한ㆍ몽 가축의 출산문화 연구 試論

A comparative study of cattle delivering tradition between Korea and Mongolia. -Based on taboos and traditions when Korean calf and Mongolian sheep are delivered-

In Mongolia whose major industry is stock farming, sheep have been considered as special cattle and loved by its people among other animals. The reason why Mongolian love and take special care on sheep is that sheep play a huge role on stock farming Mongolian way of life including housing, clothing and food. In Korea whose major industry had been agriculture, bull played an important role in farming industry and it is also called as “生口” which means live mouth for its importance in Korean way of life. In Korea, when they deliver a calf they tried ritual ceremony such as hanging gilt ropes around the gate or putting a pine tree branches on it as they did when they deliver their own baby as a ritual to prevent evil spirits from coming to their house. In Korea the birth of calf is considered as a special ceremony giving them a present adding to their property. And it is natural that it brought some taboos which don’t allow strangers to come into their house not to bring in any evil spirit when they deliver calf as they do the same thing when they deliver their own baby. In Mongolia, when they deliver a baby it is forbidden to speak any baby delivering related word and hang gilt rope and red cloth around the gate to warn any stranger not to visit their house. On the other hand, such taboos are not available when they deliver a sheep because a birth of cattle happens all through the year. But there is exception; they sanctified the first milk of a sheep which symbolizes rain fall after a long dry spell and its milk is very important to choose breeding sheep, so they made some taboos related on this. They put the first milk of a sheep which they delivered the first that year in a wooden bucket and mix it with “chachal” and sprinkle it to air and on land asking for nature’s grace and multiplying their cattle. In Mongolia, new born of a sheep means not only benefit adding to their property but an important cultural festival which provides them with dairy product with its milk. They started a new year of stock farming as they delivering a sheep and presented its milk to their god as a ritual hoping they can make good farming that year. Koreans think the concept of “cleanness” and “uncleanness” the most when they deliver a calf, while Mongolians the singling out the breeding sheep and ceremony which celebrates new born sheep, especially they sanctified first milk and its dairy product.