Yakuts faith confession. Ancient Yakuts

Reference books say that the area of ​​Yakutia is more than three million square kilometers. It immediately becomes clear that the Yakuts live on a vast territory. This can be easily seen by looking at the map of Russia, where the republics of our country are indicated.

Yakutia. Republic of Sakha on the map

Yakutia is many times larger in area than any European power. It is only slightly smaller than the entire European part of Russia.
On a huge spot denoting Yakutia, it is written in large letters - Sakha, and below in brackets - Yakutia. Everything is right; Yakut is a Russian word. They say it was borrowed from the Tungus. They called the Yakuts "eco". From here the word "ekot" arose, and from it not far from "Yakut". The indigenous inhabitants of Yakutia themselves call themselves the people of Sakha. Perhaps this word came from Turkic language, on which yaha means "edge", "outskirts". Other scholars argue that "sakha" comes from the Indo-Iranian aka - "deer". Still others say that its roots must be sought in the Manchu language, in which this word in the old days meant "hunting."
Each of the options can claim to be true. Indeed, Yakutia-Sakha lies in the North, as if on the edge of the earth. Almost half of its territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle. Huge areas are occupied. On this outskirts of the land, trees become smaller, birches become knee-deep in height ... It is no coincidence that one of the Yakut proverbs says: "Even grasses and trees come in different heights." Beyond the tundra begins the arctic desert. Its border with the Arctic Ocean stretches for four and a half thousand kilometers.

About Yakuts

Yakuts are excellent cattle breeders. They have long been able to handle horses and reindeer. Already in the 17th century, it was believed that the Yakuts were the northernmost horse breeders in the world. They bred their own breed of horses - with a large head, hardy, overgrown with long hair in winter and able to feed themselves, literally knocking out food from under the snow with their hooves.

How else? After all, it is in Yakutia that the famous pole of cold is located. Here, on the territory of the Oymyakonsky district, in January the temperature drops below -60 °C.
In the old days, horses were the measure of wealth for many Yakuts. Moreover, they were counted not by their heads, but by the number of herds, each of which was led by a seasoned stallion. Almost every Yakut yurt had a wooden serge post, to which the horses were tied. On the one hand, it was an ordinary hitching post. On the other hand, it is a sacred symbol that the earth has an owner. Three grooves were cut on the serge. It was believed that the celestial gods tied their horses to the first, people to the second, and horse bridles were attached to the third. underworld. Serge could be placed, but it was impossible to bring down. The sacred pillar itself must have fallen from old age.

Finally, the Yakuts have always been and remain excellent hunters and fishermen. Sables are found in the taiga forests of the Republic of Sakha, and the Yakuts are excellent at hunting this animal, whose fur is sometimes compared to gold. It is no coincidence that the ancient coat of arms of Yakutsk depicts an eagle grabbing a sable with its claws. On the modern coat of arms of the capital of the Republic of Sakha, fur animals are represented by a squirrel.

The rivers of Yakutia are rich in fish, but fishing is difficult in winter. Therefore, long before the invention of canned food, in fact, back in the Neolithic times, the Yakuts came up with a unique method for obtaining long-term stored fish paste. It's called Sima. The containers are pits dug in the ground and lined with birch bark. They contain fish cleaned of bones and entrails.
In winter, the resulting pasta can be added to various dishes. There are many delicious traditional dishes in Yakut cuisine. These are large darkhan dumplings, marinated oygos meat with red currants, and salamat drink, which is prepared on the basis of cream and sour cream.

History, customs and epic olonkho

Probably, on the territory of modern Yakutia, the tribes of the Sakha people first appeared in the 12th century. They came here from the shores of Lake Baikal. Judge about ancient history Yakuts are difficult. Their first written documents appeared late, in late XIX century. In many ways, this is the merit of a Yakut by origin, Semyon Andreyevich Novgorodov.
From childhood, he showed excellent learning abilities. In 1913 he came to St. Petersburg and entered the Oriental Faculty of St. Petersburg University. Studying various systems writing helped him create the alphabet of the Yakut language. Shortly after the revolution of 1917, the first primer appeared in Yakutia. Now Yakut fonts and texts occupy a worthy place on the Internet.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Sakha accumulated and transmitted their knowledge orally. As a result of this, great poems appeared - olonkho. The masters of their performance possessed not only a tenacious memory, which allowed them to talk about gods and heroes for days on end. They were also skilled improvisers, artists and writers rolled into one.

The Yakut epic olonkho can be compared with the famous Karelian "Kalevala" and even with the ancient Greek "Iliad".

