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A Tale About the Riding Whip Among Torghuts


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Authors

Bulag, Uradyn E. 
Fuerwa, Dorjraa 

Abstract

The Horsewhip, crafted from mountain red willow sourced from Hatun and Sair Mountain, combined with cattle leather, stands as one of the most significant items among Torghuts. People attribute the riding whip with the correct ingredients as having the power to scare and ward off ghostly spirits. Consequently, each rider possesses their own riding whip which is prominently displayed in a respectful area within the room when they are not riding. Young racehorse riders also carry a smaller whip while riding, symbolically safeguarding themselves from accidents during races. The proverb “Toson Ulan Ishtei, Chödkhö Shulmusin Daruulga, Torghut Khüni Malia” encapsulates this profound understanding. Regarding the components of the riding whip, the mountain red willow stands out as the sturdiest and the most resilient shrub. Crafting a horsewhip from this material ensures not only longevity but also affords the holder protection from undesirable occurrences. The length, size, and weaving style of the hand shank also hold significant standards. The handgrip’s dimensions are commonly measured in handbreadth, with six to seven handbreadths deemed the most appropriate for crafting a riding whip. A common saying goes, ‘six short sentences,’ which are: ‘Where are you going? On the mountain. Why are you going on the mountain? To get a riding whip willow twig. Take one for yourself, Please take one for me.’ The leather weave introduces another crucial element to the riding whip. There are five methods of leather weaving, distinguished by the number of stripes, quadrangles, pentagons, and hexagons. Among these, hexagons with twelve strips are considered the most prestigious.

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Keywords

Tale, Riding Whip, Torghuts, Crafting, Willow

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Publisher

Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge

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Sponsorship
Sponsored by Arcadia Fund, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin.