Zichy, a Hungarian landowner and politician. The expedition was attended by six more individuals, including linguist Gábor Bálint, archeologist Mόr Wosinsky, and historian Lajos Szádecky-Kardoss. From April to August of 1895, they moved through the whole North Caucasus — from Kuban to Dagestan, crossed over Transcaucasia (Georgia and Azerbaijan), voyaged to Central Asia (Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). The Hungarian researchers used comprehensive methods of research: they would collect and investigate historical messages, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, linguistic and ethnographic data. On the way back they visited Moscow and St. Petersburg to explore libraries and archives, and J. Zichy was granted an audience with Emperor Nicholas II. Conclusions. J. Zichy and his companions did gather a large amount of interesting materials and compiled archaeological and ethnographic collections. However, the rapid movement and ban on any archaeological excavations made the latter fragmentary and incomplete enough. So, J. Zichy would organize two more expeditions in years to come, the latter’s routes to partially coincide with that of the first one. Still, he was never able to find evidence supporting his hypothesis about the Caucasian ancestral homeland of Hungarians. Despite this, the materials and collections gathered would by themselves pose a most valuable contribution to science.

 Introduction. The situation in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is drawing increased international attention. A number of UN reports and ones by non-governmental organizations accuse the PRC of violating the rights of the Uyghur population. Western powers tend to use the issue as a tool of political pressure on China. However, the reaction of Turkey — a nation that positions itself as leader of the ‘Turkic world’ — remains somewhat restrained. Materials and methods. The paper addresses the methodology of internationalization (expansion) of ethnic conflict and the structural realist approach in the theory of international relations to identify key factors of Turkey’s foreign policy on the Uyghur agenda. The employed methods include those of historical and situational analysis, while the attempted insights into documents and statements of decision-makers coupled with mass media monitoring efforts seek to identify most conflictive aspects of Turkey-China relations and determine their causes. Results. The conducted historical and situational analyses reveal Turkey is pursuing an ambivalent policy on the issue of Muslims’ violated rights in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which manifests the contradiction between the ‘neo-Ottoman’ vision of Turkey’s role in the contemporary world order — and the need of a pragmatic foreign policy course in the spirit of political realism. Given China’s role in the present-day system of international relations is actually increasing to shape a crucial center of power in the emerging multipolar world, Turkey restrains from any essential criticism towards the Chinese Government. Conclusions. The work identifies main factors behind Turkey’s dual position on the Uyghur question in the PRC: the country’s ‘neo-Ottoman’ ambitions and support for the Uyghurs in public consciousness — and the unprecedented monetary/financial crisis in Turkey, a need to seek foreign investment, participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, and military/technical cooperation with China. The study attests to the Turkish Government retains its commitment to the traditional principles of political realism basically aimed at ensuring national security and stability of economic development.

Introduction. There are virtually no works dealing with Kalmyk trade and trade relations in the pre-revolutionary — including the eighteenth century — period. Only some scattered and brief messages can be found in works of pre-Soviet and Soviet historians. The post-perestroika era also lacks research attention to the topic. Meanwhile, it is impossible to attain a complete understanding of historical life throughout certain periods without insights into trade affairs at large — and foreign trade relations in particular. Goals. So, the paper seeks both to expand our knowledge of eighteenth-century Kalmyk trade and draw attention to the need of further extended research into the topic. Materials and methods. To facilitate these, the work analyzes and introduces archival material largely discovered in Collection И-36 (‘Kalmyk Affairs Inspector under Astrakhan Governor’) at the National Archive of Kalmykia. The historical comparative and analytical methods have been identified as most instrumental herein. Results. In eighteenth-century Kalmyk society, the development of trade and its essentials were determined by the specific nomadic economy and life. Many household utensils could not be produced directly in the steppe and were to be purchased from outside. Lack of cash implied that Kalmyks often acquired what they needed by simply exchanging it for cattle and livestock products. They were not that skilled in ins and outs of trade relations, so sedentary traders would often take the initiative in direct trade operations. Eighteenth-century Kalmyk trade was distinguished by that Armenians native to the Crimean Khanate would play a major role in the process.

Introduction. The article examines the circulation of Imperial Russia’s currency in Mongolia’s domestic markets during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Goals. The study seeks to determine and analyze the role of Russian currency in Mongolia during the identified period. To facilitate this, the work shall investigate reasons behind the change in the Russian ruble’s status, determine the then functions performed by the latter abroad. Materials and methods. The study focuses on regulatory and legal documents aimed at administering state policy of the Russian Empire in the fields of money circulation and development of trade relations with Inner Asian countries, investigates related archival materials housed at the State Archive of Buryatia and that of Irkutsk Oblast. The key research methods employed include that of historical reconstruction, and chronological, statistical, systemic historical ones. These put together have made it possible to reconstruct how the status of Russian ruble in Mongolia’s financial market would change in the context of large-scale political and economic processes witnessed by nations of Inner Asia during the period in question. Results. The development of trade relations between Imperial Russia and Inner Asian nations entailed multiple changes in the status of Russian currency within Mongolia’s markets. Having been an illegal commodity in the early-to-mid nineteenth century, Russian ruble grew to become a recognized tool of mutual settlements at the turn of the twentieth century. The solid status that proceeded from S. Witte’s successful financial reform made it possible for the Russian currency to hold a firm place in the financial market of Mongolia, which it turn had most favorable impacts on Russia-Mongolia trade cooperation. 

 Introduction. The article introduces original research reconstructions consistently aimed at identifying individuals of Turkic origin who had resided in Rostov Oblast before they were relocated for forced labor to the Third Reich. The approach is not that traditional for Russia’s historiographic tradition that primarily addresses systemic analyses of such issues in political, social and territorial perspectives. The study involves a total of six Soviet citizens whose personal portraits have been reconstructed to the greatest possible extent with the aid of available historical evidence. Materials and methods. Empirical data to shape some objective outcomes of heuristic endeavors have been collected from different documentary sections within the State Archive of Rostov Oblast (including its Taganrog Branch), Center for Contemporary Historical Documents (Rostov-on-Don), Center for Archival Documents (Shakhty), city archives of Lüdenscheid and Münster (Germany). The methodological basis is formed by traditional microhistorical approaches aimed at securing detailed reconstructions of local anthropological images united by a common sociocultural feature. Results and conclusions. The conducted study makes it possible to specify some significant aspects of criminal efforts undertaken by Nazi occupation authorities across Rostov Oblast ― in the form of involuntary deportations for forced labor to Germany. The paper confirms ethnic, religious or social identities of a potential Ostarbeiter were of no essential significance for authorized structures of the Third Reich, the latter having been exclusively focused on testing individual abilities for heavy physical work. There is also a comprehensive insight into the inhumane conditions of everyday life experienced by displaced Soviet citizens who formed an important part to the labor forces exploited by the Nazi regime ― only to be deprived of basic human rights. The considered representatives of Turkic origin not only survived the severest conditions but also preserved certain identity markers of their ethnic cultures.

Introduction. The article deals with the localization of Bishdag area mentioned in a number of written sources. Traditionally, the area is placed in Pyatigorye. The Turkic ‘Bishdag’ stands for ‘five mountains’, while there are a total of 17 laccoliths across the region. Goals. The study seeks to compare data from material, written and phonic sources pertaining to Bishdag area. Archeological evidence and available records make it possible to suggest it might be localized within the Mineral Waters Plain and the Kislovodsk Basin. Materials and methods. The work focuses on tangible, written and phonic (oral) data. The former are accidental finds and excavated materials from around the cities of Yessentuki, Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk, and Novopavlovsk. Written sources include works by Arab (Ibn Battuta, Ibn Fadlallah al-Umari) and Persian (Nizam al-Din Shami, Sharaf al-Din Ali Yazdi, Abd al-Razzaq Samarqandi) writers, notes by the Russian Ambassador in Crimea, and accounts of modern authors (E. Çelebi, J. A. Güldenstädt, P. S. Pallas, J. Klaproth and A. Firkovich). Phonic data are contained in the works of E. Çelebi and A. Firkovich: these documented stories related to the fortress of Rim-Gora. The article also analyzes materials of Mongol toponymy from Yessentuki and its vicinities. The genetic, comparative historical and cartographic methods have proved most instrumental herein. Since the messages from written sources are scarce enough, they have been compared to the present-day landscapes and archeological evidence. The cartographic method is employed to localize Bishdag area and the place of celebrations described by Ibn Battuta. Results. In 1334, the Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta visited Bishdag area. He described Ramadan celebrations in Özbeg Khan’s camp. It is necessary to distinguish between the place of the camp — and that of the celebrations. The latter may be localized near the Mashuk, Beshtau, Zheleznaya, Razvalka and Zmeika mounts, and next to mineral water springs. Conclusions. With due account of messages by Abd al-Razzaq Samarqandi, we suggest the borders of Bishdag area may lay within the Mineral Waters Plain and the Kislovodsk Basin. The territory hosts sites of different typology, which indicates that both nomadic and sedentary groups had inhabited the area.

