Chuvash folklore in the Hungarian Turkology research

Abstract

Hungarian Turkology research occupies a special place in the Western Turkology studies in terms of its historical background and perpective. Interest of the Hungarians, who are originally not European in terms ethnicity and language, in the Turkish history, language, literature, and folklore is not a mere result of the orientalistic thought. Hungarian scientists, who carried out significant studies in the fields of Turkish history, language, literature and folklore for the purpose of determining their own cultural roots, attached a special importance to the Chuvash people among the Turkish tribes. It is possible to say that Hungary is the second country after Russia with the highest number of resarches carried out on the Chuvash people cocerning their language and religion. Although the majority of these studies are on the Chuvash Turkish, the numher of the studies on the Chuvash folklore cannot be underestimated. Though comparatively restricted in number, these studies are important concerning the methodology applied and the results obtained. This paper examines these studies in detail in terms of their purposes, contents, methods and results.