Image of the duck in the traditional worldview of the Khakases

Based on field data and literary ethnographic and folklore sources, the article analyzes for the first time religious and mythological beliefs related to the duck among the Khakases. The study concludes that although there was no cult of this bird in the Khakas society, this circumstance did not exclude the sacred attitude towards the duck, in particular, to such type of this bird as aat-turpan (ruddy shelduck). The image of the duck played an important role in the oral folklore of the people. The duck had a high semiotic status. The perception of the duck as a demiurge, sacred and just bird, personification of strong family ties, as well as embodiment of the feminine principle were common in the traditional beliefs of the Khakases. All these notions are one of the elements in the traditional worldview and in the interaction of humans with nature.