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Culture

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Epigraphy
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Folklore
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Kyrgyz heroic epic "Manas"
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The epic "Manas" in prose
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Poetic retelling of the epic "Manas"
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"Semetey" - poetic story
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"Semetey" in prose
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Religion
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Ethnography
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National games
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Customs
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Myths and legends
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Kyrgyz fairy tales
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Kyrgyz cuisine
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Meat and offal dishes
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Soups of Kyrgyzstan
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Main dishes of Kyrgyzstan
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Sweet dishes of Kyrgyzstan
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Drinks of Kyrgyzstan
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Salads and appetizers
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Flour products
The Tale of Chynybek and the Wizard. Part 2
Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Tale of Chynybek and the Wizard. Part 2

It has been a month since Chynybek and Aysulu got married, and they moved to the aiyl where Khan Karakhan ruled, which in Kyrgyz translates to Black Khan. Karakhan was an evil wizard — this was known to all the residents of the aiyl, and everyone feared him. Only Chynybek was unaware of this, but soon their paths intertwined. This happened on the day of falcon hunting, which Karakhan was very fond of. As soon as he released the falcon on a hare, the bird flapped its wings and flew back home,

08.05.2024, 16:50
The Status of Women in Southern Kyrgyzstan
Ethnography

The Status of Women in Southern Kyrgyzstan

The status of women in family relationships changed depending on age, the number of children born, authority among related families, etc. The principles of patriarchal-feudal morality regarding married women can be summarized as follows: a woman must obey her husband, not engage in disputes with him; she must respect and honor all of her husband's relatives, and she is obliged to strictly adhere to behavioral norms within the family and among relatives; in the morning, she should rise

08.05.2024, 00:11
Semetei. First Encounters with Enemies. Part - 2
"Semetey" in prose

Semetei. First Encounters with Enemies. Part - 2

After Muradyl's death, the remaining Chinese could not resist and fled. The entire numerous enemy army was ruthlessly slaughtered. Semetey, Bakay, Kulchoro, and Kanchoro let the captured horses into their herds and continued their journey towards their ails. The bullet that hit Semetey from Konurbay lodged in his bone. While fighting Muradyl, in the heat of the moment he did not feel the pain of the wound. When the battle ended and the heroes had traveled some distance, clots of black

05.05.2024, 13:42
Uma chachy - "Food - a Talisman"
Kyrgyz cuisine

Uma chachy - "Food - a Talisman"

Food prepared with love is a gift for the soul and heart. Folk wisdom says: If food is made with soul and good spirits, then a person who tastes this food also gains peace of mind, good mood, and spiritual enrichment. Protective dishes are not just food that satisfies hunger or fills the stomach, but a symbiosis of physical and spiritual elements. The physical element refers to the food itself and its ingredients, while the spiritual encompasses customs, traditions, rituals, and, in general,

03.05.2024, 20:19
The Tale of Chynybek and the Wizard. Part - 1
Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Tale of Chynybek and the Wizard. Part - 1

This was a long, long time ago, when people were divided into rich and poor and believed in good and evil wizards capable of performing various miracles. In one Kyrgyz village, high in the mountains, lived two neighbors — Minbay and Juzbay. Minbay was a wealthy man: his flock numbered a thousand sheep. Juzbay was poorer: he had only a hundred sheep. The only thing that brought Juzbay joy was his son Chynybek. This extraordinary story happened to Chynybek. It began in the summer pasture — the

02.05.2024, 16:47
White boho (sash) in men's clothing of the Kyrgyz.
Ethnography

White boho (sash) in men's clothing of the Kyrgyz.

In the men's Kyrgyz costume, wearing a belt is considered mandatory. For the past hundred years, belts have been made using a kushak, a wide leather (or velvet) belt adorned with silver buckles and scarves. The most archaic type is considered to be the kushak (boto kur, bel kur) made from a strip of home-produced fabric 1.5 to 2 meters long and 30 to 35 cm wide. Older men wore a white kushak, middle-aged men wore a darker color, and young men wore red. Boys began to wear the kushak at the

30.04.2024, 20:55
Composition of the Southern Kyrgyz Family
Ethnography

Composition of the Southern Kyrgyz Family

The social composition of families was directly dependent on the economic specifics of the family and had regional differences. In the 19th to early 20th centuries, nomadic traditions, as well as the livestock-oriented economy, were better preserved in mountainous areas, primarily in the central part of the Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai. To meet the need for agricultural products, part of the family or hired related families would stay in winter pastures, where they grew barley, millet, etc. In the

