The three duties of good fortune

• Main Author: Hamayon, Roberte N.
• Other Authors: Groupe Sociétés, Religions, Laïcités (GSRL), École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2012
• Subjects: luck; hunting; game; vital force; sharing; [SHS.ANTHRO-SE]Humanities and Social Sciences/Social Anthropology and ethnology; Evenk; Siberia
• Online Access: https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-00720558

The article is based on data from pre-soviet Siberia (mainly West-Buryat and Tungus Evenk groups). As a product that cannot be produced, game is an ideal example of something that requires luck. Far from being passively received, luck requires an active behaviour and implies controlled interactions with various types of agencies of the natural environment and within society. Luck is the outcome of a multi-relational process, which starts with multiple precautionary measures, continues with fostering and ends with sharing practices. This process results, paradoxically, in challenging both equality and differentiation, social redistribution and individual responsibility. Throughout this process, luck (as a substance) is associated with meat and vital force, and (as a value) with love, play and wealth.