National Wrestling of Tuva Turks: Huresh (Hüreş)
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE National Wrestling of Tuva Turks: Huresh (Hüreş) INGA MENDOT*, MEHMET TURKMEN** *PhD, Tuvan State University, Kyzyl – Tyva, Russia. **Prof. Dr., Mus Alparslan University & Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5926-7522 Correspondence to Inga Mendot, Email: Email: [email protected], ORCID ID:https://orcid.org/000-0002-5416-7573 ABSTRACT Aim: In this study, national traditional wrestling ‘Huresh / Hüreş’ of Tuvas, one of the ancient Siberian Turkic peoples, has been examined. Methods: Descriptive research and comparison method, one of the models included in the qualitative approach, was used in the study. Tuva national wrestling ‘huresh’ is an old, favourite kind of sport among tuvans. It is an inseparable part of any holidays, whether they are family, national or religion. Huresh competitions are usually held during the annual celebration of such holidays, as Naadym and Shagaa (New-Year). Results: Traditional wrestling, not only is Tuva a living symbol for the cultural characteristics of society, it is also a resource that produces identity for all Turkish people (at individual and collective level). In addition, in the research, a propositional legend was used to explain the importance of ‘Huresh’ and its rituals and the musical ceremonies in which they were consumed, to suggest a continuity between social signs, to create social meaning and national identity. Conclusion: The various cultural representations of Tuva Turks directly associated with wrestling are: national power myths, moral codes regarding the knightly ideals of competition and display; the importance of male power is that it expresses consensus notions in social coding. Keywords: Traditional wrestling, Tuvans sports culture, custom, national huresh. INTRODUCTION erosion; It was aimed to introduce this traditional sport to Turkish peoples and world sports literature with its original Tuvans are the one of indigenous populations of Sayan- lines. Altai highland that is on the south of Siberia (the basin of Upper Yenisei). Previous namings of tuvans are METHOD uryankhayians, soiots and soions. “Tyva kizhi” is the way, how they call themselves. They live in the Republic of Tyva The field of sport and culture refers to the values, (note: Tyva is ethnical naming of the people on their native ceremonies, lifestyles and the place of sport in the lifestyle language, Tuva is the Russian variant of the naming), that of a particular group. Like the concept of society, the is in the Russian Federation. Capital city is Tyva, Kyzyl city concept of culture is widely used in a sociological, is geographical center of Asia (Uynuk-ool, 2014). Every anthropological and historical sport work. It encourages the nation has an understanding of sports culture that comes researcher and learner to consider the meaning, symbol, from the past, originates from social structure and life, and ritual and power relationships in play in a particular cultural partially includes geographical features (Kon, 1934). setting. Tuva Turks, the majority of whom are Buddhists, Wrestling is one of the ancient and widespread have two important holidays: "Naadym" (national) in kinds of folk physical culture. Wrestling can develop summer and 'Shagaa' (religious) in winter. The first is the following physical qualities as – strength, speed, agility, national holiday of Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University - flexibility, endurance on the one hand, on another it brings Traditional Games and Sports for Research and up courage, decisiveness, stamina, gumption etc. The Application Center, were made on 24-26 June 2019 date. emotional nature of wrestling matches made them more 'Huresh' was observed, observed and reported on the sport entertaining.Studying objects, found during the excavations in its own place and in its own character. In this context, of mounds located on the territory of contemporary Tuva although many research articles are compatible with the and Central Asia, scholars identified the fact that wrestling method of the study, descriptive research and comparison was known even in the IX-III centuries BC. In one of the method, one of the models included in the qualitative mounds, there was found a troka (straps at the back of the approach, was used in the study. saddle bows for tying something) with engraved picture of two wrestlers. Leaning on their mutual grip and the RESULTS technique applied by them it is possible to determine they were competing according to rules of nowadays “Huresh” From mouth to mouth, from generation to generation the wrestling(Oorzhak, 2000). legends and sagas about peoples’ strongmen in Tuva and Purpose: He has stayed away from Turkey and the unconquerable ‘huresh’ wrestlers were passed. In the past, world wear the national culture, national wrestling Tuva that officials, feudal lords and lamas who have been oppressing of Turkey 'huresh' sport uncover the inner and outer lines; their people, used ‘Huresh’ competitions for strengthening to assemble the emerging national qualities (rituals applied