Introduction. The article attempts to reconstruct one route of the ‘Great Kalmyk Road’ on the basis of data contained in the late seventeenth-century North and East Tartary by the Dutch researcher Nicolaas Witsen. Goals. The study conducts a source analysis of the mentioned data that prove instrumental in reconstructing the once popular path. Materials and methods. The work focuses on historical and geographical messages from the aforementioned publication and compares them to ones traced in other historical sources, such as documents of Russian embassies that would travel through steppes of present-day Kazakhstan in the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, as well as famous Mongolian-language (Qalmaq) sources authored by Saghang Sechen and Ratnabhadra — with due regard of opinions expressed by J. Fischer, G. Lytkin, N. Aristov and others. Special attention is paid to modern studies on the history and toponymy of Kazakhstan. Key methods of historical research — the descriptive, historical comparative ones, and other generally accepted tools and approaches — have been employed. The descriptive method secures a deeper understanding of the route’s historical significance and cultural heritage, while the historical comparative one proves most helpful in reconstructing routes of the ‘Great Kalmyk Road’ via integrations of data from various sources for more complete and reliable historical contexts. Results. N. Witsen’s report narrates about the journey of one Qalmaq (Kalmyk) merchant from Khan Ayuka’s domains through Dzungaria to China, and thus provides a description of the route he was following. The latter comprises a number of toponyms and hydronyms of present-day Kazakhstan. So, this makes N. Witsen’s report of particular interest for the research of seventeenth-century Kazakhstan’s historical geography. Conclusions. The analysis of data from the examined work identifies some of the mentioned toponyms and outlines a branch of the ‘Great Kalmyk Road’ along which the Qalmaq merchant was travelling.

Introduction. The mid-to-late nineteenth century was witnessing further integration of Kalmyk Steppe and its society into the Russian state system. During the period under review, it was the Horde [Affairs] Department at Astrakhan Chamber of State Property (1848–1881) that became in charge of the administrative reform, with activities guided by the Kalmyk People’s Governance Regulations of 23 April 1847. The agency’s documents had compiled Collection И-6 (‘Horde [Affairs] Department at Astrakhan Chamber of State Property, 1832–1881’) at the National Archive of Kalmykia. Goals. The study seeks to investigate the reference apparatus to Collection И-6, analyze its structure and types of documents, identify common and distinctive features in record keeping at the newly created government body after the introduction of the 1847 Regulations, and the former’s source potential for historical research of state institutions in prerevolutionary Kalmykia. Results. The Regulations of 1847 established a clear division of powers between the Governor’s Office and Kalmyk elites, and sought to articulate certain division of powers in Kalmyk self-governance too. The Regulations specified directions of activity for structural units of the Horde [Affairs] Department, which had its impacts on workflow management essentials of the Kalmyk people’s governing body. The documents that resulted from the latter’s activities are related to official record keeping and their formatting patterns meet the requirements of that era. The archival documents included in Collection И-6 are a valuable source for further historical insights into how local public institutions in Russia would develop throughout the prerevolutionary period, and how Kalmykia’s administrative structures would evolutionize accordingly. 

