The concept ofzheti-ata and the prohibition of marriage up to seven generations in Kazakh culture

Kazak kÜltÜrÜnde “yedİ ata” kavrami ve yedİ kuŞaĞa kadar evlİlİĞİn yasaklanmasi geleneĞİ
Kozgambayeva G. Yegizbaeva M. Urazbayeva A.
2021 Milli Folklor Dergisi

Milli Folklor
2021 #17 Issue 129 45 - 57 pp.

In the Kazakh people, people belonging to seven generations were considered as close relatives and these seven generations were prohibited from marrying among themselves. In the traditional consciousness of the Kazakh people “zheti-ata” which means “seven grandfathers” in Kazakh, is a system for spreading male lineage. The Kazakh people are divided into three “zhuz”es (tribal divisions). The system of seven generations consists of members of one clan; “ata”, “ake”, “bala”, “nemere”, “şöbere”, “şöpşek”, “nemene”. People who have a common seventh ancestor are considered the children of the same father, and they are not allowed to marry each other. In Kazakh society, knowledge of the names of the seven ancestors is mandatory for every person. The prohibition of marriage up to seven generations protected the Kazakh society from incest and loss of generic and genetic qualities. Therefore, the elders of the Kazakh people maintained family ties until seven generations grew up. Starting from the eighth generation, a new name was determined for “ru” (clans). For this reason, elders, judges, and heads of this clan invited members of their lineage, slaughtered the white mare, prayed, and since the seven generations are completed, they gave permission for this line to be married. in some Turkish noble peoples such as Uzbeks and Turkmens, the main aim of this article is to determine and analyze the similarity of the Kazakh tradition of creating a family, as well as to identify the features of the tradition of the prohibition of marriage up to seven generations in comparison with other. Since family marriages lead to the emergence of many genetic diseases, the problem of maintaining blood purity, which is an important traditional understanding in the prevention of health problems, is very important not only for Kazakhs but also for the health and future of generation of all peoples. These days, medicine also investigates and proves this fact. That is why, protection from genetic damage, preservation of genetic characteristics, and blood purity are some of the actual problems, that need to be studied. The article, based on the historical and ethnographic works of Russian travelers and scientists of the XIX - XX centuries, as well as on fairy tales, legends, and epics, examines the Kazakh tradition of the prohibition of marriage up to seven generations and some of the most important rules for creating a family. The study also discusses the various punishments that are imposed on those who break the ban of marriage up to seven generations. Such people are known as “blood spoilers”. The study examines some of the historical prerequisites that demand the preservation of the tradition of the ban of marriage up to seven generations. Examples are also provided. The “zheti-ata” system has been refined and classification has been made. The history of the formation of this tradition among the Kazakh people and the issue of its preservation to these days are also considered. The article analyzes the tradition of prohibiting marriage up to the seven generations among the Koja and Tore clans that do not belong to the Kazakh traditional tribal divisions (Senior Zhuz, Middle Zhuz, Junior Zhuz). The main part of the research is analyzed using several methods. The first one is a comparative historical method. Using this approach, the tradition of the prohibition of marriage up to seven generations of Kazakhs living in different regions of the Kazakh steppe was studied, and based on this, from a historical point of view, the common and different sides of these traditions were compared with other Turkic tribes (Uzbeks, Turkmens). The second one is a systematic method. The data on ethnography and related disciplines (linguistics, folklore) was used to study the issue of punishment for violation of marriage prohibition up to the seven generations.

Kazakh , Marriage , Punishment , Taboo , Tradition , Zheti-ata

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Al-Farabi Kazak Milli Üniversitesi, Tarih, Arkeoloji ve Etnoloji Fakültesi, Almatı, Kazakhstan
Al-Farabi Kazak Milli Üniversitesi, Tarih, Arkeoloji ve Etnoloji Fakültesi, Almatı, Kazakhstan
Al-Farabi Kazak Milli Üniversitesi, Arkeoloji ve Etnoloji Fakültesi, Almatı, Kazakhstan

Al-Farabi Kazak Milli Üniversitesi
Al-Farabi Kazak Milli Üniversitesi
Al-Farabi Kazak Milli Üniversitesi

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