29.04.2024, 08:49
Semetey. First Encounters with Enemies. Part - 1
"Semetey" in prose

Semetey. First Encounters with Enemies. Part - 1

Konurbay ordered his army to prepare for the campaign, warning that anyone who did not follow his orders would have their heads removed. There were no disobedient among his orders. Out of fear of him, the entire population began to prepare. Meanwhile, Konurbay decided that he needed to see Semetey at least once himself, to weigh his own strength, and if it turned out that he could handle him alone, one-on-one, he would not gather his troops. If, however, it proved too much for him alone, he

26.03.2024, 14:26
Salad "Ala-Archa"
Salads and appetizers

Salad "Ala-Archa"

Salad "Ala-Archa" is a traditional Kyrgyz dish named after one of the most famous ski resorts in Kyrgyzstan. The name "Ala-Archa" translates to "multicolored stones" or "stone mountains." This salad is one of the symbols of Kyrgyz cuisine and is distinguished by its bright and juicy flavors. One of the features of the "Ala-Archa" salad is the use of meat.

26.03.2024, 13:25
The Tale of How the Fox and the Old Man Went Hunting
Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Tale of How the Fox and the Old Man Went Hunting

Once upon a time, there lived an old man and an old woman in the distant mountains. They sowed grain and tended livestock — that was their livelihood. And in those mountains lived a wild boar, a gray wolf, a clumsy bear, a striped tiger, a fearsome lion, and a cunning fox. They brought no peace to the old man and old woman. One day, hard times came to the mountains, and life became difficult. It was especially hard for the fox: she was a gourmet, used to eating only the most tender and

25.03.2024, 13:19
Felt Clothing of the Kyrgyz - Kementai
Ethnography

Felt Clothing of the Kyrgyz - Kementai

Among the herders in northern Kyrgyzstan, felt clothing in the form of a kementai cloak was common. In the south, we noted only a few centers of its distribution in the past. For example, in the Soviet district, the elders from the Adigine group wore such clothing made from dark felt, but covered on top with fabric produced at home. According to the stories of elder Umurzaly Toktonazarov (from the village of Uulu in the Aravan district), "kementai" was sewn in both white and dark

06.03.2024, 19:25
Types of Kyrgyz Family
Ethnography

Types of Kyrgyz Family

The predominant type of family at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century was the nuclear family, which consisted of direct relatives - parents and children. The size of such families varied in different regions where the Kyrgyz lived. For instance, in the Pishpek district in 1912-1913, the average family size was 5.6 people of both sexes (Materials... 1913. p. 284), in the Namangan district - 5.5 (Materials... 1913. p. 90), in the Andijan district - 5.9 (Materials... 1913. p.

02.03.2024, 19:04
Hospitality Among the Kyrgyz
Kyrgyz cuisine / Culture / For tourists

Hospitality Among the Kyrgyz

Where there is a guest, there is joy and abundance. "It is a sin to leave a hospitable home without tasting the bread," say the Kyrgyz. Indeed, it is in customs that the soul of the people lives, in traditions lies their strength. Hospitality is a distinctive national trait of the Kyrgyz people. For the Kyrgyz, a guest is sacred. It was believed that with the arrival of a guest, the home fills with happiness (kut). In ancient times, the owner of the yurt had to feed the guest and his

24.02.2024, 17:07
The Trick of the Cunning Aldar
Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Trick of the Cunning Aldar

Once, Aldar's wife really wanted to eat sour cream, and she began to ask her husband to get a cow. “How can I buy a cow if I have no money?” — the poor man lamented and found no way out. He wanted very much to please his wife, and one morning he said:

20.02.2024, 19:58
Kyrgyz Tuluup
Ethnography

Kyrgyz Tuluup

The clothing that protects against the cold in winter and at high altitudes in the mountains for all Kyrgyz people, as well as for many peoples of Central and Middle Asia, is the fur coat of the type known as nagolny tulup (ton, postun). It is a typical male garment. Boys began to be dressed in sheepskin coats from about the age of three. In the past, the tulup was an essential attribute of every nomad living year-round in a yurt. “What our stoves and the walls of our houses provide, a Kyrgyz

20.02.2024, 19:40
Semetey. The Quarrel of Semetey with Chinkodjo. Part - 4
"Semetey" - poetic story

Semetey. The Quarrel of Semetey with Chinkodjo. Part - 4

The separation from Akshumkar was heavy - It felt like my father died again! Semetey wept bitterly for the bird He finally decided to find the falcon! - It was not an ordinary swan that took him away! Kulchoro and Kanchoro said We will go to Sarykhan, to Kankey, to Bakay They have seen many wonders and know much!

