External Decorations of Southern Kyrgyz Yurts

Decorations of Southern Kyrgyz Yurts

Let’s move on to the description of the external decorations of southern Kyrgyz yurts. Several variations are noted.

In the Alay and Uzgen districts, a woolen strip (20–25 cm) with appliqué or a red wool fringe (tor chachy) is attached to the edge of the "uzuk." In other districts (Naukat, Frunze, Batken, Laylak, and in the Alay Valley), cut figures in the shape of diamonds or triangles, called chögit, made from colored fabric (red, blue, black) are sewn along the edge of the "uzuk." Above them, rectangular pieces of felt (15X20 cm) decorated with appliqué, called totëgë, are attached. Approximately 40–50 "totëgë" are sewn on in total. Bunches of yak wool are attached to the upper corners of these. In addition to "totëgë," larger appliqués are sewn directly onto the felt of the "uzuk" from all four sides of the dome of the yurt. In the Alay Valley and Laylak district, these decorations have been preserved to this day. It is possible that in the distant past they served as a protective charm, and we are dealing with more archaic forms of yurt decoration here. In any case, they deserve attention and further study. The decoration of the yurt is similar among the Pamir Kyrgyz.

In the Naukat and partially in the Frunze districts, we noted a different decoration of the dome of the yurt: felt pieces of elongated rectangular shape are sewn on at a distance of 20–25 cm from the edge of the felt, with a woven (usually patterned) strip passed underneath them.

In the times when people lived only in yurts, they insulated them for winter: the bottom was surrounded by an earthen embankment. The earth was taken from around the yurt, leaving a trench around it. A fire was constantly maintained inside the yurt.

In certain places of the Osh region, it was customary during various public gatherings (memorials, weddings, etc.) organized by wealthy Kyrgyz to connect two or three yurts. When lined up together, they formed a spacious room.

In the south, portable dwellings of a different type were also used, which were utilized by shepherds during summer pastures. The most notable among them is the alachik, characterized by the absence of sliding walls (kerege). According to the accounts of the oldest informants, there were two variants of such dwellings in the past.

The first variant resembled a tent, consisting solely of dome poles. They were set up in a circle and fastened at the top; the poles were supported by a post placed in the center. We noted this type of dwelling among the groups of adigine and jookesek.

The base of the second variant of dwelling consisted of dome poles (about twenty pieces) and a fastening rim. This simplified portable dwelling was more widespread and had other names such as kepe (group kesek), ak tigirp (group adigine), tigertmek (group tooles).

It should be noted that the wooden parts for dwellings of the "alachik" type were never made specifically by craftsmen.

Typically, old parts from a yurt that had already served their time were used.

Fastenings of the Composite Parts of the Kyrgyz Yurt