Popular Games in the Altaic World and Related Customs and Traditions

The contributions to this volume highlight the eminent role of games in the Altaic world, of which the Mongolian Naadam may stand as an example  known in the Western world. The authors explore their subjects from the perspectives of anthropology, philology, history and social science. Their papers cover aspects of onomastics, explore the material culture of objects used in games, and fathom the historical roots of games as well as their eminent presence in modern regional societies of Central Asia. Namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Manchuria and Xinjiang.

This book offers a unique comprehensive insight into the centuries-old tradition of social games which, to this very day, form an essential and vibrant part of the annual calender of festivities in the Altaic world. The contributions, presented at the 61st Annual Meeting of the Permanent International Altaistic Conference (PIAC), an interdisciplinary gathering of scholars united by a common interest in Altaic and Central Eurasian Studies.