Kalmyks after the Year 1771: the Religious Factor and Ethnic Identity

Abstract

Introduction. The article deals with the religious affairs and identity of the Kalmyks after the 1771 Exodus to Dzungaria. This event and its consequences have been comprehensively examined and evaluated by modern Kalmyk historiography. The grandiose exodus yielded no expected results: dreams to revive of the Dzungar Khanate proved an illusion, and the nation became split between China and Russia. Goals. The paper seeks to investigate the changes in confessional affairs of the Kalmyks subsequent to the year 1771 - from the perspective of ethnic identity. M aterials. The work analyzes most essential legal changes towards the Buddhist church, reveals factors to have facilitated the preservation of identity. After the Kalmyk Exodus, the Russian Government put the Buddhist church under strict control, paying special attention to its size and numbers of Kalmyk clergymen, their influence on the whole of Kalmyk society - and each Kalmyk individually. R esults. It is shown that the authorities actually understood and recognized religion as a socio-cultural element of identity.

Keywords

• kalmyks
• oirats
• buddhism
• lama of the kalmyk people
• identity
• khurul
• christians