Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics

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The origin of the relations between Finnish and Estonian folklorists goes far back to the days of Elias Lönnrot and Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald in the first half of the 19th century. In this article, however, I shall concentrate on those decades since the 1930s, when the two archives, the Estonian Folklore Archives and the Folklore Archives of the Finnish Literature Society have existed as institutions. I shall highlight some events, joint projects, historical turning points, and pay attention to individuals, who have had more influence on developing these relations. There were periods of time when the contacts were not possible between the institutions, but still, the continuity of relations existed between individuals. My point of view is micro-historical, as the study of micro-history is interested on the small scale level on the individual, in opposition to macro-history that concentrates on the great changes brought along by political events, on the history of “great men and women”, as well as on the history of institutions. In the history of the folklore archives in Finland and Estonia, we can recognise both of those levels and pay attention to the way how they are intertwined.

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3. Vol 15 No 1 (2021) /
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The article aims to clarify the relations between the early versions of tale type ATU 575. Examining the range of Chinese accounts concerning various wooden birds, the author concludes that two groups can be distinguished. The first consists of stories about flying wooden kite-like birds that are not used as vehicles, while in the second, we deal with wooden birds that can carry people. Records belonging to the second group and evidently having their origin in Indian and Central Asian folk tradition appear later in China. An attempt is made to restore possible outlines of the tale type’s ancestral stories. The article states that the tale of an enamoured weaver in the Panchatantra evolves from the structure of such an ancestral story. 

Under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs license, the author(s) and users are free to share (copy, distribute and transmit the contribution) under the following conditions: 1. they must attribute the contribution in the manner specified by the author or licensor, 2. they may not use this contribution for commercial purposes, 3. they may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.

Authors retain the following rights:

– copyright, and other proprietary rights relating to the article, such as patent rights,

– the right to use the substance of the article in future own works, including lectures and books,

– the right to reproduce the article for own purposes, provided the copies are not offered for sale,

– the right to self-archive the article.

@article{JEF, author = {Baburam Saikia}, title = { Marginalisation, Revolt and Adaptation: On Changing the Mayamara Tradition}, journal = {Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, year = {2021}, keywords = {}, abstract = {Assam is a land of complex history and folklore situated in North East India where religious beliefs, both institutional and vernacular, are part and parcel of lived folk cultures. Amid the domination and growth of Goddess worshiping cults (sakta) in Assam, the sattra unit of religious and socio-cultural institutions came into being as a result of the neo-Vaishnava movement led by Sankaradeva (1449–1568) and his chief disciple Madhavadeva (1489–1596). Kalasamhati is one among the four basic religious sects of the sattras, spread mainly among the subdued communities in Assam. Mayamara could be considered a subsect under Kalasamhati. Aniruddhadeva (1553–1626) preached the Mayamara doctrine among his devotees on the north bank of the Brahmaputra river. Later his inclusive religious behaviour and magical skill influenced many locals to convert to the Mayamara faith. Ritualistic features are a very significant part of Mayamara devotee’s lives. Among the locals there are some narrative variations and disputes about stories and terminologies of the tradition. Adaptations of religious elements in their faith from Indigenous sources have led to the question of their recognition in the mainstream neo-Vaishnava order. In the context of Mayamara tradition, the connection between folklore and history is very much intertwined. Therefore, this paper focuses on marginalisation, revolt in the community and narrative interpretation on the basis of folkloristic and historical groundings. The discussion will reflect upon the beliefs, ritualistic aspects, and myths of the tradition. Fieldwork materials will be employed to discuss the tension between local practices and mainstream neo-Vaishnava influence.}, issn = {2228-0987}, pages = {85–102}, url = {https://jef.ee/index.php/journal/article/view/390} }

@article{JEF, author = {Ignasi Ribó and Sitthichok Samachitloed and Prapawarin Noopan and Chanakan Satrakom and Papawarin Kotchamit}, title = { “Kox Kwai Kauv Kox Kwai”: Ecopoetic Symbolisation in Pgaz K’Nyau Oral Poetry}, journal = {Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, year = {2021}, keywords = {}, abstract = {This article presents the transcription, translation, and annotation of an original performance of hta, a traditional form of oral poetry in Sgaw, the language of the Pgaz K’Nyau (Karen) people of northern Thailand. This performance was recorded during ethnopoetic fieldwork carried out in two villages in the province of Chiang Rai. The hta is then analysed to understand the operations of ecopoetic symbolisation that bring particular nonhumans into the domain of human language. This analysis reveals that a metaphorical mode of symbolisation is extensively used throughout the hta to overcome human/nonhuman allotopies by means of implicit or explicit semic transformations. This seems to indicate that a naturalistic mode of identification underlies the whole poem, a conclusion that calls into question the essentialising and mythifying portrayal of the Pgaz K’Nyau as pre-modern and animistic indigenous stewards.}, issn = {2228-0987}, pages = {103–139}, url = {https://jef.ee/index.php/journal/article/view/391} }

