Research papersnumber of papers: 35

“Ode to Tea” by Du Fu as a Historical Source on Tea Culture in Early Medieval China

The article presents the first Russian translation and study of the 'Ode of Tea' of Western Jin poet Du Yu, the earliest literary work known today, devoted particularly to tea. This article presents an attempt to interpret the “Ode” in the context of Chinese society contemporary for the author. The “Ode” plays an extremely important role in the history of tea culture in China and is of great interest not only for tea culture specialists, but for a wider array of scholars.

Estonians in Tomsk Region: Problems of Marking the Boundaries of Ethnic and Cultural Identity

The article presents the study on problems of maintaining and preservation of ethnic and cultural identity boundaries of the Estonians living in Tomsk region. Research results presented allow to define the most significant markers of the boundaries of their ethnic identity, as well as mechanisms for its preservation and transmission.

“Thing” and “Character”: The Problem of Interpreting Symbolism of Shamanic Attributes

The article presents an analysis of symbolic meaning of some shamanic attributes perhaps the most archaic in origin, establishing indivisibility of symbolic and utilitarian aspects of human activity in archaic and traditional cultures. The author concludes that the most ancient shamanic attributes are sacred symbols and archetypes of mythological consciousness, and their symbolism refers to cultural universals. They were used in the act of creation, cosmos building activities, which are also archetypal and invariably repeated in rituals.

Siberian Period in the Biography of the Soviet Cartoonist M.M. Cheremnykh

The article presents some little known facts about Siberian period in artist's life based on archival documents. He spent his childhood and attended gymnasium for boys in Tomsk. In 1910, his first caricature was published in “Siberian Fallow” (Sibirskaya Nov’) magazine.

National Aspects of Russian Social Thought in the second half of the 19th century in Pre-revolutionary and Emigré Historiography (1880-1920)

The article presents a historiographical analysis of the studies examining the national problems of the Russian Empire as a subject in Russian social thought of the second half of the 19th century. It is noted that the majority of works were of journalistic character. The influence of public debate on the politicization and categorical judgments of many authors is demonstrated. The author comes to conclusion that pre-revolutionary historiography was not consistent in studying various groups of Russian social thought. Emigré historiography can be considered as an attempt to rethink the development of political thought of the 19th century.

Beginning of the Iron Ore Deposit Development in Ob-Tomsk Region

The article presents the study on the problem of establishing ferrous metallurgy in Ob-Tomsk region and beginning of iron ore sources development. Furnaces of the early Iron Age in the examined area haven't found yet. Available archaeological sources allow to conclude that emergence of ferrous metallurgy in this area should be linked to the later time frame (era of the early Middle Ages). Further intensive development of ferrous metallurgy in the region is connected with arrival of the Turkic population to this land at a turn of the I–II millennium.

Home Front to the Battle-Front: From the History of the Mining Plant in the Village of Chekist

On the basis of archival materials of the Russian Ministry of the Interior, the article reveals a little-known page of the Great Patriotic War – NKVD participation in ammunition manufacturing. This article reviews an example of a mine plant in Chekist village, located north of Tomsk in the former penal colony No.1. Facilities of this plant became the basis for nuclear production development and town of Seversk.

Tomsk Committee of Scientists during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945)

The article presents an analysis of social forms of organization of science and research development in the Great Patriotic War on the example of Tomsk committee of scientists. These non-governmental organizations engaged in unifying efforts of scientists, trying to support the battle-front, as well as coordinating collaboration between scientific and educational institutions with the leading party organizations and industrial enterprises of Siberia. The core of the committee was made up of university professors of Tomsk, where the establishment of the first university in the Asian part of Russia in the 1870s initiated development of scientific and educational system.

Identification Strategies in the National Standards of School-Level History Instruction and Problems of Their Implementation

The article reviews identification strategies in educational standards of the first and second generations in school-level history instruction. Through comparing the standards the author identifies their specific features pointing out to different strategies of national identity formation. The article presents an analysis of existing approaches to implementation of the tasks aimed at civic identity development as a priority subject of this research.

Participation of Professors and Senior Fellows of Russian Universities in the Activities of State Dumas in the early 20th century

This article reviews participation of professors and senior fellows of Russian universities in the activities of the State Duma of I-IV convocations in 1906-1917. The size of this group in the lower house of the first Russian parliament was estimated, classification is given on the basis of party affiliation and profession. It is concluded that delegates, who came out of the university environment, held mostly centrist position, and despite its small number, the group played a significant role in Russian representative body at the beginning of the 20th century.