Tuva.Asia / The New Research of Tuva

The yurt-museum is located not far from national Museum in Kyzyl; it complements the cultural treasure-house of original expositions, immersing the visitors in the daily life of Tuvans. - What is the main difference between a yurt and other types of dwellings? O.D.: A yurt is, first of all, a typical nomadic dwelling. That is why it is easy to take it apart and transport it, then reassemble it again in two hours at the most, depending on the size of the yurt. The yurt and its interior furnishings are made from light materials by hand, in conditions of home craft production, and everything is adapted for nomadic way of life. The rugs are traditionally made from white sheep wool, and decorated with colored embroidery. Chests and headboards of beds are also decorated with embroidery. The chests always come in pairs in Tuva - two, four, six, eight… - The chests always stand opposite the yurt entrance, but to whom do they belong? O.D.: Those on the right belong to the lady of the household and the children, those on the left belong to the master of the household. The master sits closer to the door, he protects the living space and watches the livestock.

A film of a Tuvan director Vladimir Kopush "Kushkash-ool (Bird-boy) "(2011) has won at the Russian media competition “Patriot of Russia – 2012” in the television category. The film is about a Tuvan American musician Sean Quirk. Eight years ago he was a student at the College of Music in Chicago and heard for the first time a record of “Huun-Huur-Tu”, a world-famous Tuvan group of throat singing performers. And Sean Quirk's life has totally changed. He left for a distant and unknown place, the Republic of Tuva.

Now, he is a soloist at the National Orchestra of Tuva, Honoured Artist of the Republic. Recently in the capital of Republic, Kyzyl, he has given his solo-concert which was very successful. The story of Sean Quirk told by himself, by his teacher Valentina Suzukey and by his new friends will help viewers understand why here, on the other side of the planet, a young American found his second home. The award ceremony of the contest will take place in Voronezh on 26-27 October 2012.

The first Sean Quirk’s solo concert was held in the Folk Arts House in Kyzyl on October 19. Sean Quirk is the Honoured Artist of Tuva, the soloist of the Tuvan National Orchestra, an American by birth, but a Tuvan by calling. His family, friends, and colleagues came to support the musician. There were so many the Honored and the People’s artists performing on one stage that it felt over-the-top: Alash Folk Ensemble, People’s Khoomeizhys of Tuva Andrey Mongush, Igor Koshkendey, Bady-Dorzhu Ondar, Kongar-ool Ondar.

Back in 2003, 25-year old American from Milwaukee city, WI heard the throat singing on the CD given by chance by one of his friends. It was khoomey sung by the Huun-Huur-Tu Ensemble, which amazed Sean so deeply that he fell in love with the unusual sounds of Tuvan musicians.

The secret of “how are they signing it” was haunting his mind. He started trying to copy the sounds, but had no luck. Then Sean takes risks and decides to go to Tuva with the main object to perceive throat singing.

The Candidates of Philological Sciences, Professor Mira Bavuu-Syuryun and a Senior Lecturer of the Tuvan Philology and General Linguistics department of the TSU Aelita Salchak as well as Khiys Gansukh, a member of the Education Institute of Mongolian Ministry of Science and Education, have been going on an expedition to Mongolia from 13-27 September 2012. The scientists visited Bayan-Olgii, Khovd, Central aimags (provinces), and the capital of the country. The philologists have been addressing the problems associated with native (Tuvan) language study in the conditions of multilingualism since 2011.

The issue of teaching Tuvan language and the related problems of developing thinking skills and socialization of Tuvan children living in Northwestern Mongolia require immediate solution.

Learning in non-native tongue in primary schools is a barrier not only for language and thinking skills development but also for the whole process of getting education.

There are Tuvans and Kazakhs living in Tsengel Bayan-Olgii province of Mongolia, and only 20% of population make ethnic Tuvans, so they form a national minority socializing in Mongolian and Kazakh languages.

The Mongolian Academy of Sciences (MAS) in association with the Mongolian National University is very honoured to host the 13th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) in Ulaanbaatar from Sunday 21st July to Saturday 27th July 2013. The joint convenors will be Dr S. Chuluun (Institute of History, MAS), Dr U. Bulag (University of Cambridge), and Dr Ulrike Roesler (University of Oxford). It is with great pleasure that we now extend this invitation for proposals for papers and panels.