15.02.2024, 13:45
Family and Kinship Groups of the Kyrgyz
Ethnography

Family and Kinship Groups of the Kyrgyz

The family is the most important institution in the system of social relations in Kyrgyz society. Its history dates back centuries. The roots of many family traditions can be found in the early forms of social relations that existed among the ethnic communities that later became part of the Kyrgyz people. The family has gone through several stages, each characterized by forms of family and family relations corresponding to the existing social relations. In the early stages, the large

11.02.2024, 13:56
Green Salad with Suzyma
Salads and appetizers

Green Salad with Suzyma

Have you heard of the delicacy called suzma? In short, it is a fermented milk product obtained by separating whey from katyk. In terms of consistency, it resembles sour cream, but the taste is different. The name of the product translates from Turkic as "strained," which fully reflects its preparation method. Ready suzma is eaten as a standalone dish, added to salads and soups. Suzma (suzma) can have different consistencies; a thicker version is suitable for pâtés, and it is often

08.02.2024, 21:21
The Tale of How Aldar Acquired a Horse
Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Tale of How Aldar Acquired a Horse

HOW ALDAR ACQUIRED A HORSE The people's word about Aldar's exploits, his cunning and resourcefulness spread across the mountainous region of the Kyrgyz. It also reached the ears of the rich man Karabay. The envious wealthy man rode his best steed to the renowned trickster to challenge him in the art of deception. — Not today, — Aldar replied to the rich man's proposal, — another time. — No, if the people's tales about you are true, then argue with me today. Otherwise, I

07.02.2024, 18:44
Proverbs, Beliefs, and Taboos of the Nomadic Cuisine of the Kyrgyz
Kyrgyz cuisine

Proverbs, Beliefs, and Taboos of the Nomadic Cuisine of the Kyrgyz

The word is the soul of the people! Each proverb is a true gem, extracted from the depths of the national consciousness and polished by time. The civilization of the Kyrgyz nomads is a true treasure trove of wisdom and a repository of moral foundations for us, their descendants and heirs. It is very important for us today to restore much and to carefully manage the wealth bequeathed to us. After all, most of the traditions, legends, proverbs, and taboos represent the philosophy and moral

02.02.2024, 21:52
On Sanjyr during the Years of Perestroika and Sovereignty
Ethnography

On Sanjyr during the Years of Perestroika and Sovereignty

The glasnost of the perestroika period opened new opportunities for the study and popularization of historical and cultural heritage. It was during this period that the dissemination of sanjyr received a new impetus. Starting from district and regional periodicals and ending with popular magazines of the republic such as "Ala-Too," "Kyrgyzstan Madeniyaty," and others, sanjyr began to be published, allowing a wide range of readers to become acquainted with them. In 1990, a

29.04.2023, 20:27
Semetey. The War of Semetey with Konurbay. The Campaign to Beijin. Part - 2
"Semetey" in prose

Semetey. The War of Semetey with Konurbay. The Campaign to Beijin. Part - 2

Once, while on the road, Bakai looked ahead and fancied that Manas, Almambet, and Chubak were riding at the head of the group. Lost in thought, he began to ponder: "Am I really seeing these lions before me, or is it just an illusion?" Upon closer inspection, he saw that it was Semetey, Kulchoro, and Kanchoro. They resembled their fathers Manas, Almambet, and Chubak so closely that it seemed as if their fathers' skins had been taken off and put on their children. Bakai was very

23.04.2023, 14:34
The Tale of the White Goat Aldar. Part - 2
Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Tale of the White Goat Aldar. Part - 2

On the appointed day, Aldar placed the "goat" in a bag and came with it to the arena. A huge crowd had gathered here; everyone wanted to see how the horned fighters would battle. They fought so fiercely that sparks flew from their horns. The Khan, seeing Aldar, called him over and said with a smirk:

13.04.2023, 14:03
Salad "Yrakhat"
Salads and appetizers

Salad "Yrakhat"

Ingredients: Starch noodles - 120g, carrot - 130g, radish - 200g, vegetable oil - 100g, garlic - 20g, vinegar (3%) - 30g, ground red pepper - 10g, jusay or herbs - 10g. Preparation method: Cut the carrot and radish into strips, rub with salt, squeeze out the juice, season with pepper, mix with starch noodles and finely chopped garlic, and dress with vinegar and cooled heated oil.

