Ethnography

Geographical Representations of the Kyrgyz People

The close connection of the Kyrgyz as a nomadic people with their environment required them to have a concrete understanding of the nature of the terrain and landscape. As a result, they developed precise concepts for many forms of relief such as a gorge or canyon, peak or needle, alkyim — the upper part of a valley, tektir — terrace, and others, which have entered scientific literature as the original terminological heritage of the people.

28.07.2015, 18:59

Culture

Worldview Concepts of the Surrounding World

Most geographical names in Kyrgyzstan have local etymology. The origin of several toponyms is connected with epics and legends; they reflect events that took place on the land of the Kyrgyz in the past. Some geographical names were translated not only by the people who invented them—the language itself evolved and developed throughout its historical development, and many toponyms have remained unchanged to this day. Toponyms with ancient histories serve as witnesses to the past of the people;

28.07.2015, 18:52

Ethnography

Description of Geographical Objects in Epics

The study of folk geographical representations allows us to uncover the features of the formation of pre-scientific knowledge, its very structure, forms of accumulation and transmission, methods of use, as well as the common traits and differences from scientific knowledge. In this context, the role of practice as a source and criterion of the value of knowledge becomes particularly evident.

28.07.2015, 18:26

Myths and legends

Kulung Kol (Lake of the Foal)

A long time ago, high in the mountains at the foot of a gorge in Tar Alabyn (the Tar basin), there lived a beautiful and strong wild Sur Bée (gray mare). Every year she gave birth to healthy foals.

28.07.2015, 18:07

Myths and legends

The Legend of the Lake

Long ago, in the Issyk-Kul basin, there was a city, around which stood a castle atop a steep mountain. Deep chasms and gloomy gorges surrounded it on all sides. The castle belonged to a powerful khan. The khan was known for his wealth, but even more so for his cruelty. One day, he heard a rumor that in a poor family of a nomad there was a girl of unimaginable beauty. The girl lived in aail, nestled at the foot of the mountains, by the bank of a stream. One day, horsemen surrounded the aail,

28.07.2015, 17:38

Culture

Study of Domestic Animal Behavior by Kyrgyz People

People have long been aware of the disasters caused by natural phenomena. The Kyrgyz learned about the approach of an earthquake from the unusual behavior of domestic and wild animals. In the epic "Er Teshstuk," the famous tulpar Chalkuyruk speaks to his master in human language about the impending earthquake:

28.07.2015, 17:04

About Kyrgyzstan / Culture

Ancient Concepts of the Kyrgyz about the Structure of the Earth

Ancient Kyrgyz Ideas about the Structure of the World Human thought has never been satisfied with simply establishing direct, practically significant connections between phenomena. Every nation has tried to understand and explain various phenomena; its cosmological and cosmogonical ideas often took the form of traditions, legends, and myths, which represent a combination of original elements and borrowings. Such are the ancient ideas of the Kyrgyz about the structure of the Earth and the

28.07.2015, 16:46

Ethnography

The History of the Economy of Southern Kyrgyz in the 19th Century

In the history of the economy of southern Kyrgyzstan, the 19th century was a turning point: they began to transition from the main form of economy—animal husbandry—to agriculture. This process had been partially observed earlier, but in the 19th century, it took on a more intensive character. The degree of development and spread of agriculture was determined by socio-economic factors, although it also significantly depended on natural and geographical conditions, which influenced the types of

01.07.2015, 01:45

Ethnography

Ethnic History of the Southern Kyrgyz Tribes

The territory of the Osh region occupies the southwestern part of Kyrgyzstan. Its area is 75.5 thousand km², of which 46 thousand km² is in its southern part.

15.04.2015, 12:27

Ethnography

Ethnographic Descriptions of the Material Culture of the Kyrgyz

Among the sources utilized to address the issue of the ethnogenesis of a particular people, to identify its national traditions and characteristics, ethnographic descriptions of material culture and folk applied arts hold an important place. In turn, a comprehensive description of these aspects of folk life requires a thorough study of domestic crafts and trades as part of material production, which in the past satisfied the everyday needs and aesthetic demands of the population. The task of a

15.04.2015, 11:59

Kyrgyz cuisine

Mare's Milk and Kumis

Kyrgyz people have been preparing kumys and highly valuing its nutritional and healing properties since ancient times.

07.04.2015, 17:50

Kyrgyz fairy tales

The title translates to "The Show-off Mosquito."

In ancient times, mosquitoes appeared on Earth along with other living creatures. No one really knows why Mother Nature created mosquitoes. But they have a very high opinion of themselves, even though they are capable of only one thing — flying up with a buzz to a living being, quietly landing on a bare, and thus the most vulnerable, spot, and making... a little prick. You won't feel the mosquito's sting right away, but later, when a bump appears and a terrible itch arises — you

22.03.2015, 06:41

Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Cowardly Edil

In ancient times, there lived a simple man named Edil. He was so fearful that everyone called him nothing but "Cowardly Edil." Even at night, he would go outside for the smallest need accompanied by his wife.