Introduction. The article continues to analyze research essays authored by students of Kazan Theological Academy. Materials. The study examines a total of 62 newly introduced archival documents from Catalogue 2 of Collection 10 (‘Kazan Theological Academy’) at the State Archive of Tatarstan. The classification method and that of descriptive analysis have proved instrumental enough in identifying certain features inherent to archival sources of the investigated collection. Results. Works on Buddhism from Catalogue 2 of Collection be divided into six thematic sections, namely: 1) on essentials and various systems of the Buddhist doctrine — 16 files; 2) comparative analyses of Christian and Buddhist faiths — 19 files; 3) analyses and critical insights into Buddhist texts — 11 files; 4) Russian-to-Kalmyk translations of Christian texts — 3 files; 5) conversion of Kalmyks to Christianity — 9 files; 6) reviews and comments by professors on the aforementioned works — 4 files. All archival documents of the specified catalogue have been duly reviewed and analyzed. Materials covering various aspects of Buddhism and translations of Buddhist religious texts proper are of undoubted interest. Conclusions. The paper resumes the appeals to the theme of Buddhism were fuelled by practical concerns. Missionary activities among Kalmyks required thorough knowledge of Buddhist religious texts and a deep understanding of the harmonious Lamaist system. To facilitate these, departments of Kazan Theological Academy would introduce disciplines helpful in learning the target language and dogmas of Buddhism. The quality of term papers, their thematic contents, use of works authored by leading Russian and Western European scholars with expertise in the history and various aspects of Buddhism attest to decently high training standards at Kazan Theological Academy. The remarkable cohort of brilliant scholars within the Academy’s walls contributed a lot to that students became engaged in the study of Buddhism. The shaped school of comparative religious studies made it possible to adopt theoretical and methodological foundations of European religious teachings and comparative theology, explore Buddhist texts, undertake enormous translation and research efforts that have no analogues in Russian theological science to date.

Introduction. The work provides further insights — with the aid of contemporary scientific tools — into origins of different Oirat (Kalmyk) patrilineages historically associated with most influential clans and tribes. Goals. The study attempts an analysis of the Y-chromosomal subclade С2-F1067 among Kalmyks and conclude as to ethnohistorical roots of the latter among Oirats (and related groups), in particular with due regard of its traced connection to the nobility clan Tsoros (Choros). Part 1 shall examine identified samples of the ‘Tsoros’ subclade С2-F1067 (DYS385=11-11) among Kalmyk Dorbets with reference to the newly introduced ethnographic data. Materials and methods. The paper analyzes a total of 62 STR-haplotypes of the specified subclade identified with the aid of Yfiler® Plus PCR Amplification Kit, Yfiler® PCR Amplification Kit, and COrDIS Ystr. Results. The study reveals bearers of the subclade are largely representatives of Dorbet clans with the onymic element ‘Tsoros’, as well as ones attesting to their aristocratic roots, such as ‘säädüd’ (Kalm. сәәдүд ‘best, noble ones’), ‘zääsngüd’ (зəəсң ʻnoblemanʼ), ‘noinakhn’ (нойн ʻprinceʼ). Certain variants of Y-STR-haplotypes inherent specifically to the Tugtun and the Buurul Dorbets have been outlined, which attests to these are older clan associations as compared to the Shabinar and the Abganar. The Zün prove to be an association somewhat free from the Tsoros within the Dorbet, and may claim to have been the original Dorbet (Dörbän) among initial medieval Oirat groups. We also find evidence confirming messages about patrilineal kinship between the nobility of the Abganar, Tugtun, and Buurul. Finally, with due account of preceding research endeavors in this field the paper resumes the ‘Mongol’ Y-chromosomal subclade C2-F1067 with DYS385=11-11 be associated with the Oirat clan Tsoros (Choros).

