Nikolay Katanov's scientific journey to Eastern Siberia and Xinjiang (1889-1892)

Abstract

© 2019 Ippolitov Publishing house. All rights reserved. The early 21st century was able to witness the assessment of the entire scope of the activities pursued by Nikolay F. Katanov, a universal scholar-turkologist (1892-1922). Although his works in linguistics and ethnography are widely known, the bulk of his field studies materials he obtained in Eastern Siberia and Xinjiang (the Qing Empire) still remains unpublished. This article is the first attempt to introduce the scientist's manuscripts which cover the third stage of his research journey in Eastern Turkestan into scientific circulation. The analysis of his previously unpublished diaries allows to considerably clarify his methods applied in linguistic and ethnological studies. In 1887 the Russian Geographical Society on the initiative of V.V. Radlov decided to undertake a complex examination into Turk tribes that inhabited the adjacent peripheral territories of the Russian and Quing Empires. The research agenda worked out by I.N. Berezin paid special attention to the accents of the Uighur language which was poorly studied at that time. Moreover, western science even defied the existence of the folklore and epos of Turk tribes living in oases lying on the way of the Great silk road. N. Katanov, being an ethnic Khakas, set out on this promising scientific journey on his own as he was spared the language and cultural difficulties that would otherwise commonly arise. At first the researcher worked in the company of his compatriots, but then, having learnt the Tuvan language, spent nearly half a year on the territory of Uriankhay Krai. The biggest obstacle for him was the suspicious attitude and interference on the part of the Xinjiang authorities. Finally, due to the assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the planned goals set before N. Katanov were implemented and even surpassed, the major result being the first description of the Tuvan language as well as a large number of publications on ethnography and oral literature of the Khakases, Tuvans and Uighurs.