<研究動向・研究レビュー>中央アジア絨毯に関する先行研究レビュー --「ウズベク絨毯」をめぐって--

Abstract

The Uzbeks, the main ethnic group of Uzbekistan, are characterized as “Turkic settled people.” However, there are pastoralists among the Uzbeks who make their cattle raising. Carpets/rugs woven by pastoralists are recognized as a tradition of nomadic culture. In the context of Uzbek nationalism, which disregards the existence of pastoralists, how are “nomadic culture, ” “national culture, ” and “tradition” regarded? In this paper, I will review previous studies on Central Asian carpets/rugs, including “Uzbek” carpets/rugs. Studies of Central Asian carpets/rugs began in the late 19th century. The researchers were mainly Russians. Their main interest was in the origin of Turkmen carpets/rugs and pile-weaving. Uzbeks, who have more varieties of pile-less carpets/rugs (palas) than other Central Asian ethnic groups, were not of interest to them. It seems that Central Asian carpets/rugs were a tool to “reveal the origin of the ethnos.” As a future research question, I propose to reconsider the limitations of Soviet ethnography, which was reformulated to conform to the socialist ideology based on progressive view of history. And I will discuss the construction process of “Uzbek” carpets/rugs as “national culture” that has continued since the Soviet period.