It tells about three worlds - heavenly, earthly and underground. In the olonkho poems, noble heroes fight against the forces of evil. The international organization UNESCO ranked olonkho among the masterpieces cultural heritage humanity. Surely, based on the plots of this epic, you can shoot a large-scale blockbuster like The Lord of the Rings.
The olonkho epic mentions the round dance osuokhay. It is arranged in the summer, during the festival of abundance. And today, osuokhai gathers relatives who symbolically unite in a circle. The feeling of an elbow, unity with one's family gives the Yakuts a kind of "energy recharge" for the whole next year.

carefully preserved ancient customs Yakuts make a strong impression on Europeans. Modern Yakut clothing with traditional cut and ornaments looks great on the catwalks of the world's leading powers. People admire Yakut bone carvers. Many figurines are made of mammoth tusks. The land of Yakutia has preserved many remains of these giants. It is no coincidence that in Yakutia there is the only mammoth Museum in the world.
At international festivals of ethnic music, the Yakut khomus sounds mysteriously and bewitchingly. This small musical instrument fits in the palm of your hand. However, it can be used to express many feelings and moods. In the hands of the master, the khomus begins to tell about the soul of the Yakut people and the expanses of their land.
This land is extremely rich. Literally. Everyone in the world knows about Yakut diamonds.
Mining company ALROSA (Diamonds of Russia-Sakha) is the second largest mining company in the world.
The headquarters of this corporation is located in the Yakutsk city of Mirny. Yakutia has the world's largest reserves of uranium ores. The treasures of the subsoil and the beauty of untouched nature open up great prospects for the Republic of Sakha. In general, as an old Yakut proverb says: “Happiness awaits a young man from four sides.”

Yakuts- This indigenous people Yakutia (Republic of Sakha). Statistics according to the last census is as follows
Number - 959689 people.
Language - Turkic group of languages ​​(Yakut)
Religion - Orthodox and traditional faith.
Race - Mongoloid
TO kindred peoples include Dolgans, Tuvans, Kirghiz, Altaians, Khakasses, Shors
Ethnos - Dolgans
Descended from the Turkic-Mongolian people.

History: the origin of the Yakut people.

The first mention of the ancestors of this people was found in the fourteenth century. A nomadic tribe of Kurykans lived in Transbaikalia. Scientists suggest that from the XII-XIV centuries, the Yakuts migrated from Baikal to Lena, Aldan and Vailyuy, where they settled and forced out the Tungus and Odul. The Yakut people from ancient times were considered excellent cattle breeders. Cultivation of cows, horses. Yakuts are hunters by nature. They fished excellently, understood military affairs, and were famous for blacksmithing. Archaeologists believe that the Yakut people appeared as a result of the addition of trick-speaking settlers from the local tribes of the Lena basin to their settlement. In 1620, the Yakut people joined the Russian state - this accelerated the development of the people.

Religion

This people has its own tradition, before joining the state of Russia, they professed "Aar Aiyy". This religion assumes the belief that the Yakuts are the children of Tanar - God and Relatives of the Twelve White Aiyy. Even from conception, the child is surrounded by spirits, or as the Yakuts call them - “Ichchi”, and there are also celestials who are also surrounded by the still born child. Religion is documented in the administration of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation for the Republic of Yakutia. In the 18th century, Yakutia was subjected to universal Christianity, but the people treat this with the hope of certain religions from the state of Russia.
Sakhalyar
Sakhalyar is a mixture of races of the Yakuts and the European people. This term appeared after the annexation of Yakutia to Russia. Distinctive features mestizos are a resemblance to the Slavic race, sometimes you don’t even recognize Yakut roots in them.

Traditions of the Yakut people

1. Mandatory traditional rite - Blessing of Aiyy during celebrations, holidays and outdoors. Blessings are prayers.
2. The rite of air burial is the suspension of the body of a dead person in the air. The rite of giving the deceased to air, spirit, light, wood.
3. The holiday "Ysyakh", the day praising the White Aiyy, is the most important holiday.
4. "Bayanai" - the spirit of hunting and good luck. It is cajoled when hunting or catching fish.
5. Marriage is entered from 16 to 25 years. For the bride, bride price is paid. If the family is not rich, then the bride can be stolen, and then work for her by helping the family future wife.
6. Singing, which the Yakuts refer to as "olonkho" resembles opera singing since 2005, is considered a UNESCO heritage.
7. All the Yakut people revere the trees as the spirit of the mistress of the land Aan Dar Khan Khotun lives there.
8. When climbing through the mountains, the Yakuts traditionally sacrificed fish and animals to forest spirits.

Yakut national jumps

sport played on national holiday"Ysyakh". International Games "Children of Asia" are divided into:
"Kylyy" - eleven jumps without stopping, the start of the jump on one leg, and the landing must be on both legs.
"Ystaҥa" - eleven alternate jumps from foot to foot and you need to land on both feet.
"Kuobah" - eleven jumps without stopping, pushing off with two legs at once from a place or landing on two legs from a run.
It is important to know about the rules. Since if the third competition is not performed, the results will be cancelled.

Yakut cuisine

The traditions of the Yakut people are also connected with their cuisine. For example, cooking carp. The fish is not gutted, only the scales are removed, a small incision is made on the side, part of the intestine is cut off, and the gallbladder is removed. In this form, the fish is boiled or fried. Potrashkov soup is popular among the people. This waste-free cooking applies to all dishes. Be it beef or horse meat.

Traditions have been accumulating from its very “origin of the Yakut people”. These northern rites are interesting and mysterious, accumulated after centuries of their history. For other peoples, their life is so inaccessible and incomprehensible, but for the Yakuts it is the memory of their ancestors, a small tribute in honor of their existence.

