ANALYSIS OF THE EXOGAMOUS MARRIAGE MOTIF IN KARAKALPAK FOLKLORE

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the analysis of Karakalpak native epic. It analyzes the epic motifs that are indicative of ancient forms of exogamous marriage. Motifs connected with exogamous marriage are the main direction of Karakalpak epic lore. On the basis of folklore material, the conception of norms in exogamic marital relationship, stages of formation and its historical-social characteristics were studied.

The study of marriage relationship and connected rituals broadens possibilities for ethno-genetic research, allowing to identify ancient forms of marriage and shed light on the specifics of their evolution.

In the present work, with the help of ethno-folklore materials, the author illustrates that the content of Karakalpak folklore reflects the most archaic forms of exogamous marriage, completely different from contemporary notions. The exogamous marriage in Karakalpak folklore epic is realized by means of initiation trials, such as baigi – horseracing, and contest in archery. Whenever a hero goes to a foreign land in search for a bride, he is subjected to trials. Especially widespread example is described as a wrestling match – kurash, which takes place between contestants competing for the bride’s hand, attesting to exogamous character of marriage.

In the Karakalpak folklore, the motif of creating a family for a hero begins with the quest after a bride, who is located beyond the territory where the hero resides. This motif is very common in epic stories. According to rules of exogamous marriage, the hero is obliged to marry the daughter of another kin.

In author’s view, an ancient type of exogamy represents specifically characteristic of marital relationship in Karakalpak culture and preserved its traces as the main feature of in the form of ethnographic evidence in the plot narratives of Karakalpak heroic epics.

Additionally, in the article the author interprets analyses of characters, connected with the motif of exogamous marriage in such Karakalpak historical epics as Kyrk Kyz, Maspatsha, Alpamys, and Koblan.