Published 2019-10-30
Keywords
- Mongolia,
- horse,
- branding,
- symbol of ownership,
- folklore
- anthropology,
- brand ...More
How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2019 the author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Abstract
The aim of this study is to show the similarities and differences in Hungarian and Mongolian traditions and knowledge (from the 15–16th century in Hungary, and the 13–14th century in Mongolia) regarding horse branding. The basic points of comparison are the following: owner of the brand, number and position of the brands on the animal, structure of the shape, function and meaning of the brand. Although the general aspects of horse brands are similar in both cultures, the highlights and functions differ. The display of branding customs is supplemented with the author’s fieldwork conducted between 2014 and 2017, documenting two ceremonial branding events in Mongolia. Descriptions of these events are published here for the first time.