Yakuts(among the local population, the pronunciation is common - Yakuts, self-name - sakha; Yakut. Sakhalar; also Yakut. uraaghai sakhalar units Sakha) - Turkic people, the indigenous population of Yakutia. The Yakut language belongs to the Turkic group of languages. Many mongolisms (about 30% of words Mongolian origin), there are also about 10% of the words unknown origin, at a later time Russisms joined. About 94% of the Yakuts genetically belong to the N1c1 haplogroup, which historically spoke the Uralic languages ​​and is now mainly represented by the Finno-Ugric peoples. The common ancestor of all Yakut N1c1 lived 1300 years ago.

According to the results of the 2002 census, 443.9 thousand Yakuts lived in Russia, mainly in Yakutia, as well as in the Irkutsk, Magadan regions, Khabarovsk and Krasnoyarsk territories. The Yakuts are the most numerous (approximately 45% of the population) people in Yakutia (the second largest are Russians, approximately 41%).

Story

Most scientists believe that in the VIII-XII centuries AD. e. The Yakuts migrated in several waves from the region of Lake Baikal under the pressure of other peoples to the Lena, Aldan and Vilyui basins, where they partially assimilated and partially displaced the Evenks and Yukaghirs who lived here earlier. The Yakuts have traditionally been engaged in cattle breeding (Yakut cow), having gained a unique experience in raising cattle in a sharply continental climate in northern latitudes, horse breeding (Yakut horse), fishing, hunting, developed trade, blacksmithing and military affairs.

According to Yakut legends, the ancestors of the Yakuts floated down the Lena on rafts with livestock, household goods and people until they found the Tuymaada valley - suitable for cattle breeding. Now this place is modern Yakutsk. According to the same legends, the ancestors of the Yakuts were headed by two leaders Elley Bootur and Omogoi Baai.

According to archaeological and ethnographic data, the Yakuts were formed as a result of the absorption of local tribes of the middle reaches of the Lena by the southern Turkic-speaking settlers. It is assumed that last wave the southern ancestors of the Yakuts penetrated the Middle Lena in the XIV-XV centuries. Racially, the Yakuts belong to the Central Asian anthropological type of the North Asian race. Compared to others Turkic-speaking peoples Siberia, they are characterized by the strongest manifestation of the Mongoloid complex, the final formation of which took place in the middle of the second millennium AD already on the Lena.

It is assumed that some groups of Yakuts, for example, reindeer herders of the northwest, arose relatively recently as a result of mixing of individual groups of Evenks with Yakuts, immigrants from the central regions of Yakutia. In the process of resettlement in Eastern Siberia, the Yakuts mastered the basins of the northern rivers Anabar, Olenka, Yana, Indigirka and Kolyma. The Yakuts modified the reindeer husbandry of the Tungus, created the Tungus-Yakut type of draft reindeer husbandry.

The inclusion of the Yakuts into the Russian state in the 1620-1630s accelerated their socio-economic and cultural development. In the XVII-XIX centuries, the main occupation of the Yakuts was cattle breeding (breeding of cattle and horses), from the second half of XIX century, a significant part began to engage in agriculture; hunting and fishing played a secondary role. The main type of dwelling was a log booth (yurt), in summer - a collapsible urasa. Clothes were made from hides and furs. In the second half of the 18th century, most of the Yakuts were converted to Christianity, but shamanism was also preserved.

Under Russian influence, Christian onomastics spread among the Yakuts, almost completely replacing the pre-Christian Yakut names.

Nikolai Chernyshevsky, who was in Yakutia for 12 years in exile in Vilyuisk, wrote about the Yakuts: “People, both kind and not stupid, may even be more gifted than Europeans ...” “In general, people here are kind, almost all honest: some, with all their dark savagery, positive noble people."

Culture and life

In the traditional economy and material culture of the Yakuts, there are many features similar to the culture of the pastoralists of Central Asia. On the Middle Lena, a model of the economy of the Yakuts has developed, combining cattle breeding and extensive types of crafts (fishing and hunting) and their material culture climate adapted Eastern Siberia. In the north of Yakutia, a unique type of draft reindeer breeding is widespread.

The ancient epic olonkho (Yakut. olohoho) is included in the UNESCO World Intangible Heritage List.

Of the musical instruments, the most famous is the khomus, the Yakut version of the jew's harp.

Other well-known original cultural phenomenon is the so-called. Yakut knife

Religion

In the life of the Yakuts, religion played a leading role. The Yakuts consider themselves children of the good spirit aiyy, they believe that they can become spirits. In general, the Yakut from the very conception is surrounded by spirits and gods, on which he is dependent. Almost all Yakuts have an idea of ​​the pantheon of gods. An obligatory rite is the feeding of the spirit of fire on solemn occasions or in the bosom of nature. Sacred places, mountains, trees, rivers are revered. Blessings (algys) are often real prayers. Yakuts celebrate every year religious holiday"Ysyakh", hunting or fishing feed "Bayanai" - the god of hunting and good luck, put "Serge" at significant events, feed the fire, honor sacred places, respect "algys", listen to "Olonkho" and the sound of "Khomus". A. E. Kulakovsky believed that the Yakut religion was harmonious and complete, far from "idolatry and shamanism." He noticed that "priests, servants of the White and Black deities are incorrectly called shamans." The Christianization of the indigenous inhabitants of the Lena Territory - the Yakuts, Evenks, Evens, Yukagirs, Chukchi, Dolgans - began already in the first half of the 17th century.

