A Historical and Ethnozoological Study on Local Zoological Knowledge Recorded in the Book "Mongolia and Amdo and the Dead City of Khara-Khoto"

Abstract

Background: Mongolia and Amdo and the Dead City of Khara-Khoto (MAKK) represents an expedition note by Pyotr Kuz’mich Kozlov (1863-1935), a famous Russian Central Asian explorer, completed after his expedition to northwestern China during 1907 and 1909. Although the record note lacks a professional adequacy on measures of zoology research, some valuable information of local knowledge on animals (MLKA) were recorded. These local knowledge provide valuable reference to the study of ethnozoology and history of science and technology among ethnic minorities in China.Method: The current study referenced the two Russian editions of MAKK (1923 and 1948) as research materials and collated, textualed, and analyzed the MLKA records through the methods such as textual research, zoological classification, comparison, and interview. Since the MLKA is mainly concentrated in Alxa and its adjacent areas, we conducted field surveys and interviews in two separate visits during 2019 and 2020, following precisely Kozlov’s exploration routes in Alxa more than a century ago. The methods including key informants interview, snowball sampling, and rational sampling were used in the interviews. By investigating evidences and analyzing the interview data of 33 key informants, our field work re-verified the MLKA in MAKK and obtained its concurrent situation in the above destinations.Result: According to textual research, the MLKA records included in MAKK contain a description of 23 species, belonging to 14 families and 21 genera. The local knowledge mainly consists of the naming, utilization, and wildlife preservation by the Mongolian community. Corresponding relations between Mongolian folk name and scientific name are existed in “one-to-one”, “multitude-to-one” and “one-to-multitude” forms. There are three types on the structures of animals’ Mongolian names: simple primary name, complex primary name, and secondary name. Animals’ morphological characteristics, living habits, and Mongolian traditional grazing experience are crucial naming basis. The utilization of animals by the Mongols mainly includes diet, textile, accessory, transportation, instrument, toponym, and weather forecast. Moreover, the Mongols mainly rely on folk beliefs and official decrees for wildlife protection. Field work indicates that much of this knowledge is still preserved among local folks, but some are becoming unattainable due to population aging and lesser frequent use nowadays.Conclusion: (a) The naming methods of Mongolian for animals are of high scientific and practical value. The Mongols probably have indigenous naming rules and classifying systems for animals. (b) The MLKA possesses a multiform character and interacts with Mongolian culture. (c) Mongolian knowledge of thoughts and measures on preserving animal resources include high value culturally and practically. (d) The 100-year-old historical notes supply reliable information and meaningful historical data for the studies on ethnozoology and the history of science and technology of China’s ethnic minorities, along with offering references for Mongolian Plateau’s fauna and history of zoology researches.