Ksenia Konchieva, The Development of Otok (Clans) in Kalmykia

Duration: 5 mins 19 secs

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Ksenia Konchieva, The Development of Otok (Clans) in Kalmykia's image

Description:	Ksenia talks about the formation of otok (clans) among the Kalmyks.


Created:	2018-03-03 16:56
Collection:	Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (BUZAVA)
Publisher:	University of Cambridge
Copyright:	University of Cambridge
Language:	xal (Kalmyk; Oirat)


Abstract:	Ksenia: In the past, there were only Torghuts and Derbets. The Buzavas did not exist. Once there was a big war. The Derbets had to decide whom between two brothers to choose as their military leader. When they chose the younger brother, the older one made a row. The Buzava derives from the Russian word buzit’ meaning ‘to make a row’. Furious, the older brother said that he and his people would live between the Kalmyks and the Russians. He left the Kalmyks and became baptized. All Buzavas are baptized, as you know. Tsagan: What a history! Ksenia: Yes. In the past, families had many children. Inheritance was divided among them. Various otok (settlements or clans) came about in the following way. Every person has a personal spirit-protector (burkhn). Today some people say: ‘I see there is a spirit-protector walking around you. You need to accept it’. No spirit protector comes to people like this, because all people already have one inside themselves. Those who say otherwise are liars. Such people perform various rituals of accepting spirit-protectors, but after such rituals their clients become sick, go crazy, or do bad things. Every person has a spirit-protector. Those people who have Buddha Shakyamuni as their protector form a separate otok (clan). Buddha Shakyamuni is the protector of their otok (clan). There is a clan called Daida Bagud. Their protector is Makhakala. The Kalmyks are divided among themselves according to otok (clans) affiliation each of which has its protector. It happened many years ago. A Russian orphan boy showed up at the Ik Temple. Nobody knew where he was from. He stayed at the temple, worked there and ate their food. The lamas gave him a name khar kovun meaning ‘a lay boy’. He grew up and married a Kalmyk girl. They had seven sons. The lamas said to him: ‘Let your clan be named kharikhn (i.e. foreigners).’ Today there are many people in the Kharikhn clan. In Lagan one old man took his relatives with him, settled on a hill, and called themselves Bukhtimkh. The Bukhtimkh clan has such an origin. When Kalmyks meet they enquire about each other’s clan affiliation. People should pray to their clan’s protectors.

Abstract:

Ksenia: In the past, there were only Torghuts and Derbets. The Buzavas did not exist. Once there was a big war. The Derbets had to decide whom between two brothers to choose as their military leader. When they chose the younger brother, the older one made a row. The Buzava derives from the Russian word buzit’ meaning ‘to make a row’. Furious, the older brother said that he and his people would live between the Kalmyks and the Russians. He left the Kalmyks and became baptized. All Buzavas are baptized, as you know.
Tsagan: What a history!
Ksenia: Yes. In the past, families had many children. Inheritance was divided among them. Various otok (settlements or clans) came about in the following way. Every person has a personal spirit-protector (burkhn). Today some people say: ‘I see there is a spirit-protector walking around you. You need to accept it’. No spirit protector comes to people like this, because all people already have one inside themselves. Those who say otherwise are liars. Such people perform various rituals of accepting spirit-protectors, but after such rituals their clients become sick, go crazy, or do bad things. Every person has a spirit-protector. Those people who have Buddha Shakyamuni as their protector form a separate otok (clan). Buddha Shakyamuni is the protector of their otok (clan). There is a clan called Daida Bagud. Their protector is Makhakala. The Kalmyks are divided among themselves according to otok (clans) affiliation each of which has its protector.
It happened many years ago. A Russian orphan boy showed up at the Ik Temple. Nobody knew where he was from. He stayed at the temple, worked there and ate their food. The lamas gave him a name khar kovun meaning ‘a lay boy’. He grew up and married a Kalmyk girl. They had seven sons. The lamas said to him: ‘Let your clan be named kharikhn (i.e. foreigners).’ Today there are many people in the Kharikhn clan.
In Lagan one old man took his relatives with him, settled on a hill, and called themselves Bukhtimkh. The Bukhtimkh clan has such an origin. When Kalmyks meet they enquire about each other’s clan affiliation. People should pray to their clan’s protectors.

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