Sakhalyars

Sakhalyar (Yakut. baahynai) - mestizo, a descendant of mixed marriage Yakut / Yakut and a representative / representative of any other ethnic group. The word should not be confused with Sahal A R- plural from the self-name of the Yakuts, sakha.

Notable Yakuts

Historical figures:

• Elley Bootur is the legendary leader and progenitor of the Yakuts.
• Omogoy Baai is the legendary leader and progenitor of the Yakuts.

Heroes of the Soviet Union:

• Fedor Okhlopkov - Hero of the Soviet Union, sniper of the 234th Infantry Regiment.
• Ivan Kulbertinov - sniper of the 23rd Separate Ski Brigade, 7th Guards Airborne Regiment, one of the most successful snipers of World War II (487 people).
• Alexey Mironov - sniper of the 247th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 84th Guards Rifle Division of the 16th - 11th Guards Army Western Front, Guard Sgt.
• Fedor Popov - Hero of the Soviet Union, shooter of the 467th Infantry Regiment (81st Division, 61st Army, Central Front).

Political figures:

• Mikhail Nikolaev - 1st President of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) (December 20, 1991 - January 21, 2002).
• Egor Borisov - President of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) (since May 31, 2010).

Scientists and artists:

• Suorun Omolloon is a Yakut writer.
• Platon Oyunsky - Yakut writer.
• Alampa - Sofronov Anempodist Ivanovich - Yakut poet, playwright, prose writer, one of the founders of Yakut literature.
• Semyon Novgorodov - Yakut politician and linguist, creator of the Yakut alphabet.
• Toburokov Petr Nikolaevich (yak. Bүөtүr Toburuokap) - folk poet Yakutia. Member of the Great Patriotic War. Member of the SP of the USSR since 1957.

Wikipedia materials used

Faces of Russia. "Living Together, Being Different"

The Faces of Russia multimedia project has existed since 2006, telling about the Russian civilization, the most important feature of which is the ability to live together, remaining different - this motto is especially relevant for the countries of the entire post-Soviet space. From 2006 to 2012, within the framework of the project, we created 60 documentaries about representatives of different Russian ethnic groups. Also, 2 cycles of radio programs "Music and songs of the peoples of Russia" were created - more than 40 programs. Illustrated almanacs have been released to support the first series of films. Now we are halfway to creating a unique multimedia encyclopedia of the peoples of our country, a picture that will allow the inhabitants of Russia to recognize themselves and leave a picture of what they were like for posterity.

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"Faces of Russia". Yakuts. "Yakutia - Siberia of Siberia", 2011

YAK'UTS(from the Evenki yakoltsy), Sakha (self-name), one of the northernmost Turkic peoples, a people in the Russian Federation (380.2 thousand people), the indigenous population of Yakutia (365.2 thousand people). According to the 2002 population census, the number of Yakuts living in Russia is 443 thousand 852 people, in the 2010 census more than 478 thousand 85 people speaking the Yakut language were recorded.

Yakuts live in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), as well as in the Irkutsk and Magadan regions, Khabarovsk and Krasnoyarsk regions. On Taimyr and in the Evenk Autonomous Okrug. Yakuts make up approximately 45 percent of the population of the Sakha Republic.

The main groups of the Yakuts are Amga-Lena (between the Lena, lower Aldan and Amga, as well as on the adjacent left bank of the Lena), Vilyui (in the Vilyui basin), Olekma (in the Olekma basin), northern (in the tundra zone of the basins of the Anabar, Olenyok, Kolyma rivers , Yana, Indigirka). They speak Yakut Turkic group Altai family, which has groups of dialects: central, Vilyui, northwestern, Taimyr. Believers are Orthodox.
Both the Tungus population of taiga Siberia and the Turkic-Mongolian tribes who settled in Siberia in the 10-13 centuries and assimilated the local population participated in the ethnogenesis of the Yakuts. The ethnogenesis of the Yakuts was completed by the 17th century.

By the beginning of contacts with the Russians (1620s), the Yakuts were divided into 35-40 exogamous "tribes" (Dion, Aimakh, Russian "volosts"), the largest - the Kangalas and Namtsy on the left bank of the Lena, the Megins, the Bogonians, the Betuns, the Baturus - between Lena and Amga, numbering up to 2-5 thousand people.

According to archaeological and ethnographic data, the Yakuts were formed as a result of the absorption by the southern Turkic-speaking settlers of local tribes in the middle reaches of the Lena River. It is believed that the last wave of the southern ancestors of the Yakuts penetrated the Middle Lena in the XIV-XV centuries. In the process of resettlement in Eastern Siberia, the Yakuts mastered the basins of the northern rivers Anabar, Olenka, Yana, Indigirka and Kolyma. The Yakuts modified the reindeer husbandry of the Tungus, created the Tungus-Yakut type of draft reindeer husbandry.

