Method of Paint Production by Ancient Kyrgyz People

The method of obtaining paint from the roots of rhubarb, which grows high in the mountains, was well known to the Kyrgyz. For this purpose, they also used it murun — rosehip, the skin and stems of which are yellow. Sometimes, the wood of certain trees and shrubs was used, which yields yellow paint when boiled in water, for example, sary-zhygach — the wood of barberry, echki tal — goat willow, lichen, and others.

Mineral substances were also widely used for making paint — the upper layer of oxidized rocks (in Kyrgyz, aчык таш), containing iron compounds and, apparently, chromium, which give red, green, and yellow colors to clay. These paints were referred to by the general term жошо.

When dyeing wooden parts of the yurt (kerge, uuk, tunduk, kaalga, bosogo), as well as wool, felt, threads, and leather clothing, such as ton-tulupa, zhargak shyim — leather trousers, malakay — leather tubeteika, and some other household items, the Kyrgyz widely used this range of dyes. To improve the covering ability, antimony oxides were added to the paint. Ak chopo — white clay (kaolin) was used for whitewashing the walls of adobe structures.