Dzungar: Religion and Designation

The origin of the term ‘Dzungar’ (also known as ‘Jungar’, ‘Zhungar’, ‘Zünghar’, ‘Zungar’) has already received general consideration, but it is still not clear which events contributed to the first use of the term, and what it could actually mean. Its etymology needs further study. The traditional version does not go beyond the definition of the Dzungars as the “left wing” of the military-administrative division of the Oirats, and claims that the term first appeared in the early 17th century. However, the main factors and reasons of its usage for the nation’s self-designation and state formation require further clarification. In the present research the authors consider the religious factor of consolidation and self-identification of the Dzungars. The aim of the article is to determine the conditions, causes and time of the occurrence and sustaining of the name Dzungar. Our tasks include: 1) studying the influence of related events and processes, such as Oirat migration from Western Mongolia and the Northern part of future Dzungaria to the Siberian rivers; separation of the Elets; appearance of the Derbets and the rise of Choros clan; adoption of Buddhism and the role of Geluk lamas and Dzungar leaders in the actualization of the ethnic groups’ names as Choros and Dzungars; 2) identification of the religious factor in the emergence of the Dzungars and its subsequent influence on Manchus’ policy towards them;3) definition of the mechanism of the Dzungars’ self-identification and the etymology of the term.