A series of audio lectures "Peoples of Russia" - Yakuts

The traditional culture is most fully represented by the Amga-Lena and Vilyui Yakuts. The northern Yakuts are close in culture to the Evenks and Yukaghirs, the Olyokma are strongly acculturated by Russians.

The inclusion of the Yakuts into the Russian state in the 1620-1630s accelerated their socio-economic and cultural development. In the 17th-19th centuries, the main occupation of the Yakuts was cattle breeding (breeding of cattle and horses), from the second half of the 19th century, a significant part began to engage in agriculture, hunting and fishing played an auxiliary role.

The main traditional occupations are horse breeding (in Russian documents of the 17th century, the Yakuts were called "horse people") and cattle breeding. The men took care of the horses, the women took care of the cattle. Deer were bred in the north. Cattle were kept in the summer on grazing, in the winter in barns (hotons). Haymaking was known before the arrival of the Russians. The Yakut breeds of cattle were distinguished by endurance, but were unproductive.

Fishing was also developed. They fished mainly in the summer, but also in the winter in the hole; in the fall, a collective seine fishing was organized with the division of prey between all participants. For the poor, who did not have livestock, fishing was the main occupation (in the documents of the 17th century, the term "fisherman" - balyksyt - is used in the meaning of "poor"), some tribes also specialized in it - the so-called "foot Yakuts" - osekui, ontuly, kokui , Kirikians, Kyrgydais, Orgoths and others.

Hunting was especially widespread in the north, being the main source of food here (arctic fox, hare, reindeer, elk, bird). In the taiga, by the arrival of the Russians, both meat and fur hunting (bear, elk, squirrel, fox, hare, bird, etc.) was known, but later, due to a decrease in the number of animals, its importance fell. Specific hunting techniques are characteristic: with a bull (the hunter sneaks up on the prey, hiding behind the bull), horseback chasing the beast along the trail, sometimes with dogs.

There was gathering - the collection of pine and larch sapwood (the inner layer of the bark), harvested for the winter in dried form, roots (saran, coinage, etc.), greens (wild onions, horseradish, sorrel), raspberries, which were considered unclean, were not used from berries.

Agriculture (barley, to a lesser extent wheat) was borrowed from the Russians at the end of the 17th century, until the middle of the 19th century it was very poorly developed; its spread (especially in the Olekminsk district) was facilitated by Russian exiled settlers.

The processing of wood (artistic carving, coloring with alder broth), birch bark, fur, and leather was developed; dishes were made from leather, rugs were made from horse and cow skins sewn in a checkerboard pattern, blankets were made from hare fur, etc .; Cords were twisted from horse hair with hands, weaved, embroidered. Spinning, weaving and felting of felt were absent. The production of stucco ceramics, which distinguished the Yakuts from other peoples of Siberia, has been preserved. The smelting and forging of iron, which had a commercial value, the smelting and chasing of silver, copper, etc., were developed, from the 19th century - carving on mammoth ivory.

They traveled mainly on horseback, transporting goods in packs. There were known skis lined with horse kamus, sledges (silis syarga, later - sledges like Russian wood firewood), usually harnessed to bulls, in the north - straight-dust reindeer sleds; types of boats common with Evenks - birch bark (tyy) or flat-bottomed from boards; sailing ships-karbasy borrowed from the Russians.

Winter settlements (kystyk) were located near mowing fields, consisted of 1-3 yurts, summer ones - near pastures, numbered up to 10 yurts. The winter yurt (booth, diie) had sloping walls made of standing thin logs on a rectangular log frame and a low gable roof. The walls were plastered on the outside with clay and manure, the roof over the log flooring was covered with bark and earth. The house was placed on the cardinal points, the entrance was arranged in the east side, the windows - in the south and west, the roof was oriented from north to south. To the right of the entrance, in the northeast corner, a hearth (ooh) was arranged - a pipe made of poles coated with clay, which went out through the roof. Plank bunks (oron) were arranged along the walls. The most honorable was the southwestern corner. At the western wall there was a master's place. The bunks to the left of the entrance were intended for male youth, workers, on the right, at the hearth, for women. A table (ostuol) and stools were placed in the front corner. On the north side, a barn (khoton) was attached to the yurt, often under the same roof with housing, the door to it from the yurt was behind the hearth. In front of the entrance to the yurt, a canopy or canopy was arranged. The yurt was surrounded by a low mound, often with a fence. A hitching post was placed near the house, often decorated with carvings. Summer yurts differed little from winter ones. Instead of a khoton, a barn for calves (titik), sheds, etc. were placed at a distance. Since the end of the 18th century, polygonal log yurts with a pyramidal roof have been known. From the 2nd half of the 18th century, Russian huts spread.

Traditional men's and women's clothing - short leather pants, a fur underbelly, leather legs, a single-breasted caftan (sleep), in winter - fur, in summer - from horse or cow skin with wool inside, for the rich - from fabric. Later, fabric shirts with a turn-down collar (yrbakhs) appeared. Men girded themselves with a leather belt with a knife and flint, the rich - with silver and copper plaques. Characteristic is a women's wedding fur long caftan (sangyah), embroidered with red and green cloth and a gold braid; elegant women's fur hat from expensive fur descending on the back and shoulders, with a high cloth, velvet or brocade top with a silver plaque (tuosakhta) and other decorations sewn on it. Women's silver and gold jewelry is widespread. Shoes - winter Wellingtons from deer or horse skins with wool outside (eterbes), summer boots made of soft leather (saary) with a top covered with cloth, for women - with appliqué, long fur stockings.

