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IMAGE OF FROG IN FOLKLORE AND RITES OF KHAKAS PEOPLE (END OF 19TH – MIDDLE OF 20TH CENTURIES) // ΠΡΑΞΗMΑ. Journal of Visual Semiotics. 2020. Issue 1 (23). P. 243-265

The aim of the work is to characterize the image of the frog (pāa) in the oral folk art of the Khakas. Based on the goal, the following tasks were set: to analyze the folklore and ethnographic information and to identify the key constituent elements of this mythological being, to discover the semantic links of its image with natural objects and elements. The chronological framework of the work covers the end of the 19th – middle of the 20th centuries. The choice of such time limits is determined by the state of the source base for the research topic. The work is based on an integrated, system-historical approach to the study of the past. The research methodology is based on historical and ethnographic methods – a scientific description, a concrete historical, semantic and relic analysis. As a result of the analysis, the following conclusions can be drawn: 1) the frog was given an important place in the culture of the Khakas. This reality was due both to the prevalence of this animal in the nature of Khakassia, and specifically because of its zoological specificity; 2) in the mythological perception, the specified amphibian was endowed with contradictory dual characteristics and caused mixed feelings in people, often negative ones. In the traditional consciousness of the people, the frog’s unpresentable appearance contained the repulsive intrinsic qualities of its character, which was reflected in folklore and verbal magic; 3) in the ideas of the people, the designated amphibian, as a creature that lives in two elements – water and land, was consistently associated with the Lower World. Moreover, its image is often introduced into mythological and fairy-tale schemes with the participation of other chthonic animals, for example, mice, snakes and lizards. In the Khakas oral folk art, the entire life support system of the demonic characters of the underworld, which included housekeeping and food, was directly connected with this amphibian; 4) animalistic images presented in folklore can be considered not only as purely symbolic, but also as totemic representations; 5) great importance was attached to the image of the frog in the shamanic practice. The animal in question had a direct relationship with both the spirit master of the water – sug eezi, and the lord of the underworld – Erlik Khan. The identified specificity of the frog contributed to its inclusion in the composition of key shaman helpers who mediated between the world of underground spirits and people: 6) among shamanists worship of amphibians reached such a high level that a cult of the patron of sheep appeared, whose external data included amphibian and reptile features. This character carried out protective, protective and healing functions in relation to not only domestic animals, but also to people.

Keywords: mythical image, myth, folklore, Khakas, frog, rites, shamanism.