06.04.2023, 16:15
Men's Outerwear of the Kyrgyz - Robe
Ethnography

Men's Outerwear of the Kyrgyz - Robe

The men's outerwear known as a robe is characterized by great diversity. In the past, it was considered improper to leave the house without it. During cold weather, men wore robes such as chapans, chepkens (chekmen), tons (postuns), and ichiks. Nowadays, "chapan" and "ton" continue to be worn. All of them are fastened on the right side, which is typical for the clothing of ancient Turkic nomads. The outerwear called "chapan" is made with cotton (or wool) and

06.04.2023, 16:00
Recording and Collection of Genealogical Traditions of the Kyrgyz
Ethnography

Recording and Collection of Genealogical Traditions of the Kyrgyz

In the mid-19th century, some influential manaps, realizing the significance of the sanjyr, began to record its content on paper. However, their first handwritten versions did not gain widespread distribution. Such records were essentially the genealogy of a specific ruler, manap, or biy, and in rare cases, of a clan. B. Soltonoev recalls a sanjyr record that has not survived to our time, made at the behest of the supreme manap of the Kara-Kyrgyz, Ormon-khan. The manap invited a literate

30.03.2023, 20:01
The Tale of the White Goat Aldar. Part - 1
Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Tale of the White Goat Aldar. Part - 1

Aldar had a goat as white as snow, with sharp, saber-like horns, fierce and aggressive. To prevent it from butting the children, the owner kept it tied up in the yard, under a shed. One day, after returning from a neighboring aiyl, Aldar found that the horned one was missing. "It seems the goat broke the rope and ran off into the field," thought Aldar, and he set off in search of it. He looked for the goat everywhere: in the fields and mountains, in gardens and ravines. But it had

19.03.2023, 11:48
Maro Chuchvara
Main dishes of Kyrgyzstan

Maro Chuchvara

This dish was mainly prepared by southern Kyrgyz tribes closer to autumn. At this time, the seeds of the maroo plant ripened; they were harvested, collected, and dried, then winnowed and cleaned. The cleaned seeds were ground for a long time in a mortar. Pre-cooked potatoes were mashed into a puree, to which maroo flour was added and mixed, along with salt and oil to taste. The dough was kneaded well, then rolled out, cut into squares, filled with maroo, and wrapped. The shape can be like that

18.03.2023, 19:42
Men's Shalwar of the Kyrgyz
Ethnography

Men's Shalwar of the Kyrgyz

Men's trousers were made from various materials. They used calico, home-produced fabrics, sheep and goat skins, suede, and factory-made fabrics (wool, velvet, dense cotton). The cut depended on the material. Trousers of all shapes were closed, and they were tightened with a woolen cord called "gashnik" ("ычкыр"), which was threaded through a fold and tied in front. The ends of the gashnik in the traditional costume of young men were decorated with embroidery made of

18.03.2023, 19:26
Semetei. The Death of Chinkodjo and Toltoy. Part - 2
"Semetey" in prose

Semetei. The Death of Chinkodjo and Toltoy. Part - 2

When Toltoy’s wound healed, he began to consult with Chinkodjo. Sitting together, they reasoned as follows: - Akhun-khan will not voluntarily give us Aichurek, so let’s send our numerous army into battle. We will kill Akhun-khan, bind Adjibai and Tyumenbai by their necks like slaves, and take all their girls and young women, led by Aichurek, as spoils. If the Afghans dare to resist, we will wipe them out to the last one, destroy their homes, turn their city into a desert, and leave not a stone

04.03.2023, 12:52
The Tale of How Aldar Punished the Robber
Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Tale of How Aldar Punished the Robber

As people say, it must have been so. According to legend, there lived a clever and resourceful man in a Kyrgyz village, named Aldar-Kose. One day, Aldar went to fetch water. Just as he was lowering the bucket into the well, he saw a notorious bandit approaching him. The bandit had many misdeeds to his name, and Aldar decided to punish the uninvited guest.

