Zoya Y. Dorzhu
Kysyl Pedagogical Institute
667003 Republic of Tyva, Kysyl, ul.Lenina 12-19
RUSSIA
TEL: 2-55-26
The Republic of Tyva is a small region where it is still possible to meet primordial beauty and the virgin purity of nature. This largely enables the national tradition of raising children with respect for nature. Until now the Tuva' people have preserved the cult system (e.g. the cult of fire, the holy tree, the taiga, the life-giving source), the essence of which lies in revering nature. Thus, fire was viewed by the Tuva' people as the chief family deity, the patron of the home and its defender. Fire was understood first and foremost by women, since they were traditionally occupied in the preparation of food and brought sacrifices to the fire. Also, from time immemorial it has been forbidden, for example, to litter springs at their headwaters, to cut shrubbery, to trample grass, and to walk above the head of a spring -- even to wash. At springs it was also prohibited to pull up closely on horses, to water animals, or to spend the night.
The traditional culture of the Tuva' people is characterized by the organic connection between a person and nature, a person is a small part of her and is everything that surrounds him, all that he lives and breathes. The Tuvan woman strictly follows with her children the observances of such customs as not to harm nature for in this way a person brings harm to himself. Thus, a Tuvan never cuts down a tree without special necessity, he never kills more beasts or catches more fish than he needs. The people have great wisdom in the preservation of green plants. The national footware of the Tuva' people, with turned up toes and without heels, do not destroy the soil cover.
Thus, the desired effect of ecological upbringing is unthinkable in the absence of progressive national traditions which absorb the historical and climate peculiarities of the conditions of life, thriftiness, wisdom, and morality in the uses of nature.
Translated by Barbara Welling Hall
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