The Academy of Practical Ethnopsychology is to open in the Tuvan State University on 9 October 2012. The Academy will consist of the different psychology schools of the University:

the young fathers’ school with its aim to help young men to understand their huge role in parenting; the Aistyonok school with maternity education for young women; the school of beauty, design and art which is directed to unlock students’ creativity; the school of ethnopsychology that will teach the basics of ethnic culture and psychotherapy.

All of the schools are based on the Mederel, the Center of practical psychology and etiquette, and the Health center of the Tuvan University.

The students’ art exhibition will be available at the Academy’s opening ceremony showing different pieces of art and ideas.

To the Highest Mountain Peaks of Alaska, Australia, and Europeis a recently published book in Tuvan language written by one of the leading novelists in the republic Maadyr-ool Khovalyg.

It is the second author’s book of the Travelling series telling about the expeditions of the Tuvan mountaineers to the highest mountain peaks of the regions. The first book Tuvans on the peaks of the world was published in 2010 and was sold out within three months.

The new book contains three chapters:

“McKinley the Threatening Mountain of Alaska Natives” which is about climbing to the top of the highest point in the North America;

“Go, Beautiful Australia!” is dedicated to the travelling around Australia and mount Kosciuszko expedition;

“The Highest Mountain Peak of Europe, Mt Elbrus is beneath us” is the third chapter and narrates about climbing Elbrus.

The book contains a great deal of interesting information, for example:

The first map of Tuva showing all the known touristic attractions has been released. The map indicates the locations of wildlife sanctuaries, cultural sites, the most popular routs, tracks, mineral springs (arzhaans), fishing, hunting, rafting spots etc. It also demonstrates the infrastructure of the region, including residential areas, roads, tourist camps, motels, cafes, petrol stations. The backside of the map contains pictures and materials of Tuva. The map was presented as part of the opening of the inter-regional fair “Community: Tuva-Khakasia-Krasnoyask krai”. There are only 2000 copies printed, but in the long term, the number is to be increased as well as the online version is to be available. The map indicates more than 40 touristic attractions of the republic, and, as explained by the head of the Tourism Department Kandemir Mongush, it has been based on the recent government supported project “Tos-Ertine” or “Nine Treasures of Tuva”.

The copy of the Oscar statuette is right in the middle of the museum hall. In 1976, the movie of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosava Dersu Uzala was awarded the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. The Tuvan actor, Maksim Munzuk played the title role of the hunter, the native of the Ussuri taiga, having created a charming character of an openhearted and a simple man.

According to the senior research fellow of the arts and humanities department Lyubov Shoyduk, the unique items, recently given to the museum by the actor’s daughters, form the basis of the exhibition. Personal documents, the Oscar-winning film photographs, movie posters of the actor’s films and many other items are presented at the museum.

Lyubov Shuluevna Shoyduk remembers Maksim Monguzhukovich very well: while being a radio journalist she would repeatedly interview the actor.

Today, the head of Tuva Sholban Kara-ool has endorsed the law concerning the introduction of amendments to the regional languages law. The amendments mainly affect the use of Tuvan language in naming geographical objects, inscriptions, road signs and other signage, as well as studding the language in early childhood education centers. The previous law was only proclaiming that Tuvan language study started in pre-school centers, while the new version of the law outlines the way of realization of the norm. According to the law, a founder or a bylaw of a preschool institution determines the inclusion of the elements of traditional ceremonies, customs and ethics into the studding and educational process. From now on, all the geographical names, inscriptions, and road signs that had been written only in Russian, must be duplicated in Tuvan. Authorized bodies of the executive branch, ministries of culture, education and science, are obligated to monitor the right appearance and the maintenance of the signs and inscriptions.

The genes of Alan-Goa, the mythological great-grandmother pf Genghis Khan and his son Jochi, were discovered by Kazakh geneticists in contemporary Todzhans - descendants of "Royal" Scythians. When I found out that my genetic tree, which was kindly worked up for me by the molecular genetics laboratory in Alma-Ata, contains the genetic group "Rib", which is typical for representatives of descendants of the Celts (Irish, Scottish, and other Western Europeans) as well as Basques and Bashkirs, I was very surprised at first, because there were no migrants from Western Europe among my ancestors. But Siberian Scythians, Uighurs, Uriangkhai, Eastern Khakassians and Genghis Khan's "Mountain Mongols" were completely plausible. However, as I analysed the probable genetic ties of my ancestors, especially their descent from their common great-great-grandmother Alan-Goa ("Mother-Deer"), whose name itself points to ethno-genetic ties to the "Royal" Scythians,, whose first legendary King-Sun was Koloksai, who is the legendary ancestor of Kol and Kular lineages, I came to the conclusion that the presence of Celtic genes in my own generic make-up is completely justifiable. Just like the presence of "signs" of "Arian" genes in Genghis Khan himself, which also appears to be a sufficiently well known historical fact (light hair, white skin, green eyes, etc.).