22.03.2015, 06:36

Myths and legends

The Parable of the Swallow

The time had come, and the Earth appeared, with all sorts of grasses, trees, flowers, animals, and, of course, people. And everything — plants, birds, hoofed animals, and humans lived independently; no one offended or insulted anyone, and there were no rulers. Silence and peace reigned everywhere because no foreign blood was shed, and no life was lost in vain. In a word, in that blessed time, there were no rulers, tyrants, judges, or humiliation of man by man. Everyone was content and well-fed

22.03.2015, 06:28

Kyrgyz fairy tales

Hunters Adyl and Edil

Once upon a time, there lived two famous hunters in the Kyrgyz mountains. One was named Adyl-mergen, and the other — Edil-mergen. They had heard good things about each other, but they had never met.

22.03.2015, 06:10

Kyrgyz fairy tales

Tübekeyka

The story took place when khans, kings, and viziers had already appeared on earth, in other words — rulers, when wise fathers had already begun to test what their sons were capable of. There lived a certain Shamir, and he had a single son named Mamyr.

22.03.2015, 05:00

Kyrgyz fairy tales

Chyntek

Even in ancient times, the necks of tricksters were long, and male pheasants wore an astonishingly bright red-gold outfit. Even then, some people were luckier in life than others; some accomplished their deeds through strength, while others did so through wit.

21.03.2015, 17:41

Myths and legends

The Tale of Issyk-Kul

A long time ago, when there was still no Issyk-Kul, and at the foot of the mountains there were no settlements, and people did not live here, as they do now, in cities and villages, legends say that there was a valley that occupied a vast territory — from modern Tyup in the east to the Boom Gorge in the west. A great river, Char, flowed through this valley, into which small rivers — Dzhergalan, Ak-Suu, Karakol, Kyzyl-Suu, Barskoon, Tamga, Kök-Terek, Ula-Khol — flowed. The waters of the river

20.03.2015, 08:17

Kyrgyz fairy tales

Anchar and the White Deer

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07.03.2015, 11:33

Kyrgyz fairy tales

Akkyon and Ainek

And there was a time like that. In the eastern part of the Chui Valley, at the foot of the mountains, lived a man named Kochkor with his wife Chynar. They had one and only son, whom they named Akkoen at birth, which translates to White Hare.

07.03.2015, 11:08

Kyrgyz fairy tales

"Whoever Gets Lucky"

It was a long time ago, when rivers flowed clear and full, when magpies were not thieves, and when people had just begun to divide into the rich and the poor. During this time, there lived a poor man named Erdene. He lost his parents as a teenager, and he had to earn his bread early. Since he only knew how to take care of livestock, he lived by working for the wealthy as a shepherd.

07.03.2015, 09:40

Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Wise Boy

The Tale of the Wise Boy On one of those fine, sunny days, the khan, accompanied by his six closest viziers, went hunting. It was Friday, a day when Muslims work less and pray more to God. This time, the hunting route passed through a small aiyl called Zhatakchy. Due to the lack of livestock in the summer, they do not migrate to the mountains but remain on the plain, growing wheat, barley, or millet.

07.03.2015, 09:21

Kyrgyz fairy tales

Zhayyl and Zhapay

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07.03.2015, 08:08

Ethnography

Divinations of the Ancient Kyrgyz

Let us now turn to the ancient myths and legends of the ancient Kyrgyz people regarding cosmology and cosmogony.

22.02.2015, 21:30

Ethnography

The Influence of Stars on People's Lives

Tootaydyn Ogu (stars I and V, located below the Belt of the Three Kings). The ancient Kyrgyz were unable to explain many natural phenomena, deifying celestial bodies and the mysterious processes occurring in the heavens. For example, many shining celestial bodies were transformed into Kudai — God and his apostles. Lunar and solar eclipses, the movement, and "wandering" of planets in the sky — all of this was attributed to the influence of supernatural forces.

22.02.2015, 17:30

Ethnography

Horses in the Lives of Kyrgyz People

The Kyrgyz determined a person's age using the muchel — a 12-year animal cycle. It was also used to predict a person's future. It was believed that in the first year of each cycle, one should not undertake significant endeavors, as the outcome would be negative. In the epic "Manas," there was a warning to the hero Jolo, whose year of birth coincided with the beginning of the animal cycle, that going on a campaign was considered dangerous. The seer emphasized that the month

22.02.2015, 16:00

Ethnography

Astrological Concepts in the Knowledge System of the Kyrgyz People

Astrology was considered a false teaching among us, and the ban on it lasted for 60 years, starting from 1929. Interest in astrology is currently expanding, as many facts of modern science cannot explain certain phenomena. It is known that we are in the field of radiation from the Sun and other celestial bodies, which affect our biorhythms. It has been proven that a person lives in a magnetic web, and in every cell of their body, there exists a small magnetic field that reacts to the vast

22.02.2015, 15:05

Myths and legends

"When the Cholpon Star Descends to Earth"

According to legends and traditions, the planet Venus also influenced the fates of people. One of the legends tells of a smart, sensitive, and remarkably beautiful girl who lived on Earth. People consulted her, and the young men, struck by her intelligence and beauty, sought to marry her. This led to disputes among them. Hating the enmity on Earth, Cholpon flew to the sky and turned into a star. The people remembered Cholpon's words:

22.02.2015, 13:55

Myths and legends

Rajal and Kaiyr

Among the Kyrgyz, there is a preserved legend-myth. In those distant times, when the world was being created, the Prophet — the apostle Noah (or Nuh) had two beautiful daughters — Rajal and Kaiyr. They both loved the apostle Solomon very much and wanted to marry him. However, Solomon married a poor but very resourceful girl. Out of resentment, both beauties flew to the sky and turned into stars.

