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THE TRADITIONAL EVEN IDEAS ABOUT HUMAN AND ANIMAL HAIR

A. Alexeev, A. Alekseev

First published: 2019https://doi.org/10.5593/SWS.ISCSS.2019.3/S06.009View metrics

Abstract

Since ancient times, people attached special importance to hair and nails. Many traditions are connected with them. Around these particles of the human body there was a whole mythology. According to the view of the Tungus, hair is part of a person and therefore part of the soul. In extraordinary cases, for example, at the onset of any epidemic or after diseases, Tungus cut off from his head on strands of hair and give them to the shaman, for fear that any harmful spirit has not stolen their souls. The shaman keeps the hair with him, thus preserving the souls of their owners. The different peoples of the world since ancient times had their own customs and prohibitions in relation to the head and hair. The Tungus-Manchu peoples, including the Evens, also had similar customs and prohibitions regarding their hair and body parts. Religious beliefs of Evens in hair-nourittu (Even.) there was a part of the human soul-hanyan (Even.). Therefore, cutted hair was hidden in the rocks, hollow tree, because it was believed that the one who finds the hair, could have a negative impact on humans. Thus, we clearly see that every thing and even parts of the human body, such as hair, symbolized its owner or even his life. Also according to Even beliefs, a woman had no right to appear before her husband's father with her head uncovered. According to informants, if women (girls) have too long hair, it was thought bad omen - such a woman has a short age. Modern materialistic science, like ancient cultures, considered human hair and nails as a source of important information. More than 1,300 types of raw materials of plant, animal and mineral origin are known in the system of Tibetan medicine, which are included as ingredients in the composition of multi-component prescriptions. Described about 100 species of animals, raw materials which were used for the preparation of medicinal products. According to the views of Evens of the North-Western Verkhoyania, it is believed that the horse and undershirt hair of the deer scare away evil forces, since they contain part of the spirit -mouhon (Even.) They are not simple, but sacred.

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Publication details

Title
THE TRADITIONAL EVEN IDEAS ABOUT HUMAN AND ANIMAL HAIR
Authors
A. Alexeev, A. Alekseev
Proceedings
6th SWS International Scientific Conference on Social Sciences ISCSS 2019
Publisher
STEF92 Technology
Year
2019
Pages
67-72
SWS Citekey
Alexeev201966772
ISSN
2682-9959
ISBN
978-619-7408-93-5
Language
en
Publication type
Proceedings Paper
Keywords
mythologyhairsoulshamanspiritown customsprohibitionshead uncoveredsacredcustomstaboosspirit of the familyspirit of the family.
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