September 11, is the 80^th birthday of Khunashtar-ool Surun-oolovich Oorzhak, a recognized Tuvan performer of Tuvan original art form - throat-singing. His name is included in the State Book of Republic Tyva "People of merit of Tuva in XX Century". Khunashtar-ool Oorzhak was born in 1932 in Mungash-Ak village of Barun-Khemchik district. After having served in the Soviet Army, he returned to his native Mungash-Ak, and then moved to Sut-Khol kozhuun with his family. For many years, Khunashtar-ool Surun-oolovich worked as a sheep-herder. When herding his sheep in a valley, Oorzhak, just like many other herders, sang various melodies and composed his own. His singing attracted the attention of other herders and milk-maids. At that time, Khunashtar-ool was 35 years old. Culture workers of the district informed Kyzyl, that in the "Aldan-Maadyr" kolkhoz, there is a talented master of throat-singing in the sygyt and kargyraa styles. A science worker from TNIIYaLI came over, and made tape-recordings of Khunashtar-ool Oorzhak. Before half a year passed, he was famous throughout the republic.

On September 15, it’s going to be the 100^th anniversary of Maksim Munzuk, the People’s Artist of RSFSR, and Tuvan ASSR, who played the title role of Nanai hunter in the Oscar-winning film of Akira Kurosava Dersu Uzala.

Today, Dersu is the embodiment of the world soul, living in harmony both with himself and with the surrounding nature; he is the embodiment of unselfish and faithful friendship between people of different nations. By stepping from screen to reality, Dersu has aroused concern in the audience for the purity of human soul.

Centennial anniversary of Maksim Munzuk is not just an anniversary; it is the grounds for the further relationship and friendship development with other regions. It is the chance to talk about eco-tourism development in Tuva, about spiritual and moral education of younger people, and it is a great matter to familiarize once again the younger generation to the history of the THEATRE – the cradle of all the professional arts in Tuva.

Today the Russian Exhibition Center within the framework of the XXV Moscow International Book Fair held a presentation of the book of the famous journalist and TV presenter Sergey Brilyov “Forgotten Allies in World War II” (Moscow, 2012). The book was presented to readers and journalists on the exhibition place of publishing house “Olma Media Group”, which had published S. Brilyov’s work.

The author of the book pointed out that this book was not about the great powers that were traditionally considered as the victors in World War II, but it was about the smallest states, who had also participated in the war, and who had also made a great contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany.

S. Brilyov said that “of course, the losses of the small allies against our losses look like trifle, and I do not for a second lower the Soviet Union’s role in the fight against fascism, but if you look at the statistics, for example, New Zealanders at that time lost every fifty taking into account a tiny population of New Zealand. They secured the victory in all corners of the world and they fought for us. Having used them up, we just “threw” them later on; I apologize for the contemporary expression. But what to do with it now? I believe this is the part of the war history which deserves to be registered at least. And it is up to everyone to admire it or not”.

The highest preparedness for the introduction of a new course included in the school curriculum as a federal component was demonstrated by the schools in the capital of the republic. According to the Deputy Head of the Department of Education of the City Hall of Kyzyl Angelika Dietrich, the preparation for the introduction of "Basics of religious cultures and secular ethics" was launched in the February of this year. The new course shall be introduced from the fourth grade in 12 secondary schools of Kyzyl and shall be taught by 43 teachers and each of the school representatives took refresher courses. All necessary textbooks were received and e-learning resources for teachers, pupils and parents were prepared. The parental choice of one of the six modules included in "Basics of religious cultures and secular ethics" is as follows: the basics of the Buddhist culture have chosen 34.1% of the parents, the basics of the Orthodox culture - 15.2%, the basics of the Islamic culture - 0.3%, the basics of the world religious cultures - 26.8%, the basics of the secular ethics - 23.6%.