In ancient times, the functions of a compass and a clock were performed by the Sun, the Moon, individual stars, and clusters of stars (constellations). Kyrgyz hunters and herders, especially shepherds, who moved from place to place, needed guiding signs that helped them confidently find their way in vast valleys and mountainous areas.
Like many other peoples, the Kyrgyz initially determined time by the Sun, depending on its position above the horizon. They had concepts such as: najza boyu — around 5 a.m. (the Sun is at the height of a peak above the horizon), arkan boyu — around 7 a.m. (the Sun has risen to the height of an arkan above the horizon), kichi shashke — around half past 8, chon shashke — around half past 10, chak tush — noon, chon beshim — the time between 3-4 p.m., kichi beshim — around 6-7 p.m., namaz diger — around 8 o'clock or sunset. The time of darkness in summer was called kuugum — around 9 p.m., el orungha oturdu — around 10 p.m., the time when everyone is already home; jildyz toldu — around 11 p.m., when the sky is completely filled with stars; tun ortosu — midnight, coop — around 3 a.m., tan — dawn.
The Kyrgyz did not like moonless nights. According to their beliefs, in the dark night, the albarsty chokes the sleeping, an evil spirit spreads mental illnesses among people, and demons arrive in large numbers. A vengeful person was advised: Act as if the Moon has not risen. The Kyrgyz deified the Moon. Upon seeing the new Moon, they bowed, apparently associating this moment with a change in life for the better, and in summer, they would take grass from the place of worship and burn it upon returning home. This custom reflects an ancient fire cult that has survived since the era of pagan beliefs among the Kyrgyz. According to their beliefs, the surface of the Moon is covered with ice, mountains, and pits. Ice has the property of reflection, and therefore the Moon emits light on a cloudless night. In reality, the surface of the Moon is not covered with ice. At night, the Moon shines because it reflects the sunlight falling on it. There are indeed mountains, craters of ancient volcanoes, and tectonic faults on the Moon. The surface of the Moon is covered with a fairly thick layer of loose soil — rhyolite. By the position and appearance of the Moon, the Kyrgyz oriented themselves on their journeys and predicted the weather.
The Kyrgyz had the notion that stars are smaller than the Moon and depend on it:
Zhetigen Aydyn zhenesi,
Chol pon jildyz baldyzy,
Alty arkar Aydyn bolzhoshu
The Pleiades — the wife of the elder brother.
Venus — the sister-in-law of the Moon,
The constellation Orion — the Moon's path to the meeting.
Honoring the Moon and the Sun, the Kyrgyz washed themselves before sunrise to meet it clean. It was forbidden to look long at the Moon and the Sun. A Persian author of the 11th century wrote about the Kyrgyz that "some of them worship the Sun and stars; they are kind, sociable, and pleasant people; the ruler is one of them." During the pagan period of their history, the Kyrgyz believed that all living things on Earth are interconnected and depend on the main celestial body — the Sun.
The Kyrgyz also learned to measure time using the Moon. According to Chinese chronicles, the Kyrgyz counted time in cycles determined by the Moon or lunar phases. They observed rhythmic cycles when the Moon wanes and then waxes, taking the form of a silver disk. The first day of the month was called ay zhanyrdy — new moon, then — aydyn bir zhanysy — the first day of the new moon, eki zhanysy — the second day of the new moon, and so on. The month in Kyrgyz is called Ay — Moon. During the new moon, the Kyrgyz determined the weather: if the newly born Moon stands vertically — good weather is expected, and if it lies on its side — bad weather.
The Kyrgyz also determined time by the movement of stars. The constellation Zhetigen — Ursa Major served as their peculiar clock. They knew that at midnight (from 12 a.m. to 1 a.m.) Zhetigen is in one place, and by morning (at 4 a.m.) — in another. The kuzotchu — night watchmen of the sheep flock changed according to the position of Zhetigen. The seasons were also determined by this constellation.
Thus, the peculiarities of the worldview of the ancient Kyrgyz were expressed, on the one hand, in a naïve-materialistic approach to natural phenomena, and on the other hand, in the presence of a significant share of mythical elements, where real, actual connections are replaced by fictitious ones. The source of the first peculiarity was everyday practice, which required knowledge of the patterns of the objective world and served as the main measure of the truth of knowledge. The source of the second peculiarity was the underdevelopment of both social production and knowledge itself.
