Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)

Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)'s image
Created: 2014-09-20 12:13
Institution: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology
Description: People with unusual skills and gifts are often described in Kalmykia using the following expressions: ‘he/she is repeating his/her clan/lineage’ (tokhman durajana), ‘characteristics of his/her clan/lineage are showing up’ (tokhmn’ tachana), or ‘he/she is keeping up with his/her clan/lineage’ (tokhmar kookh). As these expressions show, traditionally it is believed that skills and gifts are inherited along clan lines. It is also acknowledged that various skills – for example, singing, dancing, craftsmanship, healing etc. – do not appear immediately, but have to be taught or awakened. Sometimes inherited skills, especially those possessed by folk healers or medlgch – including bone-setting, healing, fortune-telling, and interpreting dreams – have to be ‘teased out’ with the help of special rituals.
Objects inherited from parents, grandparents, relatives, or spiritual teachers have not only sentimental value but are also believed to possess magical and protective powers. In particular religious objects such as sutras, statues, amulets, rosaries, and healing implements are usually kept in the most sacred place in the house – on the domestic altar. People use them during special rituals and in difficult moments in life.
 

Media items

This collection contains 26 media items.

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Media items

About Inherited Skills

   48 views

This video features stories of three Kalmyk women, namely Ekaterina Dorzhieva, Anna Antonova, and Galina Tikeeva.

Ekaterina’s mother was an accomplished singer. Ekaterina’s...

Collection: Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)

Institution: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Created: Thu 23 Apr 2015


Alexandra Sangadzhieva, Family Relics

   8 views

Alexandra talks about the Diamond sutra that she inherited from her great grandmother. The sutra was kept by Alexandra’s mother upon whose death it was given to Alexandra’s...

Collection: Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)

Institution: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Created: Sat 12 May 2018


Andrei Boldyrev, About Inherited Skills and Objects

   32 views

Andrei’s father was a monk who cured both sick children and adults, although Andrei himself cures only children and women who recently gave birth. He also purifies cattle barns....

Collection: Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)

Institution: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Created: Tue 21 Mar 2017


Antonina Kookueva, About My Family, Traditional Education and Family Relics

   12 views

Antonina talks about her ancestors, parents, her childhood and family relics.

Collection: Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)

Institution: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Created: Tue 28 Aug 2018


Bulgun Okonova, Family Relics and Inherited Objects

   55 views

In this interview Bulgun shows and talks about relics and objects that stay in her family. These objects include a blanket, a carpet, a buckle, a belt, a scabbard, a cup, a...

Collection: Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)

Institution: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Created: Thu 30 Apr 2015


Danil and Sergei Orusovs, About Our Family Relics

   3 views

When the Kalmyks were sent into exile, Danil and Sergei’s father took with him a statue of Buddha, a rosary, and a sutra. In Siberia he kept these objects, hiding them carefully. ...

Collection: Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)

Institution: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Created: Thu 11 Jul 2019


Dmitriy Mandzhiev, My Family Relics: The Diamond Sutra

   7 views

Dmitriy talks about his family relic, the Diamond Sutra, that his family inherited from their grandmother.

Collection: Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)

Institution: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Created: Sun 28 Oct 2018


Dzhemma Sharaeva, About Inherited Skills

   24 views

Dzhemma says that the ability to sing, dance and play on musical instruments are inherent skills.

Collection: Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)

Institution: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Created: Tue 1 Aug 2017


Galina Goryaeva, The Diamond Sutra, a Coin, and How to Look After a Buddha’s Image

   21 views

Galina talks about the Diamond Sutra that she keeps in her house, a coin that she heals sick children with, and about the significance of keeping a picture/statue of a Buddha at...

Collection: Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)

Institution: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Created: Sat 3 Mar 2018


Maria Lidzhigoryaeva, About the Diamond Sutra, a Rosary, and a Temple in Tsagan-Aman

   37 views

Maria talks about the Diamond Sutra that was believed to be protecting her family and clan. When they lost the sutra, her family substituted it with a rosary. Maria also relays a...

Collection: Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)

Institution: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Created: Thu 15 Mar 2018


Nadezhda Tarancheeva, About One’s Paternal Line

   5 views

Nadezhda says that Kalmyks treat their sons differently, for they are their heirs. Not only that, one’s sons’ sons are also cherished for what they are. It is important to know...

Collection: Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)

Institution: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Created: Sun 5 May 2019


Rimma Badmaeva, About a Family Relic

   9 views

Rimma talks about a statue that she keeps at home as a relic:

Collection: Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)

Institution: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Created: Mon 22 Apr 2019


Sanal Bovaev, About My Family Relic: A Gold Coin

   7 views

Sanal talks about a gold coin of 1847 coinage that his brother uses to cure skin rashes. Their mother also used the same coin to cure people. The coin was inherited from their...

Collection: Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (FAMILY RELICS, INHERITED SKILLS AND GIFTS)

Institution: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Created: Sat 4 May 2019


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