야쿠트족의 민족 축제 ‘으흐으아흐’에 관한 연구

Abstract

This article explores the forms and functions of Sakha's Yhyakh festival with a focus on the circle dance known as Ohuokhai. Historically, the Sakha (Yakut) people are Turkic-speaking agropastoralists inhabiting the subarctic Sakha Republic of Russia. The Yhyakh festival is believed to have been formed in the ancient era. This tradition was disrupted in the 17th century, when shamanism, the Sakha's indigenous religion, was prohibited and forcefully replaced by the Russian Orthodoxy. However, with the collapse of socialism at the end of 20th century, the consciousness of national identity of the Yakut people was reignited. This brought about the revival of the Yhyakh festival and the reappearance of their traditions and national culture. Although some ritualistic customs have degenerated into political expressions, it is still possible to detect the traditional sources of the Yakut people in the festival. In particular, the Ohuokhai, which originated as the opening communal prayer during the Yhyakh festival, maintained its original sacred function and, over time, assumed other functions. This article defines the origins of the Ohuokhai and traces its evolving functions through the pre-Soviet, Soviet, and post-Soviet times. It reveals that, despite continuing post-Soviet threats, Ohuokhai continues because of the commitment and initiative of the Sakha inhabitants.