The semantic field of wood ritual objects in the Russian spell rite

Abstract

The article examines the subject code of the Russian spell tradition using the example of a group of ritual objects of wood origin. This group has received insufficient attention in research, as evidenced by a brief review of the literature. The material for the analysis is the main publications of Russian conspiracies, as well as field materials recorded by the author in the period from 2003 to 2023 in the Omsk Irtysh region. The purpose of this work is to determine the semantic field of a group of wood objects in Russian spells, as well as to identify the relationship between a ritual object and its verbal and symbolic embodiment. The main method of research – historical-typological – allows us to draw typological parallels in order to clarify the boundaries of the semantic field, which includes ritual objects of the group being studied. The article also implements complex and cross-genre approaches. The analysis showed the widespread use of ritual objects of wooden origin in the Russian charm tradition. Objects are included in the text of the conspiracy as independent images and can be used relatively independently of the verbal component of the conspiracy. The semantics of the ritual object is in accordance with the functional and thematic orientation of the spell and is determined by its content. An examination of two objects – a bitch and a sliver – revealed an expansion of their functions and semantic field in in Russian spells of Siberian. This conclusion determines the direction of further research into spells paraphernalia in the aspect of the mutual influence of aboriginal and settler traditions.

Keywords

• action code
• ritual object
• semantic field
• spell rite
• акциональный код
• заговорный обряд