Adyghe Habze, also Circassian Habze or Habza and Habsism (Adyghe: /ada xabza/ ; derived from khy, meaning "order", plus bze, meaning "speech"), also spelled Khabze or Khabza, also called Habzism,[2] defines[3] the original ethnic religion[citation needed], philosophy and worldview of the Adyghe or Circassians, an ethnic group of North Caucasian origin inhabiting areas of Northern Caucasus: the republic of Adygea, and the bordering republics of Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria , all three currently federal subjects of Russia.

The belief system takes its name from the Circassian epic Adyghe Habze, originally orally transmitted, which has heavily contributed to the shaping of Adyghe values over the centuries. Although historically Islamised, the period of the Soviet Union contributed to a severe weakening of Islam in the area, and especially among the Adyghe-Circassians. With the fall of the Soviet regime, the revival of traditional mores was supported by Adyghe intellectuals as part of a rise in nationalism and cultural identity in the 1990s,[4] and more recently as a thwarting force against Wahhabism and Islamic fundamentalism.[5]

The movement has developed a following especially in Karachay-Cherkessia (12%) and Kabardino-Balkaria (3%), according to 2012 statistics.[6] On the 29th of December 2010 a prominent Kabard-Circassian ethnographer and Habze advocate, Arsen Tsipinov,[7] was killed by radical Muslims, who warned him months earlier to stop publicizing the rituals of the original Circassian faith.[8][9]

Contents

1 Etymology2 Theory3 Practices4 Psychology5 See also6 References7 Bibliography8 External links

Etymology

"Habze" () is an Abkhazian compound made up from "khy", meaning "vast" or "universe", plus "bze", meaning "speech", "word", "language".[10] Thus its meaning is roughly "Language of the Universe" or "Word of the Cosmos", comparable to the concept of Dharma.TheoryA wheel, representing the articulation of the universe from the center, Tha.

The Habzist theology is monistic, with upmost prominence given to the god Tha (, ta), Thashkhue (, taxa) or Thashkho (), who begets the universe.[3] First of all, Tha expresses himself generating the Word or cosmic Law (Khy), the primordial pattern from which all the beings form naturally, developing by internal laws.[3] Enlightenment for men corresponds to an understanding of Tha's Law.[3]

Thashkhue is omnipresent in his creation (coagulation); according to Adyghe cosmological texts, "his spirit is scattered throughout space".[3] In Adyghe hymns Tha (Thashxue) is referred to as "the One everyone asks, but who doesn't ask back", "the multiplier of the non-existent", "on whom everyone places their hope, but who doesnt place hope on anyone", "from whom the gifts come", "His amazing work", "the One who permits heaven and earth to move".[3]

Everything is One ( Psora Zysch, or Psora Hysch), and is one with the Tha.[10] The material-manifested world is in perpetual change, but at the same time there is a foundation that always remains unshaken. That is the originating principle of the world and its Law.[10] The always-changing world and its basis is compared to a rotating wheel ( duneyr sherhschi, l meklerahue): although the wheel is constantly rotating (changing), it has its central hub around which it revolves, which remains still.[10]Practices

Worship to Tha, as well as requests to him, are expressed through rites and rituals called Thaleu ("request to Tha"), and can be in the form of hohu (hymn-prayers). The conduction of Thaleu traditionally doesn't require the construction of man-made structures. Therefore, the ceremonies take place in special locations, often in sacred groves called Thalauple or Thaschag mez.[3]

The location where Thaleu are celebrated is marked with a symbol in the form of a "hammer cross", representative of the utmost divinity.[11] The elders of the families, communities, and villages conduct the ceremonies.[3] The priest officiating rituals or practices is called Thamada (Adyghe: , Kabardian: ). This person is a key figure in Circassian culture who is often an elder but also the person who carries the responsibility for functions like weddings or circumcision parties. This person must always comply with all the rules of Xabze in all areas of his life.

Adyghe Khabze (Adyghe: ), being the native Circassian religion, philosophy and worldview, is the epitome of Circassian culture and tradition. It has deeply shaped the ethical values of the Adyghe, being based on mutual respect and above all responsibility, discipline and self-control. Adyghe Xabze functions as the Circassian unwritten law yet was highly regulated and adhered to in the past. The Code requires that all Circassians are taught courage, reliability and generosity. Greed, desire for possessions, wealth and ostentation are considered disgraceful ("Yemiku") by the Xabze code. In accordance with Xabze, hospitality was and is particularly pronounced among the Circassians. A guest is not only a guest of the host family, but equally a guest of the whole village and clan. Even enemies are regarded as guests if they enter the home and being hospitable to them as one would with any other guest is a sacred duty.