The main food is dairy, especially in summer: from mare's milk - koumiss, from cow's milk - curdled milk (suorat, sora), cream (kuercheh), butter; oil was drunk melted or with koumiss; suorat was prepared for the winter in a frozen form (tar) with the addition of berries, roots, etc.; from it, with the addition of water, flour, roots, pine sapwood, etc., a stew (butugas) was prepared. Fish food played a major role for the poor, and in the northern regions, where there were no livestock, meat was consumed mainly by the rich. Horse meat was especially valued. In the 19th century, barley flour came into use: it was used to make unleavened cakes, pancakes, salamat stew. Vegetables were known in the Olekminsk district.

Small family (kergen, yal). Until the 19th century, polygamy was preserved, and the wives often lived separately and each ran their own household. Kalym usually consisted of cattle, part of it (kurum) was intended for a wedding feast. The bride was given a dowry, which in value amounted to about half of the kalym - mainly items of clothing and utensils.

In the second half of the 18th century, most of the Yakuts were converted to Christianity, but shamanism also persisted.

In the life of the Yakuts, religion played a leading role. The Yakuts consider themselves children of the good spirit aiyy, they believe that they can become spirits. In general, the Yakut from the very conception is surrounded by spirits and gods, on which he is dependent. Almost all Yakuts have an idea of ​​the pantheon of gods. An obligatory rite is the feeding of the spirit of fire on solemn occasions or in the bosom of nature. Sacred places, mountains, trees, rivers are revered. Blessings (algys) are often real prayers. The Yakuts celebrate the Ysyakh religious holiday every year. The ancient epic Olonkho, passed down from generation to generation by storytellers, is included in the UNESCO World Intangible Heritage List. Another well-known original cultural phenomenon is the so-called Yakut knife. There are many regional variations of the Yakut knife, but in classic version it is a blade from 110 to 170 mm long, mounted on a wooden handle made of birch burl with a leather sheath.

Orthodoxy spread in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Christian cult was combined with belief in good and evil spirits, the spirits of dead shamans, master spirits, etc. Elements of totemism were preserved: the clan had an animal patron who was forbidden to be killed, called by name, etc. The world consisted of several tiers, the head of the upper was considered Yuryung ayy toyon, lower - Ala buuray toyon, etc. The cult of the female deity of fertility Aiyysyt was important. Horses were sacrificed to the spirits living in the upper world, cows were sacrificed in the lower one. The main holiday is the spring-summer koumiss holiday (Ysyakh), accompanied by libations of koumiss from large wooden cups (choroon), games, sports competitions, etc. Shamanism was developed. Shaman tambourines (dungur) are close to Evenk ones. In folklore, the heroic epic (olonkho) was developed, performed in recitative by special storytellers (olonkhosut) with a large gathering of people; historical legends, fairy tales, especially fairy tales about animals, proverbs, songs. Traditional musical instruments- jew's harp (khomus), violin (kyryympa), percussion. Of the dances, the round dance osuokhay, game dances, etc. are common.

School education has been conducted since the 18th century in Russian. Writing in the Yakut language since the middle of the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, the intelligentsia was formed.

In 1922, the Yakut Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was created, since 1990 - the Republic of Sakha, Yakutia. Cities are growing in the country, industry and agriculture are developing, in the 1930s and 40s the Yakuts settled in new settlements. A network of secondary and higher educational institutions emerged. Literature is published in the Yakut language, periodicals are published, television programs are conducted.

V.N. Ivanov

They speak an isolated Yukagir language, dialects are tundra and taiga. Writing since the 1970s on a Russian graphic basis. Russian is also widespread (46% of Yukaghirs consider it their native language), Yakut, Even and Chukchi languages. Believers are mostly Orthodox.

Most researchers see in the Yukagirs the descendants of the most ancient population of Eastern Siberia, who also took part in the formation of other Paleo-Asiatic peoples. Settlement in the 1st-2nd millennia in Eastern Siberia of the Tungus (Evenks and Evens) and Turkic (Yakuts) peoples led to a reduction ethnic territory Yukagirs and their partial assimilation. By the time the Russians arrived in the middle of the 17th century, the Yukagirs occupied the territory from Indigirka to Anadyr, numbered 4.5-5 thousand people and made up several tribal groups ("clans"): Yandins (Yangins), Onondi, Kogime, Omoki, Alai (Alazei ), Shoromba, Olyubentsy, Homoroi, Anauls, Khodyns, Chuvans, Omolons, and others. to a sharp reduction in the number of Yukagirs. By the end of the 17th century, the Yukagirs numbered 2535 people, in the first half of the 18th century - 1400-1500 people, in 1897 - 948 people, in 1926-27 - less than 400 people.

