The dominant type of dwelling in the conditions of centuries-old nomadic life of the Kyrgyz was the yurt. Even when erecting burial structures — gumbazes — the Kyrgyz often gave them the shape of a yurt so that the soul and body of the deceased would feel comfortable in the "afterlife." The yurt encompassed the entire life of the herdsman, starting from birth. He wintered in it even during the harshest frosts and migrated with it across vast pastures.
Since ancient times, Kyrgyz yurts have been characterized by the simplicity of their structure, the practical utility of all their elements, and a certain order in their installation. "The yurt," wrote N. M. Przhevalsky, "is an irreplaceable dwelling. It can be quickly disassembled and moved to another place, while at the same time it provides adequate protection from cold, heat, and bad weather. Indeed, in the yurt, when the fire is burning, it is quite warm, even in the strongest frost... in summer, the felt covering of such a dwelling excellently protects against heat and rain, even the heaviest".
The wooden structure of the yurt was easily assembled and disassembled, which was convenient for transportation. The yurt could be fully set up within an hour. The Kyrgyz yurt is unique, although it shares many common features with the yurts of other nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples. At the same time, it possesses territorial characteristics that are grouped into two complexes — southern and northern. The differences mainly concerned the shape of the dome (cone-shaped in the north, and semi-spherical in the south, in the Talas and Chatkal valleys), as well as its external and internal decoration.
The wooden frame of the yurt was assembled from a door frame — bosy and several sliding walls-grids (kerege), made of willow or tamarisk, which were placed in a circle. The dome was constructed from poles, the lower ends of which were bent and connected to the top of the lattice walls, while the upper ends were inserted into the holes of the birch rim — tunduk, which crowned the wooden frame of the yurt and served as a chimney opening.
For covering and decorating the yurt, felt and mats made of chiy were used. The felt covering consisted of long pieces for the walls and wide ones for the dome. The chimney opening was closed or opened using a movable square piece of felt. For covering yurts, unornamented black or gray felt was used, and only the wealthy had yurts covered with white ornamented felt. To secure the felt covering, ropes and colored (white, red) ribbons were used. A lightweight carved door was hung on the door frame, and sometimes the entrance was closed with a chiy mat, covered on the outside with ornamented felt. The chiy mat, which covered the walls from the inside or outside, protected the dwelling from dust and dirt while also serving as decoration.
The lightness and elegance, according to Ch. Valikhanov, were given to the Kyrgyz yurt by the carved door. However, the interior of the dwelling was mainly characterized by simplicity and poverty. In the center of the yurt, a hearth was arranged, and to the right of the door, there was a partition made of chiy, separating the women's half of the dwelling from the men's. Here were iron cauldrons, wooden ladles and bowls, and bags that the Kyrgyz used in everyday life. On the left, the men's half stored saddles, harness, and guns. The floor in the yurt was covered with felt mats, on top of which lay the skins of domestic or wild animals. In a place of honor, against the back wall, a felt carpet was spread out. For lighting the yurt, cast-iron or clay lamps were used.
The appearance of the Kyrgyz yurt and its decoration served as a reliable social indicator. Sources from the mid-19th century, noting the sharp social contrasts in Kyrgyz society, emphasized the poverty and unsanitary conditions of most Kyrgyz yurts and the wealth of a few wealthy ones.
The yurt of a poor Kyrgyz was characterized by the scarcity of its internal and external decoration. It was used for cooking food, storing products and dishes, sleeping as a family, receiving guests, and sheltering lambs and kids from bad weather.
Another type of dwelling for a poor Kyrgyz in the past was a conical tent made of poles and a simple tent. The most ancient type of lightweight portable and at the same time very simple dwelling was indeed the conical tents covered with felt. The Kyrgyz of Pamir covered them with animal skins. This is mentioned in the Kyrgyz heroic epic "Manas," particularly in its second part — "Semetey." In general, the arrangement of ails, with their rich summer colors, gave Kyrgyz settlements a festive appearance.