Introduction. Classical universities had been created and functioned for centuries as a social institution of culture reproduction. The role of lecturers in the process used to be a leading one. In order to successfully fulfill the mission, a professional culture of the teaching community would take shape within universities, and the former’s preservation was to guarantee the social usefulness of higher education. Managerialist reforms have dramatically changed the internal characteristics of universities and resulted in that target points were shifted from science, education and upbringing — towards the integration into commercial values of market institutions. This has had negative impacts on the teaching community’s ability to maintain and transfer its professional culture to new generations of lecturers. Goals. The paper seeks to reveal the relationship between the managerialist agenda and the deformation of lecturers’ professional culture, which further leads to aggravated asymmetries between the center and regions. Materials and methods. The study focuses on two sources of data — an opinion poll and documents. The opinion poll was conducted in seven regions of South Russia (Krasnodar Krai, Astrakhan Oblast, Stavropol Krai, Kalmykia, Rostov Oblast, Crimea and Sevastopol) and involved a total of 951 lecturers from nine universities. Federal laws, government decrees and orders of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science have been used to explore the regulatory framework of managerialism. Certain statistical data found on the official website of Rosstat prove most instrumental in clarifying some aspects of how managerialism influences lecturers’ professional culture. Results. The work resumes managerialism does destroy the examined professional culture. The teaching personnel have to develop goals and a value system alien to their activity, which entails that participation in paid publications, extramural conferences, publications in ‘rubbish’ journals, grade inflation, false authorship, falsification of empirical data, plagiarism and other negative phenomena become the norm. Conclusions. The deformation arises from the lack of resources to achieve managerialist goals and the loss of academic community’s subjectivity, which makes lecturers indifferent to the destruction of their own professional culture. Finally, the meager resource basis leads to an increase in imitational practices throughout professional activities, which entails further asymmetries between the center and peripheries. 

 Introduction. Russians of Mongolia are a diaspora that formed as a result of migrations in the mid-nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. The article considers patterns and plots of Russian historical memory in Mongolia traced in narratives recorded during a field study of the specified ethnic group in August 2023 within a corresponding project funded by Russian Science Foundation (reg. no. 23-18-00478). Goals. The paper considers some key discourses of historical memory construction that largely shaped the Russian diaspora in Mongolia. The historical memory of Mongolia’s Russians is interesting as a reflection of the group’s formation stages, its ethnocultural contexts and self-identification trends. Methods. The main tool of obtaining data on ethnocultural and linguistic features of the ethnic group are detailed autobiographical narratives, the latter be understood as reconstructions aimed not at demonstrating the actual state of affairs but rather at reconstituting reinterpreted experiences of the past. So, the analysis focuses on materials collected during the aforementioned field study. A total of 17 autobiographical interviews were recorded across different social groups of Mongolia’s Russians — in Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan, and Züünkharaa. Results. The Russians of Mongolia tend to construct an image of the diaspora as a community that had been forced to stay cut off from homeland Russia as a result of insurmountable circumstances, and that remained as faithful despite the experienced rejection and discrimination. It is noteworthy the discourse of somewhat rejected diaspora has not only symbolic meanings associated with the rehabilitation of Mongolia’s Russians after their history was defamed with the ‘Semyonovtsy’ myth — but also pursues a completely practical goal: appealing to their patriotism Russians strive to achieve an improvement in their legal status in Mongolia, get support from Russia, and expand their civil rights.

Introduction. The article deals with names of dairy products used by peoples inhabiting the Ural-Volga Region. Goals. The study seeks to identify general (characteristic of the Ural-Volga peoples at large), genetic (characteristic of a specific language family — Turkic or Finno-Ugric), and areal (characteristic of a certain language area) features pertaining to origins, development and functioning of lexemes denoting dairy products. Our efforts involve the use of digital technologies in the study of material culture-related vocabulary, namely the LingvoDoc platform which makes it possible not only to upload, systemize, and store language data but also to conduct automated searches and analyses according to required options, including mapping of lexical materials. The fact names of dairy products in the Turkic and Finno-Ugric languages of the Ural-Volga Region have remained understudied never to enjoy any standardized description makes the work relevant enough. Materials and methods. The paper examines studies on ethnography of the Ural-Volga peoples, etymological, lexicological, lexicographical insights into the Turkic and Finno-Ugric languages. In terms of theory and methodology, the study rests on writings dealing with linguistic contacts across the specified region, as well as works discussing food and dairy vocabularies. The work employs a variety of research methods, including the comparative historical one and those of lexical semantic analysis and linguistic mapping. Results. It has been revealed that there are no original names ascending to common stems for dairy terms across the Turkic and Finno-Ugric languages of the Ural-Volga Region. However, in etymologies of names for milk, butter, cream some genetic features can still be traced: in Turkic languages, such names do stem from a common root that stands for milk and cream, while in Finno-Ugric languages — it is about the lexeme for butter. Terms for butter, ghee, and cottage cheese in all the examined languages tend to meet motivational characteristics. There are also some areal phenomena in designations of yogurt and cottage cheese (for example, these in Mari and Chuvash attest to certain affinities between the languages). Finally, original names for ayran and kumis are available only in Turkic languages, and only loanwords be observed in Finno-Ugric ones.

