시베리아 코략족 기근신화의 구조와 의미에 대한 연구

Abstract

Famine myths of the Koryak people are basically comprised of three narrative parts: <lack>→<performance>→<liquidation>. The <performance> aspect is comprised of three narrative components: <departure>→<doing>→<return>, and the <doing> part is furthermore comprised of <wanting>→<knowing>→<being-able>. To be more specific, <lack> represents famine and <liquidation> represents <abundance>. Transition from famine to abundance through <performance> constructs a basic structure of the narrative in the famine myths. In the process of <performance>, the agent of the action leaves his/her family and is reunited with them after he or she has finished <doing> certain tasks. In the <doing> process, the agent acts in various ways such as doing tricks, theft, and various other habits to obtain food after he/she has acquired <knowing> the information about the food which is <wanting>. The Koryak tribe holds many different festivals in order to get abundant results in economic activities. The whale festival is a typical example of such festivals. Whale festivals incorporate the system of metonymic ‘increase rite’ praying for the rebirth or regeneration of animals. The Koryaks pray for the abundance of the animals which they hunt in these festivals. The Koryaks observe a series of norms when they hold whale festivals or eat the dead animals. Keeping the bones of the dead animals and preparing a way back to their world are examples of the norm observation. Such observation of norms guarantees success in animal hunting in the future. These patterns are also identified in the myths of the Koryak involving whale festivals.