Ginseng in the traditional culture of Tuvans in China and Russia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25178/nit.2018.4.7Keywords:
Tuvans; Chinese Tuvans; the Republic of Tuva; China; traditional culture; folk medicine; herbalists-healers; ginseng; ritual practice; folklore tradition; Tuvan folkloreAbstract
Ginseng is one of the most respected herbs in Tuvan culture. In a folk medicine it was widely used as a wonder-working remedy for many diseases. The article examines the folk names of ginseng, which are different for Chinese Tuvans and Tuvans living in Russia.
The article is based on both published literature on Tuvans in Russia and field materials collected during expeditions to Tuvan-populated areas in China in 2010-2016 and 2018.
Ginseng is believed to have a ‘body’, which is similar to the human one; it can be male or female. Thus it was considered that a man can be healed by drinking the broth from a corresponding ‘part’ of the ginseng body. Examples provided in the articles are stories of an importance ginseng has in medical practice andof healers who can cure a number of diseases with this herb.
Also analyzed are the ritual actions required to be performed in digging out ginseng, such as sprinkling of the area, hanging ritual ribbons, saying spells imitating the ‘state’ of the herb during digging, and some fixed formulae.
We end with suggesting some directions for further research.
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Published
How to Cite
Yusha Zh. M. Ginseng in the traditional culture of Tuvans in China and Russia. The New Research of Tuva, 2018, no. 4 [on-line] Available at: https://nit.tuva.asia/nit/article/view/810 (accessed: ...). DOI: https://doi.org/10.25178/nit.2018.4.7
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Author Biography
Zhanna M. Yusha, Institute of Philology, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Candidate of Philology, Leading Research Fellow, Sector of Folklore of Peoples of Siberia, Institute of Philology, Siberian branch, Russian Academy of Sciences.
Postal address: 8 Nikolaev St., 630090 Novosibirsk, Russian Federation.
Tel.: +7 (383) 330-14-52.
Email: zhanna-yusha@yandex.ru
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