Articles

Incense of the Mongolian Derbets’ nutuk

Vostok/Oriens '2016, №6

 
The article is devoted to the unknown source “Incense of Mongolian Derbets nutuk”, discovered during an expedition to Ubsunur aimak of Mongolia in 2015. The composition of the text is well-known among the Derbets. Its copies are mainly kept in the personal libraries of monks. The manuscript describes the places of worship and offerings of the Derbets who have lived near the lake Uvs nuur since the eighteenth century and have considered it as their homeland. The theme of the homeland can be found not only in the Derbets’ folklore, but, as shown by the materials collected in the field, in old Buddhist monuments. A common feature of such texts is the reference to the specific place-names and “spirit masters” of the area to coax them and sacrifice through the incense.

Keywords: Ubsunur aimak, Western Mongolia, Derbets, Oirats, manuscripts

Pages: С. 132–141