Nokhchalla and Adygaghe

In one of the previous posts, I wrote about one part of Chechen ethics which is called Konakhalla. Originally, it a warrior ethical code and later was regarded as the code of highest morality. The word "konakhalla" is formed from "konakh" + "-alla" (which means the same as English "-ness"). "Konakh" is translated as "son of people (nation)". Chechens also have another code, Nokhchalla which is considered to be lower, but in fact it lays the foundation for Konakhalla. The word Nokhchalla literally means "Chechen-ness" (the Chechen word for the noun "Chechen" is "nokhcho"), that is, it is what makes Chechens different from other people. So, the word "nokhcho" means not only "Chechen as an ethnic description", but also "person who follows Nokhchalla."

Circassians (Adygs) have a similar structure of their ethics. There is Adygaghe (Circassian ethics) with literally means "Circassian-ness" ("adyg" means "Circassian", "-aghe" is "-ness"). The word "adyg" means not only "Circassian as an ethnic description", but also "person who follows Adygaghe." There is Circassian warrior code "Worke Khabze" ("worke" means "knight", "khabze" means "ethics") which has higher standards, but is based on Adygaghe.

Although both Chechen and Circassian codes have much in common, there is a difference between them. The most important point is that Chechen society was very democratic. Personal freedom was very highly valued. However, Circassian society, especially, Kabarda (eastern part of Circassia) was feudal. So, in Circassian ethics, there was no equality between people. Worke's (knights) served princes while konakh's served nation.

Recently, I have been thinking about two phrases. In one Chechen song, there is a sentence: "There is a solution in every situation, but remember that you are Nokhcho (Chechen)". I tried to substitute the word "Chechen" with "Russian", but then this sentence becomes completely meaningless because the meaning of this sentence is not just the ethnicity, but also the ethics and character of a Chechen. That is, this sentence implies: "Behave according to the principles of Nokhchalla in every situation."

Another sentence is from a movie about Circassians. It was said there that sometimes two Circassians agreed to go together, but then they had a quarrel and one of them departed. The other Circassian called him: "Return because you are Adyg" and it worked. Again, I tried to substitute the word "Adyg" with "Russian" and again the sentence became completely meaningless. It is because the sentence implies: "Return because you should return according to Adygaghe."

So, to be a Chechen or a Circassian means not only an ethnicity, but also to follow national ethical principles. Thus, it is said that it is hard to be a Chechen. In fact, it is not easy to be a Circassian either. However, it is not hard to be, for example, a Russian because there are no such requirements.