Горная страна — культура гор

Чимиза Кудер-ооловна Ламажаа; Шенне Борисовна Майны

doi:10.25178/nit.2026.1.1

Authors

Chimiza K. Lamazhaa Kabardino-Balkarian State University; Al-Farabi Kazakh National University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1813-3605
Shenne B. Mainy Tuvan State University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9106-2148

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25178/nit.2026.1.1

Keywords:

Tuva, Tuvans, dag, tau, mountain, concept of culture, mountain vocabulary, image of the mountain, social regulation, ritual, dagylga, Turkic culture, Tuvan culture, ecological culture, Mountain studies

Abstract

The article presents an interdisciplinary analysis of the concept “dag” (“mountain”) in the culture of the Tuvans and within the broader sociocultural space of Tuva. The natural landscape of the republic is predominantly mountainous, which determines the exceptional significance of mountains in the worldview and daily life of its inhabitants. The study draws on a wide range of sources, including lexicographic materials, folklore, fiction, scientific and local history publications, as well as media and online texts.

The authors approach “dag” as a key cultural concept encompassing three main aspects: mountain-related vocabulary and naming, the semantic meanings expressed in Tuvan representations, and social regulation manifested through practices, rituals, and social behavior. Special attention is given to the rich mountain terminology, which reflects the diversity of geographic forms, ecological norms, and mythological and ritual notions of mountains as living spirits and ancestors. The study demonstrates the persistence and revitalization of mountain veneration rituals (dagylga), as well as the influence of Buddhism and Soviet traditions on contemporary forms of interaction with mountain environments. Furthermore, the analysis considers toponyms, folklore texts, musical and artistic traditions that emphasize the central role of mountains in shaping Tuvan identity and locality.

The work reveals the multifaceted significance of mountains as natural, cultural, and spiritual phenomena that exert a profound influence on the sociocultural life of Tuva.

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