15.02.2023, 20:46
Ozgocho (special)
Meat and offal dishes

Ozgocho (special)

The recipe for this dish was found among the ethnic Kyrgyz in China (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region). This dish is prepared on special occasions, when meeting respected relatives or friends. The cooking process is very labor-intensive and lengthy, but the dish is worth the time and effort spent. After trying this dish with a smoky aroma and a subtle taste of meat and navat (fried sugar), a person will long remember its flavor. Ingredients: 4 heads of black ram Navat (fried sugar) 350-400 g

13.02.2023, 20:04
Men's Clothing of the Kyrgyz. Open-front Shirt
Ethnography

Men's Clothing of the Kyrgyz. Open-front Shirt

The main items of men's undergarments in the 19th century among the Kyrgyz were the open shirt and trousers. The open shirt — jegde (Fig. 133, a) was usually made from white calico or mat. Its cut was tunic-like. Slightly flared wedges were sewn onto the side edges. The length of the shirt was below the knees, and the sleeves covered the wrists. It was customary to sew in gussets (keshtak). The open collar was trimmed with a band that narrowed at the chest and was fastened with cords or

06.02.2023, 10:10
Reflection in the Sanjyr of the History and Genealogy of the Kyrgyz People
Ethnography

Reflection in the Sanjyr of the History and Genealogy of the Kyrgyz People

The sanjyra, as a historical source, consists of a structure made up of legendary and several historical layers. The legendary part mainly encompasses tales about the forty maidens, which form the basis of ancient historical tradition. Stories about Khan Ughuz and Turk Ata, as well as the name of the famous medieval Sufi Sheikh Mansur al-Hallaj, likely entered the sanjyra under the influence of book culture and the activities of Muslim missionaries. Among the legendary ancestors, the last

26.12.2022, 18:45
Semetei. The Death of Chinkodjo and Toltoy. Part - 1
"Semetey" in prose

Semetei. The Death of Chinkodjo and Toltoy. Part - 1

Kulchoro, upon learning of Toltoy’s departure, mounted Taiyburul, donned the semetey akolpok, and, taking his syrnayzu, galloped to meet the groom. He waited a long time for the enemy to appear and finally, without dismounting, leaned on his spear and fell asleep. Feeling Toltoy's approach, Taiyburul began to stomp his hooves on the ground and neigh, but Kulchoro still did not wake up. His sleep only ended when Taiyburul bit him. Awakening, Kulchoro first got angry at his horse, then

19.12.2022, 15:11
The Tale of the Old Man and Bek-Khan
Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Tale of the Old Man and Bek-Khan

Bek-khan had six viziers — boastful and arrogant. They all boasted of their intellect. One day, Bek-khan was riding through the steppe with all his six viziers when they came across a poor yurt. Near it stood an old man.

14.12.2022, 13:38
Special Soup - "Bertik Suruu"
Soups of Kyrgyzstan

Special Soup - "Bertik Suruu"

This special soup is prepared and served in conjunction with the ritual "Bertik Suruu." Regardless of the ingredients, this special soup helped the sick person to get back on their feet, and the sick person was also aided by faith in the power of words, the ritual accompanying this dish, and the ritual "Bertik Suruu." This ritual has come down to us from the distant times of our ancestors. "Bertik" comes from the word "bertinip," which means a sharp pain

12.12.2022, 17:58
Clothing of the Southern Kyrgyz. Part - 2
Ethnography

Clothing of the Southern Kyrgyz. Part - 2

Among the ready-made items purchased by Kyrgyz people, in addition to light robes, were quilted chapans made by Uzbeks and fur coats (ichik). Kyrgyz people also bought men's shirts, tubeteikas, and leather shoes. Uzbek waist scarves (cotton and silk, with and without embroidery) became widely popular, as well as large women's scarves that came to the market from Eastern Turkestan and Bukhara. Various silver jewelry and corals, mother-of-pearl, precious stones, and pearls brought from

12.12.2022, 15:14
Semetey. The Escape of the Forty Crows to China
"Semetey" - poetic story

Semetey. The Escape of the Forty Crows to China

Among the forty choro, there were different people Smart and foolish, a brave one and a coward, and an enemy Gathered together, they discussed Among themselves, precisely, like this: - We have always defeated our enemies But the glory of fame only went to Manas Kankor is not any braver than us Despite this, we obeyed!

01.12.2022, 14:55
Sanzyra and the Genealogical Connections of the Kyrgyz
Ethnography

Sanzyra and the Genealogical Connections of the Kyrgyz

The analysis shows the continuity of historical and genealogical information in the sanjyra. A stable genealogical trace is represented by the legend of Dolon-biy and his descendants. In various versions of the sanjyra, he appears as the primordial ancestor of the Kyrgyz of the right ("on kanat") and left wings ("sol kanat"). In different versions, he is the progenitor of all major branches ("on kanat", "sol kanat", "ichkilik") of the

18.11.2022, 17:19