Mongush Kenin-Lopsan


Mongush Borakhovitch Kenin-Lopsan was a Russian writer, poet, historian, archaeologist, famous Tuvan shamanism researcher, and leader who lived in Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva, Russian Federation.

Life

Kenin-Lopsan was born on 10 April 1925, at Chash-Tal, Tuva, Chöön-Khemtchik district to a family of Bora-Khöö. His grandparents/parents were nomads, cattle breeders, herders, blacksmiths as well as storytellers and shamans. Kenin-Lopsan was educated at ground school in Chadan, later on colleges in Kyzyl. He studied philology at Leningrad (today St. Petersburg) University and received a master's degree in 'Eastern Sciences'. Being back in Tuva, he served as a teacher of Tuvan as well as of Russian language and literature besides working as an editor for a publishing company in Tuva.
Among his first books was The Big Way as well as other novels like The Currents of the Big River, Dance of Capricorn and The Yurt of the Horse Herder. He won several Russian and Tuvan prizes. Throughout his whole life, he collected stories from his kinsmen, storytellers, shamans, workers, herders and poets. For his research on shamanism, he was persecuted during Soviet times. His grandmother shamaness Kuular Khandyshap died after being imprisoned by Gulag for 15 years.
Kenin-Lopsan died on 10 February 2022, at the age of 96.

Publications

  • Algyshi Tuvinskich Shamanov, Novosti, Kyzyl 1995. - Schamanengesänge aus Tuva, Lamuv, Göttingen 2013.
  • Mifi Tuvinskich Shamanov, Novosti, Kyzyl 2002. - Calling the Bear Spirit, Kjellin, Kristianstad 2010. - Schamanengeschichten aus Tuwa, Lamuv, Göttingen 2011.
  • Hoppál, Mihaly : Shamanic Songs and Myths of Tuva, Istor Books #7, Budapest 1997.