The Three Duties of Good Fortune: 'Luck' as a Relational Process among Hunting Peoples of the Siberian Forest in Pre-Soviet Times

This article is based on data from pre-Soviet Siberia, mainly, the West Buryat and Tungus Evenk groups. As a product that cannot be produced, game is an ideal example of something that requires 'luck'. Far from being passively received, luck requires an active behavior and implies controll...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social analysis 2012-04, Vol.56 (1), p.99-116
Main Author: Hamayon, Roberte N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Animals
Behavior
Causality
Equality
Farmers
Fortune
Humans
Hunting
Hunting and gathering societies
Lifestyles
Love
Luck
Meats
Natural Environment
Reindeer
Responsibility
Rites and ceremonies
Ritual
Semantics
Shamans
Siberia
Social aspects
Soul
Values
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Summary:This article is based on data from pre-Soviet Siberia, mainly, the West Buryat and Tungus Evenk groups. As a product that cannot be produced, game is an ideal example of something that requires 'luck'. Far from being passively received, luck requires an active behavior and implies controlled interactions with various types of agencies of the natural environment and within society. Luck is the outcome of a multirelational process that starts with multiple precautionary measures, continues with fostering, and ends with sharing practices. This action results, paradoxically, in challenging both equality and differentiation, social redistribution and individual responsibility. Throughout this process, luck is associated with meat and vital force (as a substance) and with love, play, and wealth (as a value).
ISSN:0155-977X
1558-5727
DOI:10.3167/sa.2012.560107