Circassians consider the host to be like a slave to the guest in that the host is expected to tend to the guest's every need and want. A guest must never be permitted to labour in any way, this is considered a major disgrace on the host.

Every Circassian arises when someone enters the room, providing a place for the person entering and allowing the newcomer to speak before everyone else during the conversation. In the presence of elders and women, respectful conversation and conduct are essential. Disputes are stopped in the presence of women and domestic disputes are never continued in the presence of guests. A woman can request disputing families to reconcile, and they must comply with her request.Psychology

An important element of the Circassian Native Religion is the belief in the soul (psa) of the ancestors, who have the ability to observe and evaluate the affairs of their offsprings.[3] The concept of physical pain or pleasure in the Hereafter (Hedryhe) is absent the soul is granted spiritual satisfaction or remorse for one's chosen path in life in front of himself and his ancestors.[3]

Therefore, the goal of man's earthly existence is the perfection of the soul, which corresponds to the maintenance of honour (nape), manifestation of compassion (guschlegu), gratuitous help (psape), which, along with valor, and bravery of a warrior, enables the human soul to join the soul of the ancestors with a clear conscience (nape huzhkle).[3] The souls of the ancestors require commemoration, whereby funeral feasts are arranged (hedeus); sacrifice or memorial meal preparations (zheryme) are practiced and distributed for the remembrance of the dead souls.[3]

he RussianCircassian War (1763? - 1864) ..... refers to a series of battles and wars in Circassia, the northwestern part of the Caucasus, .......... conquest of the Caucasus lasting approximately 150 years, starting under the reign of Tsar Peter the Great and being completed in 1864. ...............Those who use the term RussianCircassian War take its starting date as 1763, when the Russians began establishing forts, including at Mozdok, to be used as springboards for conquest.
...................Migration
Some sources state that three million Caucasians were evicted from Circassia in a period lasting until 1911.Other sources cite upwards of two million Circassian refugees fleeing Circassia by 1914 and entering nations and regions such as the Balkans, Turkey, what was the Ottoman Empire in what was known as the Muhajir, Syria, Lebanon, what is now Jordan, Kosovo, Egypt .., Palestine (in the villages of Kfar Kama and Rikhaniya, since 1880) and as far afield as upstate New York and New Jersey. .........

According to historians who support the concept of a Circassian genocide, 90 percent of people with Circassian descent now live in other countries, .................., with only 300,000400,000 remaining in what is now Russia. The depopulated Circassian lands were resettled by numerous ethnic groups, including Russians, Ukrainians ..........

Circassian population in Turkey
Total 5,5-6 million

Circassian population in Russia
Population: Percentage of the population
- Kabardians 519,958: Kabardino-Balkaria 52.5
- Adygeyans 128,528: Adygeya 25.2
- Cherkesses 60,517: Karachaevo-Cherkesia 11.2
Total 740 thousand

Circassian population in Syria
Total 170-200 thousand

Circassian population in Jordan
Total 90-100 thousand

Circassian population in EU
Total 60-80 thousand

Circassian population in Iraq
Total 30-35 thousand

Circassian population in Libya
Total 25-30 thousand

Sosruko or Sosriqwe (Abkhaz: Sasrqwa, Adyghe: Sawsruq, Kabardian: Sosruqwa, Ubykh: Sawsrqa; Ossetian: Soslan) is a central character in many cycles of the Nart sagas of the Caucasus.Sosruko is a powerful but devious man who is the smallest of the Narts; as a character, he is sometimes cast in the light of the trickster god, comparable to the Scandinavian Loki (who finds a closer parallel in the Nart Syrdon however), Georgian Amirani, or the Ancient Greek Prometheus. It is possible that at least in the latter case, Sosruku served as a direct inspiration.In Circassian mythology, it was Nart Sosriqwe, minion of the gods and his doting mother, Lady Satanay, who stole fire from the giant.EtymologyThe name etymologically came from Turkic languages: Nogai suslan- "to look menacing", susl "menacing, gloomy" (hence Ossetian: Soslan). The variants Abkhaz: Sasrqwa, Adyghe: Sawsruq, Kabardian: Sosruqwa, Ubykh: Sawsrqa, Digor Ossetian: Sosruqo, Sozyryqo, Sozuruqo is from Circassian Sosru- (