The Interior Decoration of a Kyrgyz Yurt
The interior decoration of the yurt has been established over centuries, and to this day, there is a significant consistency in the arrangement of various items and the purpose of different parts of the space. For example, there are still distinctions between the women's and men's halves, the honored place, and the place for the fire (the Kyrgyz call it kolomto). The fire is lit on a flat surface or in a small depression.
For the cauldron, an iron trivet (“tulga”) or stones are usually placed. Depending on this, two types of hearths are distinguished: tash ochok and tulga ochok. Near the hearth, there are always tongs (“atash kurok”), which are used to add fuel, adjust the fire, and take coals. Here, a kettle (“kum-gan”) for boiling water is usually found.
On the right side of the entrance, household items, utensils, and food are placed; buckets of water, a cauldron covered with a lid made of chiy, iron and cast-iron kettles for boiling water are set against the wall. A wooden mortar, wooden vessels for churning butter, and a stone hand mill (zhargylchak) are usually found here. Various household bags are hung along the wall.
At a distance of about 1.5–2 m from the entrance, a screen (“ashkana-chiy”) is placed (its height is 140–150 cm, length—2–2.5 m), which, as noted, serves not only a practical purpose but also decorates the yurt. The top of the screen is adorned with an embroidered strip (made of black velvet or red cloth). The right side of the screen is tied to the dome poles and the lattice wall, then it is stretched and, slightly bent, attached to a post (bakan), which is secured in the ground at a distance of about 75–80 cm from the yurt wall. The entrance behind the screen is closed with a fence (70–80 cm high) made of chiy (it is called ashkana ooz). Behind the screen, food is stored, and a pole-hanger, called bakan, is placed; on it, pieces of meat, bags of cottage cheese (suzmo), bags of salt, leather bags with various products, and a leather tablecloth for kneading dough are hung. Wooden dishes with dairy products are placed on the ground or on stones. Bags for cups, plates, and spoons are hung along the wall.
Next to the entrance behind the screen, on a stand (“sekichik”), there used to be a large leather vessel (“saba”) for preparing kumys.
The place at the wall opposite the entrance is considered honorable. It is called tër. Guests are received here, laying out a tablecloth (“dastarkhan”) in front of them.
Directly on the ground, a bedding made of leather, skins, and home-made fabrics is first spread, then decorated woolen or pile carpets or patterned fabric mats are placed on top, and finally, narrow cotton blankets (kerpeche, teshek) or fur mats are laid.
Along the honored place against the wall, bedding items, bundles of household goods, felt, and clothing are arranged in a specific order—everything that the family values most. This peculiar “structure,” called “dzhuk”, was previously used to judge the wealth of the yurt owner and the skill of the women living in it. The “dzhuk” is always aimed to be neat and festive in appearance.
Items are placed either on stones or on a specially made wooden bench (“sekichik”) 35–40 cm high, which is decorated with carved patterns. Unlike the northern Kyrgyz, the support for the “dzhuk” in the south is not covered. The lower row of the “dzhuk” consists of chests and carpet bags for items—“chavadon”. Here, “bokcho” is also laid—rolls of patterned fabric in which clothing is sometimes still stored. The upper clothing (coats, fur coats, robes) is also placed in the lower part of the “dzhuk”. The upper rows consist of blankets (korpë, zhuurkan) and embroidered pillows-rolls (“dzhazdyk”). Various types of carpets (pile, felt) and embroidered horse covers are also placed here. Pillows (balys) are laid on top of the “dzhuk”.
Among the southern Kyrgyz, there are two ways to arrange the “dzhuk”: rolling items into a roll (especially blankets, felts, fabrics, carpets) and stacking them in several layers. The first method is common in the eastern regions (as with the northern Kyrgyz), while the second is typical of the southwestern regions and resembles the way of stacking the “dzhuk” characteristic of the Uzbek and Tajik populations of Fergana. Women disassemble part of the “dzhuk” every night and carefully reassemble it in the morning. When laying out the bedding (it should be noted—very comfortable for sleeping), several layers of felt are first spread on the floor, and then, also in several layers—blankets. A roll (“dzhazdyk”) is placed under the head, which can be considered more of a headrest than a pillow. Actual pillows—(“balys”)—appeared, apparently, later. They are filled with cotton, feathers, or down.
Pillowcases are sewn from light factory fabric, often with long ties, which is also characteristic of Uzbeks and Tajiks. Rolls and pillows are always offered to guests for convenience.
The left half of the yurt is called “kapshit”. This is the men's half. Young people usually take seats here (the elderly sit in the honored place).
To the left of the entrance, the owner of the yurt hangs riding gear on the wall. Newborn calves and lambs are also tied here.
To the left of the entrance, newlyweds used to be located. At night, a curtain (“koshogë”) was lowered here, which separated the young couple's bed from the rest of the space. It was attached to the dome poles of the yurt. During the day, the ends were lifted and tucked behind the poles. The curtain was sewn depending on the wealth of the yurt owner: from silk, cotton fabric, or pieces of colored fabrics (using the “kurak” technique), and sometimes it was embroidered. It was customary to hang a carpet (“tush kiyiz” or “tush tuurdik”) on the wall here. However, as mentioned earlier, it was only found in the eastern part of the region.
In the decoration of the southern Kyrgyz yurt, peculiar “hanging” shelves (“ayak konchu”, “kosh jabyk”) and bags (“bashtyk”) were typical. They mainly stored portable items (headgear, belts, scarves, jewelry, boots) and were hung on both sides of the “dzhuk” one below the other (the “ayak koychu” (“kosh jabyk”) was tied to the dome poles above, and “bashtyk” was attached to the top of the sliding wall). As mentioned earlier, they were made of felt, leather, and ghani and were always decorated with ornaments. Thus, they served not only a practical but also a decorative purpose and gave the yurt's interior a unique style, distinguishing it from the yurts of the northern Kyrgyz.
Yurts were previously illuminated using a cast-iron or clay lamp (chyraak), which has ancient origins. The wick was made of cotton, and any fat was used. For the lamp, a wooden stand (“chyrak paya”) was driven into the ground near the hearth. Kerosene lamps only began to appear in the early 20th century.
External Decorations of Southern Kyrgyz Yurts