| UDC 392/86(=1/571/65-551/3) |
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Alcoholic Practices in the Koryak Culture |
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| © 2015 L. N. Khakhovskaya |
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| North-East Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute n. a. N. A. Shilo, FEB RAS, Magadan |
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| E-mail:
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| The paper contains the analysis of alcoholic practices in the ethnocultural community of Magadan
Oblast Koryaks. It aims in demonstrating how the responsibility for alcoholization is perceived
within this community. The issues discussed include the practice of fl y-agaric intoxication. The author
also analizes another peculiarity of today’s Koryak behavior, their complete rejection of alcohol
for religious reasons. The considered behavioral models are assumed to be lying in the framework
of typical Koryak epistemology and ontology and are based on steady views of the beyond and
communicating with supernatural beings (spirits). First, the external isomorphism of alcoholic intoxication
to fly-agaric refl ects the inner essence of this connection, as well: Koryaks believe that the
human is penetrated by a non-material essence that leads his/her actions. Second, the mass adoption
of the Pentecostal religion by Koryaks and, respectively, the complete sobriety are associated with
this religion actualizing irrational views in Koryak minds, appealing to archaic forms of perceiving
the reality. Koryaks give the mediation in contacting the supernatural world as well as the control of
their sober life into the hands of the Pentecostal minister. |
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| Keywords: the Koryak, Magadan Oblast, underworld, supernatural beings, alcohol, mushroom,
Protestant religion, Pentecostals. |
| Full text [In Russian] |
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