their authority. Competition judges have also been in religious, national and special ceremonies, form and representatives of dominant layers or their henchmen. intellectual elements, etc.) to the national wrestling of other However, there were other wrestlers among the people Turkic peoples who have suffered from globalization equal in strength and agility with those, who were hired by P J M H S Vol. 15, NO. 4, APRIL 2021 1124 Inga Mendot, Mehmet Turkmen feudal. Of course, national wrestlers were very popular symbols, but also, organized around the social values of among people, and memory of them have been kept for up- broad moral and political resonance. They are carefully today. Hitherto the names of famous wrestlers among arat- structured public organizations. The social environment in peasants are mentioned. Tuvans have own legends, which the individual lives creates a framework for the form connected with wrestlers as well. There is a legend and content of common memories Historical interpretations according to which once upon a time, wrestlers have and patterns of perception stem from the interrelationship gained together, conducted ceremony of offering to the between individual and collective memory Wrestlers' spirit of the holy lake Sut-Khol and throwed into all the behavior depends on the norms and values of the culture of trophies and treasures that they had won, with a blessing the social group from neighborhood to society. Play is the wish: “Do not let ever the power of wrestlers and the land of emblem of a culture, so profound knowledge of game- Tuva being exhausted! So be it forever!”(Oorzhak, 2000). based practices is an important element in getting to know Many countries have national sports that a society. In other words, traditional sports are the perfect symbolically represent the people of that country. It is not means of summarizing a society's culture (Oorzhak, 2000). unheard of to fight sports as a national sport; Muay Thai (Thai kick boxing) is the Thai national sport and Sumo RESULT wrestling in Japan has been of national importance for centuries. Wrestling is a national sport in Turkey and most Huresh on many specific and ethnographic cultural popular sport, though not contribute significantly to national elements in their form and intellectual aspects, it shows the identity. Various cultural representations directly associated connection of sports exercises and games with their lives in with wrestling are: national power myths; moral codes ancient Tuvas, a reflection of folk culture elements, life, regarding the knightly ideals of competition and exhibition; rituals, magical beliefs.Again, compared to the examples in the importance of male power expresses notions of the West, it is seen that traditional sports research in Tuva consensus in social coding, losing its face and deception. is very insufficient in terms of its scope and analytical Turkmen and Buyar, uses a propositional legend to explain qualities; It has been understood that most of the studies the importance of wrestling, to suggest continuity between on 'huresh' are still far from making in-depth analysis, and social signs, to establish social meaning and national remain at a superficial level and within a descriptive identity (Oorzhak, 2000). framework.Huresh, which has an important place in the The festival, ceremonial or carnival culture of Tuva, sports culture of Tuva Turks, is based on traditional where these wrestling takes place, is based on traditional resources, which are the economic life unique to him and resources, the economic life unique to it for the the geographical environment that feeds this life for the development and continuity of the people, and the development and continuity of the people; helps to geographical environment that nurtures this life. One of the preserve the link between generations and national identity; most important elements of the festival culture that helps to Tuva youths 'who are we and me?' Sarus has helped them preserve identity and connection between generations is to know their past and gain national identity. In addition, it the original games of the people and traditional sports. has been understood that traditional wrestling is not only a Natural conditions, features of the historical development of living symbol for the cultural characteristics of the Tuva Tuva people gave the games a national identity and made people, but also a resource that generates identity for all them unique. Therefore, the people of Tuvan have special Turkish peoples (at individual and collective level).Various games that differ from other ethnic groups(Mendot, 2015; cultural representations of Tuva Turks directly associated Türkmen et al., 2019). with 'huresh' are: national power myths; moral codes Also, rites are one of the ways that a people regarding the knightly ideals of competition and exhibition; organize their cultural memory. In order to reproduce a the importance of male power expresses notions of particular ritual, its components, order of behavior, consensus in social coding, loses its face and deception. semantic and poetic components must be preserved.