@article{JEF, author = {Aglaia Starostina}, title = { The Prince’s Wings: Possible Origin of the Tale Type and Its Early Chinese Variants}, journal = {Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, year = {2021}, keywords = {}, abstract = {The article aims to clarify the relations between the early versions of tale type ATU 575. Examining the range of Chinese accounts concerning various wooden birds, the author concludes that two groups can be distinguished. The first consists of stories about flying wooden kite-like birds that are not used as vehicles, while in the second, we deal with wooden birds that can carry people. Records belonging to the second group and evidently having their origin in Indian and Central Asian folk tradition appear later in China. An attempt is made to restore possible outlines of the tale type’s ancestral stories. The article states that the tale of an enamoured weaver in the Panchatantra evolves from the structure of such an ancestral story. }, issn = {2228-0987}, pages = {154–169}, url = {https://jef.ee/index.php/journal/article/view/399} }

@article{JEF, author = {Reeli Torn-Leesik}, title = { Book Review. Review Language in Louisiana: Community and Culture}, journal = {Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, year = {2021}, keywords = {}, abstract = {Dajko, Nathalie and Shana Walton, eds. 2019. Language in Louisiana: Community and Culture. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi. }, issn = {2228-0987}, pages = {180–182}, url = {https://jef.ee/index.php/journal/article/view/420} }

@article{JEF, author = {Imomotimi Armstrong}, title = { Of Barrenness and Witchcraft: The Songs of the Legi Women’s Association}, journal = {Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, year = {2021}, keywords = {}, abstract = {Witchcraft and barrenness are two critical issues that African women have had to grapple with since precolonial times. Therefore, the focus of attention in this paper is the songs of the Legi voluntary association among the Ịjọ of Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region. The Legi women’s group is made up of adult women who are barren and/or have been tagged witches by their community. The women of the association compose songs about their experiences in society and sing them at burials. For the women of the Legi Association, art is a means of showing support for or solidarity with a member of the group whose father or mother has died. Moreover, the members of the association perform their songs at burials that are unconnected with them to celebrate with those who invite them.}, issn = {2228-0987}, pages = {50–64}, url = {https://jef.ee/index.php/journal/article/view/381} }

@article{JEF, author = {Magfirah Thayyib}, title = { The Ecological Insight of the Bunga’ Lalang Rice Farming Tradition in Luwu Society, South Sulawesi, Indonesia}, journal = {Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, year = {2021}, keywords = {}, abstract = {The ecological insights of local farming traditions have the potential to be adapted to modern agricultural practices. The article presents an exploration of the ecological insights of the bunga’ lalang rice farming tradition in the Luwu society, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Four rituals that form part the tradition were observed directly during their performance, followed by interviews with eleven figures including the ritual masters. Each ritual that forms part of the bunga’ lalang tradition was treated as a discourse and the meanings of the biological elements are extracted to generate ecological knowledge that is biologically logical and compatible with modern scientific knowledge in rice farming.}, issn = {2228-0987}, pages = {140–153}, url = {https://jef.ee/index.php/journal/article/view/385} }

@article{JEF, author = {Marju Kõivupuu}, title = { Book Review. Till Death Do Us Part: American Ethnic Cemeteries as Borders Uncrossed}, journal = {Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, year = {2021}, keywords = {}, abstract = {Amanik, Allan and Kami Fletcher. 2020. Till Death Do Us Part: American Ethnic Cemeteries as Borders Uncrossed. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi. 288 pages.}, issn = {2228-0987}, pages = {177–179}, url = {https://jef.ee/index.php/journal/article/view/413} }

@article{JEF, author = {Emelie Höglund}, title = { Disarmed by Drama Methodology}, journal = {Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, year = {2021}, keywords = {}, abstract = {}, issn = {2228-0987}, pages = {170–176}, url = {https://jef.ee/index.php/journal/article/view/375} }