Mythological Phytonyms in Kazakh Folklore Prose

Abstract

Plants have a special place in the mythological worldview of the people. A number of plants are considered in the ethnographic encyclopedia. One large branch of etiological myths is the myth of the creation of plants. These myths explain the origin of some trees and flowers that grow in our fields, their appearance, colour, and the nature of their habitat. We discuss the lack of works in Kazakh linguo-folkloristics that focus on the mythological aspect of plants, despite the significant presence of plants in the mythological worldview of the people. We highlight etiological myths explaining the origins of trees and flowers and draws parallels with characters in world mythology who transform into plants. The concept of seasonal “death-resurrection” symbol in agricultural societies is discussed, with emphasis on the three stages of transformation into a plant according to academician A. N. Veselovsky. The mythology of the Kazakh people is said to contain rich plots related to plants, promising further research in this area. The significance of plants in Kazakh folklore reflects the deep connection between nature and culture in the traditional beliefs of the people.