bilig-28/ Winter 2004

ON MYTHOLOGICAL MOTIFS IN THE FOLKTALE OF THE BARABA TURKIC PEOPLE "JESTEY MÖNGKÖ"

 

Hyo-Joung KÝM


ABSTRACT

        This article aims to investigate mythological motifs of the "Jestey Möngkö", which is mentioned in a folktale of the Baraba Turkic people. This folktale contains various mythological motifs, which are peculiar to Turkic peoples in Eurasia. These motifs show not only the system of beliefs and worldview of the ancient Turkic, but also the characteristic features of the steppe culture. On the other hand, we also find some mythological motifs in Korean myths and folktales, very similar to these found in "Jestey Möngkö" folktale. This implies an important fact that as Altaic groups there are either close genetic relationship or close geocultural relations between the Korean and the Turkic people in the ancient period.

 


Key Words :
Turkic myth, Korean myth, mythological motif, animal motif, shamanism, Altai.