Article

Name: Traditional ideas of the Zabolotny Tatars about the master-spirits of places (based on field research materials)

Authors: G. T. Bakiyeva

Institute of History and Archaeology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia

In the section Полевые исследования

Abstract:

The Zabolotny Tatars are an ethnoterritorial group of Siberian Tatars, an indigenous people of Western Siberia with a centuries-old history. Residing in the remote, marshy regions north and northwest of Tobolsk, they have practiced Islam for several centuries while preserving archaic elements of traditional beliefs, including complex mythological representations and cults. This study presents and analyzes legends (predaniya) collected by the author during ethnolinguistic expeditions, providing texts in the local dialect alongside Russian translations. A significant portion of the Zabolotye worldview involves the cult of nature and the animistic belief that the surrounding world is inhabited by powerful master-spirits. These entities, believed to own specific villages, lands, and waters, have long been held in high reverence. The research demonstrates that these spirits are thought to grant health, well-being, and luck in hunting or fishing in exchange for respectful treatment and sacrifices. Furthermore, the study examines legends regarding master-spirits as guardians of hidden treasures (klady). A unique cultural phenomenon documented here is the “khatym ash” ritual feast, which aims to appease these spirits by combining Muslim prayers with pre-Islamic sacrificial elements. Ultimately, the presence of these dual practices illustrates a deeply rooted religious syncretism, ensuring the continuity of traditional Zabolotny Tatar identity within a modern framework.

Keywords: Zabolotny Tatars, host spirits, sacred groves, sacrifices, khatym ash, sadaka, treasures, religious syncretism

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