The main traditional occupations are semi-nomadic and nomadic hunting for wild deer (tundra Yukagirs), elk, deer and mountain sheep (taiga Yukaghirs), among the taiga Yukagirs - also lake and river fishing, among the tundra - transport reindeer herding. In summer they traveled on reindeer, in winter - on arc-dusty sleds. Among the tundra Yukaghirs, dog-straight dust sleds were common. On the water they moved on birch bark, dugout or plank boats, on the snow - on skis hemmed with skins, on the crust - on the barren.

The ancient dwellings of the Yukaghirs were semi-dugouts-chandals, the skeletons of which were preserved by the time the Russians arrived, in some places - to the present day. Later, the taiga Yukagirs lived in conical huts made of thin logs covered with turf, or in tents covered with bark or rovdug. The chum was heated by a central hearth, one or two transverse poles were arranged above it for hanging boilers, drying clothes, drying fish and meat. Large log yurts, similar to the Yakut ones, were also known in the tundra regions - cylinder-conical plagues borrowed from the Evens. Outbuildings were barns and storehouses on poles. Most modern Yukagirs live in log houses in the settlements of Andryushkino and Kolymskoye (Verkhnekolymsky district), Nelemnoye and Zyryanka (Nizhnekolimsky district), Markovo (Magadan region), etc.

Traditional clothing is close to Evenk and Even. The main clothing is a knee-length swinging caftan with a hem tied with ribbons and an inner fold on the back, in summer - from rovduga, in winter - from deer skins. Long "tails" made of sealskins were sewn to the back: for men - forked at the back, for women - on the sides. Under the caftan they put on a bib, short pants, leather in summer, fur in winter. Men wore a belt with a knife and a pouch over the caftan. In winter, a long scarf made of squirrel tails was worn on top. Winter clothing made of rovduga was common, similar in cut to the Chukchi kamleika and kukhlyanka. Summer shoes - from rovduga, with leggings tied with straps at the thigh and ankle, in winter - high torbashes made of reindeer skins, stockings made of deer or hare fur. Women's clothing was lighter, sewn from multi-colored fur of young deer. Festive clothes were decorated with deer hair embroidery, beads, cloth trims, expensive fur, and appliqué. Silver, copper and iron ornaments were common - rings, plaques, etc.; the decoration of women's breastplates is characteristic - the "chest sun" - a large silver plaque.

The main food - meat and fish - boiled, dried, frozen. The meat was prepared for the future - dried and then smoked and ground into powder. The fish was stored in the form of yukola, crushed into powder-porsa, in winter it was boiled with deer blood or pine sapwood (anil kerile); boiled fish was crushed with berries and fat (kulibaha). Fish giblets and caviar were fried, cakes were baked from caviar. In the summer they ate fermented fish, wrapping it for a day in willow leaves. They also used wild onions, sarana roots, berries, unlike the Yakuts and Evens - mushrooms. As an aphrodisiac, they used fly agaric, smoked tobacco, thyme leaves, brewed tea and birch growths.

The family is large, mostly matrilocal, patrilineal inheritance. There were customs of levirate, avoidance (taboo on communication between the father and married son and daughter-in-law, etc.). Since the end of the 19th century, the institution of kalym has spread.

Customs associated with fire played an important role: it was forbidden to pass fire from the hearth to strangers, to pass between the hearth and the head of the family, etc. Traditional beliefs - cults of master spirits, the supreme sky god Hoyle (merged with the Christian cult), game animals (especially elk), bear cult, fire cult, ancestral spirits. Ideas were developed about the division of the universe into the upper, middle and lower worlds ("earths"), connected by a river, shamanism. The bodies of the dead shamans were dismembered, the skulls were kept in the house as a shrine. The main holidays are spring (Shahadzibe), weddings, successful hunts, military campaigns, etc. - were accompanied by songs, dances, performance of legends, shamanistic rituals. Until the 20th century, pictographic writing on birch bark (tosy, shongar-shorile) was preserved. The main genres of folklore are legends, stories and fairy tales. The main dances are circular (longdol) and pair imitative - "Swan". Christianity has been spreading since the 17th century.

Modern Yukagirs are engaged in fur trade, fishing, and reindeer herding. The intelligentsia appeared. Tribal communities are being recreated - "Chayla" ("Dawn") and "Yukagir", they are allocated traditional economic activity Yukagirov territory, financial support is provided.

In December 1992, the Council of Elders and the Fund for the Revival of the Yukaghir people were established.

There are three versions about the origin of the Yakuts. The authors of the first and oldest of them were the so-called pre-Russian Yakuts. According to her, the Yakuts are the fundamental principle of all mankind, for the northern Adam and Eve (Er Sogotokh Elley with his wife) are the very first people on planet Earth, from whom the entire human race arose. The original man Er Sogotokh Elley is a celestial. He, descending to earth, married one of the two daughters of the earthling Omogoya. And in order to leave Ellyai and his wife as the only ancestors of the human race, in the legend, Omoga and his wife and their second daughter are deliberately killed. Bearing in mind the heavenly origin of Ellyay, the Yakuts still call themselves "aiyy aima5a", i.e. demigods. This opinion could not have arisen in a vacuum. It obviously comes from the knowledge of Deering Yuryakh and the idea of ​​the role of the Deering-Dyuktai primary center in the emergence of mankind in the northern hemisphere.

