ISSN: 1308-6200 | Publisher: Kültür Ajans 

Karadeniz International Scientific Journal

This is an internationally refereed social science journal that is published every three months (quarterly) in electronic-based and print-based since 2009. The journal publishes four issues each year (March, June, September, and December).

The publication language of this journal is Turkish, English, or Russian.

This is an open-access journal. Therefore, all issues and articles published so far can be accessed free of charge from the journal's website.

 

Issue 15
Hits: 679

SNAKE IN KYRGYZ FOLK BELIEF AND FOLK MEDICINE PRACTICE

Mayrambek OROZOBAEV


Today, there are various beliefs and practices about snake that is a reptile species that always  attracts  the  attention  of  the  community  due  to  the  different  body  structure, mysterious  way  of  life  and  wakening  of  potential  danger.  Some  of  these  beliefs  and practices continue to exist in the Kyrgyz, an ancient Turkish community. For example, when a snake enters a tent in the rural areas or yard the house members spread milk drinks such as milk, buttermilk, koumiss on themselves to alienate the snake from the region. This is called "white spreading" (ak çaçuu in Kyrgyz).   In addition, most keen people (folk doctors) set forth that their protective spirits are the "White Snake" (ak cılan) and use the so-called "white-medicine" (ak darı) treatment prepared from the organ of a snake during their treatments. The basis of the foundation of such belief and application is not fully understood yet. On the other hand, although snake symbolizes sly, cunning, vindictive, lethal, presence of malicious creature in most folkloric sources, it is remarkable that some Kyrgyz tales describe snake as intelligent, honest, responsive, resourceful and sacred creature. All these conduced towards the detailed study of snake in the Kyrgyz culture in our study. Snake in the Kyrgyz culture is based on a number of knowledgeable oral culture narrations. In our study, the traditional practices that we have seen and witnessed have been considered as well as this information. The subject of the article has been discussed within the framework of sub-headings Beliefs Related to the Snakes in Kyrgyz Folk Culture and Snake in Kyrgyz Folk Medicine. The purpose of this article is to introduce the place and importance of snake within the Kyrgyz culture, determine the roots of belief and practices regarding snakes between the Kyrgyz today and contribute to the research of aspects that have not been clarified in the general Turkish culture.

Key Words: Snake, snake treatment, Kyrgyz folk medicine, traditional belief of the Kyrgyz.

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.


Creative Commons Lisansı