Introduction. The article deals with semantics and etymologies of most widely used traditional Mongolian string instruments. Goals. The study aims to show some particular features of how Mongolian music and theater vocabulary would take shape through the example of designated lexical units. Materials and methods. The work employs the continuous sampling method to focus on Mongolian dictionaries, scholarly ethnographic and cultural publications. The extracted vocabulary data be further compared to entries contained in Mongolic, Turkic, Chinese and Manchu etymological dictionaries. Results. The article provides detailed insights into the Mongolian terms хуур, хуучир, ятга, товшуур, шударга, шанз, хийл, and term phrases that include the latter. In addition, etymologies of the words бийваа, тогшуур, бишгүүр, цоор / цуур are introduced to illustrate some defined provisions. So, the paper reveals that the terms хуур and ятга have Turkic cognates; товшуур, тогшууур, шударга are specifically Mongolian words; хуучир, шанз, бийваа are musical terms of Chinese origin. Particular attention is paid to clarifying the etymology of the Mongolian term хийл: the lexeme is most likely derived from the Chagatai name of a bowed string instrument ― ïqlïq, and is thus cognate to the Tuvan name of the instrument ― игил. Another observation is that the word хуур not only denotes a certain traditional Mongolian bowed instrument but in some phrases is also used either as a quasi-classifier to indicate the word belongs to the corresponding class of musical instruments, or as a term for ‘jaw harp’.

Introduction. In modern Russian folklore studies, investigations of early epic forms, in particular, Oirat epic narratives are viewed as significant and timely enough. Archaic epic texts thematically dealing with heroic matchmaking constitute the epic genre of ‘tuul-uliger’ (or ‘tuul-uliger epic’), which stadially precedes the heroic one, such as the Kalmyk Jangar, and narrates about exploits of a miraculously born hero. Goals. The study seeks to examine the plot of the Oirat epic of Bum-Erdeni in accordance with the compositional structure of the archaic epic (tuul-uliger), analyze its contents and essentials of the hero’s struggle aimed at defending his clan-tribe and people. Materials. The paper focuses on related Mongolian-, Kalmyk- and Russian-language published sources. Results. Following the archaic epic (tuul-uliger) compositional structure by A. Kichikov, our insight into the Oirat epic of Bum-Erdeni reveals the presence of eight corresponding elements. Some of the elements have distinctive episodes: element 7 in the Oirat epic is presented differently — according to the narrative, it is the old herder Akh-Sakhal who indicates a destined horse to the hero; element 9 is offered in a modified form — the hero takes no part in the competition but tackles a ‘difficult task’ of his would-be father-in-law. With the aid of tuul-uliger structural patterns developed by A.  Kichikov, typical plot elements of the Mongolian epic identified by T. Bordzhanova and S. Neklyudov, the paper articulates a total of 14 tuul-uliger elements in the Oirat epic of Bum-Erdeni and examines the latter in a plot sequence. The central image of the archaic Oirat epic — he who keeps the hearth and defends his clan-tribe — is a miraculously born hero, the heir and master of his father’s vast pastures, destined to leave in search of his betrothed, struggle against the many-headed mangas monsters, and set his people free from enslavement.