Second opinion on origin

Yakuts comes again from the Yakuts themselves - only the post-Russian period. All

Yakuts, without exception, are considered descended from Tygyn - a man of times

the arrival of the Russians. In all the genealogical tables compiled by anyone,

the table is headed by one Tygyn, sometimes with a nod towards Ellyai. Wherein

it is noteworthy that mayaat Badaayy is mentioned as the father of Tygyn, and in

his sons include Tungus and Lamut (Labynkha Syuryuk). The same mayaat of Badaayi

to this day is listed as the ancestor of the Kobyai Yakuts.

Like Manas and Dzhangar, Tygyn

here consciously exhibited as bodily, accurately chronologized and

personified creator and organizer of the Yakut people. At the same time, the entire

the pre-Russian period is called the "non-Yakut period", i.e. "kyrgyz

uete", which literally means "the age of bloody strife".

The people vividly illustrate it with legends about independent strife, no one

subordinate heads of sovereign clans - booturs and khosuuns. These genera are Tygyn

Yakuts consider them not Yakuts, not Tungus, not Lamuts, i.e. devoid of ethnic

accessories. Hence the non-ethnos term "kyrgys uete". Term

this one completely crosses out the ethnicity of all the clans of Yakutia before Russian

time, calling them "the simplest fighters."

And this thought is alive

illustrated with characteristic stories. What are boot tours like Legoy worth?

borogonian. Neither the tribe nor the genus of the Legoi was recognized. Legoevism was typical

for the entire pre-Russian "Kyrgys" Yakutia, when ethnicless pugnacious

roosters - booturs and khosuuns for the sake of their personal ambitions hindered the process

attempts to form ethnic groups. Therefore, none of the legends about khosuuns and

booturs in all of Yakutia nothing is mentioned about their ethnic group and appear only

the names of the booturs and the name of the genus. Attempts to ethnonymize "Kyrgyz" here

to nothing. This would be violence against the traditions and conceit of a multi-ethnic

folklore of the region. The ethnicity of the legends about the Khosuuns and Booturs is universal

a feature of pre-Russian folklore throughout Yakutia. So the dating

the emergence of the Yakuts by some kind, sucked out of the finger by 11-15-16 centuries - nothing

other than violence against the self-conceit of the Yakuts of Tygynovsky and post-Tygynovsky

time, up to 1917. In their opinion, the date of birth of the Yakut people is clear and

exact - this is the arrival of Russian Cossacks and service people in Yakutia.

Why was this date considered decisive?

it's easy to understand. The impetus for consolidation by ethnic groups was given precisely by the appearance

Russian factor. Without such a factor, it is impossible to explain the formation in

peoples of sovereign families. On the other hand, as we move east, for

convenience of management throughout Siberia in a purely administrative way ethnic groups and peoples

established a royal government. The documents even mention the

principles of creating ethnic groups and peoples of Siberia: language, main occupation ...

Such ethnic groups as the Yukagirs, Chukchi, Chuvans were also created using the method of artificial

administration. All this perfectly took into account the popular opinion of the Yakuts

Tygynov and post-Tygynov time.

became illiterate explorers of the 17th century. They suggested that the Yakuts might

are Horde Tatars. This is a folk fortune-telling, having got to the West, already in

by the power of instructions, Thus, relying on other people's rumors, arose in the far West

the basis of the future version of the supposedly "southern" Tatar origin of the Yakuts.

A completely illiterate mass of Yakuts, not knowing about it, until Soviet power continued

to repeat about their origin from Tygyn and Ellyai. True, the missionaries managed

turn the celestial Ellyay into a Tatar. By the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century. version about

Tatar origin of the Yakuts reached such a dead end that they threw her out, and

forever stopped searching in the south for sites suitable for the "ancestral home"

Yakuts, then, to turn the version around, the Tatars went to be replaced by anyone: and

Turks, and Hunno-Ugrs, and Samoyeds, and Tungus Yuch Khoro Khans from Ust-Kuta...

All these innovations were happily picked up by today's Yakut intelligentsia.

The ethnos is sick, and this disease

started because of the loss Yakut language their nursing qualities. Moreover, the language

itself fragmented into urban and rural languages, the language of folklore and semi-Russified

Yakuts, literary language. Bilingual parents began to teach their children only

Russian, accelerating the Russification of the Yakuts. Against this background, in the soul of a Yakut intellectual

a shame for one's ethnic group, hidden from all, appeared, It is because of this shame - to be

Yakut - the people began to strenuously impersonate anyone in the past. not sick

such a disease, the pre-Soviet Yakuts, however, proudly called themselves

Yakuts, descendants of their own ancestors.

In the heat of the moment, of course, my

tribesmen will begin to deny in unison that they have an inner shame for their

past ethnicity. However, when they cool down, they will understand that the ethnic group is sick, like itself

Human. This disease is in its early stages. Therefore, if desired

she can be cured. And if he becomes stubborn, then one should remember that many

of the ethnic groups that have gone into oblivion in the past died due to the flight of the ashamed

"Youth of Yakutia". -

S.I. Nikolaev - Somo5otto / Memories,

articles/literary experience/Yakutsk/2007