Mansi
Quick Summary
The Mansi are a Western Siberian people who primarily reside in the Ob River basin in central Russia. They speak an Ob-Ugric language, which is part of the Finno-Ugric branch of the Uralic languages. The Mansi, along with the closely related Khanty people, number around 30,000 and are descended from peoples who migrated to the region from the southern Ural steppe. Their traditional subsistence relies on hunting, trapping, and fishing, with reindeer herding being a secondary activity. Historically, they were organized into tribes and clans, with a social structure that included two phratries. Under Soviet administration, they were settled onto collective farms, and new economic activities were introduced.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
- Finno-Ugric religionThe Finno-Ugric peoples
…the Ob River, and the Mansi, living west of the Ob River. The other branch spread southward and made contact with the Bulgar Turks and the Khazars. In 895 this branch (the Magyars [Hungarians]), together with certain Turkish tribes, conquered what is now Hungary. In this way, the largest, but…
Read More…the Ob River, and the Mansi, living west of the Ob River. The other branch spread southward and made contact with the Bulgar Turks and the Khazars. In 895 this branch (the Magyars [Hungarians]), together with certain Turkish tribes, conquered what is now Hungary. In this way, the largest, but…
Read More - Finno-Ugric religionCreation, cosmography, and cosmology
…myth is found among the Mansi: the god of the skies lets earth come down from heaven and places it on the surface of the great primeval sea.
Read More…myth is found among the Mansi: the god of the skies lets earth come down from heaven and places it on the surface of the great primeval sea.
Read More - noaidi
…among the Khanty (Ostyak) and Mansi (Vogul), as well as the Sami. Basically, they consist of the manipulation of the supernatural by a specially trained, usually naturally gifted, sensitive person in order to aid people in various serious troubles, of which illness was probably the most common. On being asked…
Read More…among the Khanty (Ostyak) and Mansi (Vogul), as well as the Sami. Basically, they consist of the manipulation of the supernatural by a specially trained, usually naturally gifted, sensitive person in order to aid people in various serious troubles, of which illness was probably the most common. On being asked…
Read More 
shamanismsuch as the Khanty and Mansi, Samoyed, Tungus, Yukaghir, Chukchi, and Koryak. However, shamanism is also used more generally to describe indigenous groups in which roles such as healer, religious leader, and counselor are
Read Moresuch as the Khanty and Mansi, Samoyed, Tungus, Yukaghir, Chukchi, and Koryak. However, shamanism is also used more generally to describe indigenous groups in which roles such as healer, religious leader, and counselor are
Read More
ArcticPeoples of Fennoscandia and northwestern SiberiaThe Khanty (Ostyak) and Mansi (Vogul) are closely related groups that inhabit the low-lying swamp and forest country around the Ob River and its tributaries. Their economy was traditionally based on hunting and fishing, but they adopted reindeer husbandry from the Nenets about the 15th century. The Selkup (Ostyak…
Read MoreThe Khanty (Ostyak) and Mansi (Vogul) are closely related groups that inhabit the low-lying swamp and forest country around the Ob River and its tributaries. Their economy was traditionally based on hunting and fishing, but they adopted reindeer husbandry from the Nenets about the 15th century. The Selkup (Ostyak…
Read More
Ob RiverPeople of the Ob RiverKhanty (Ostyak) and the Mansi (Vogul)—whose autonomous district (Khanty-Mansi) occupies part of the taiga—and the Nenets, Nganasan, Enets, and Selkup peoples of the north. The valleys of the river are more densely populated than other parts of the basin.
Read MoreKhanty (Ostyak) and the Mansi (Vogul)—whose autonomous district (Khanty-Mansi) occupies part of the taiga—and the Nenets, Nganasan, Enets, and Selkup peoples of the north. The valleys of the river are more densely populated than other parts of the basin.
Read More
RussiaThe Uralic groupThe Mansi (Vogul) and Khanty (Ostyak) are spread thinly over the lower Ob basin (see Khanty and Mansi).
Read MoreThe Mansi (Vogul) and Khanty (Ostyak) are spread thinly over the lower Ob basin (see Khanty and Mansi).
Read More
Ural MountainsPeople of the Ural MountainsFarther south live the Komi, Mansi, and Khanty, who speak a tongue belonging to the Ugric group of the Finno-Ugric languages. The most numerous indigenous group, the Bashkir, long settled in the Southern Urals, speak a tongue related to the Turkic group. Some Kazakhs live in the Mughalzhar Hills of…
Read MoreFarther south live the Komi, Mansi, and Khanty, who speak a tongue belonging to the Ugric group of the Finno-Ugric languages. The most numerous indigenous group, the Bashkir, long settled in the Southern Urals, speak a tongue related to the Turkic group. Some Kazakhs live in the Mughalzhar Hills of…
Read More