22.02.2015, 13:01

Ethnography

The First Concepts of the Kyrgyz about the Universe

In ancient times, when Islam had not yet spread among the Kyrgyz, they worshipped the Sun. However, with the penetration of Islam, the Sun became only a part of what belongs to Allah:

31.01.2015, 19:18

Ethnography

The Views of Ancient Kyrgyz on the Structure of the Surrounding World

Alongside correct, positive interpretations of natural phenomena, the Kyrgyz also held incorrect, illusory views that often led to misconceptions and superstitious fears.

31.01.2015, 19:09

Ethnography

The Origin of the Names of Stars and Constellations among the Kyrgyz

After the Sun and the Moon, the brightest celestial body is the beautiful Cholpon, whom the Kyrgyz worshipped, loved, and sang about in songs. The mother of a deceased son or the widow of a husband mourned like this:

31.01.2015, 18:59

Ethnography

Astronomical Knowledge of the Ancient Kyrgyz

The first representations of people about nature were formed in deep antiquity. As the founders of Marxism noted, "the production of ideas, representations, consciousness is initially directly woven into the material activity and material communication of people, into the language of real life." Due to the frequent repetition of the process of mastering various objects of the external world, the consciousness of ancient people was imprinted with objects that served to satisfy their

31.01.2015, 18:49

Ethnography

The Concept of Time Among the Kyrgyz

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.

28.01.2015, 19:24

Ethnography

Chronology among the Kyrgyz

Kyrgyz Calendar with a 12-Year Cycle Among the Kyrgyz (as well as many other peoples), a 12-year cycle of counting years was practiced, where a specific year was named after an animal: chychkan — mouse, uy — cow, bars — snow leopard (sometimes jolbors — tiger), koyon — hare, zhayaan — catfish (sometimes dragon), zhylaan — snake, zhylyky — horse, koy — sheep, mechin — monkey, took — chicken, it — dog. The acceptance of the 12-year cyclicality contains, on one hand, a certain objective basis,

28.01.2015, 19:10

Ethnography

Kyrgyz Calendar

The Basis of the Ancient Calendar. Even ancient hunters, observing the change of seasons and seasonal changes, learned to correlate them with periodic phenomena in nature. People knew that the river freezes in severe cold, that before the ice forms, trees shed their leaves, grass turns yellow and fades, and the days become shorter. The rhythm of people's lives and the cyclicity of their economy depended on the alternation of the seasons. People understood that after a certain period of

28.01.2015, 18:56

Customs

Nauryz (New Year)

On the day of the meeting of the Jaz Mayram — the spring holiday, people usually dressed festively, striving not to think about anything bad. This holiday is primarily a family one. Wherever a person may be, they must come to the uy-bule chogulup tamakhtanu — the family reunion meal with their parents. An unchanging feature of traditional Nooruz (New Year) is the expression of respect for the elders, masters of their craft, and aksakals. From the mountains, they brought archu — tree-like

28.01.2015, 18:39

Ethnography

Measurement Systems and Counting among the Kyrgyz

The need for measurement and counting arose among the Kyrgyz in the context of their relatively advanced social production and social differentiation. In Kyrgyz culture, several counting systems coexist, which indicates their diverse origins.

04.01.2015, 16:10

Ethnography

Physical Quantities as Elements of the Cognitive Activity of the Kyrgyz

Among the Kyrgyz, as among other peoples of the world, concepts denoting physical quantities were developed in the process of understanding the connections between phenomena, processes, and generalizing their aspects and characteristics important for practice. The formation of concepts reflects the activity and creative nature of thinking, while success in using these concepts entirely depends on how accurately they reflect objective reality. Through concepts obtained by abstraction, reality

04.01.2015, 15:09

Ethnography

Pre-scientific Representations of the Kyrgyz about Nature

Knowledge and understanding of natural processes in which human life takes place is a prerequisite for successful practical activity. Unlike animals, humans, in the process of labor, comprehend reality, purposefully accumulating and passing on acquired knowledge to others. "As long as people do not know the forces of nature, they blindly submit to them; but once they know them, then the forces of nature submit to humans," noted G. V. Plekhanov.

04.01.2015, 11:06

Kyrgyz cuisine

Revived Recipe for Making Kyrgyz Cheese

Revived Kyrgyz Cheese In Kyrgyzstan, teacher Suleiman Kayipov has restored the ancient recipe for making traditional Kyrgyz cheese. “Despite the fact that in ancient times this product was part of the diet of the Kyrgyz, today the methods of its preparation have been completely forgotten in Kyrgyzstan. However, the recipe for this cheese product was restored by Kyrgyzstan citizen S. Kayipov.” S. Kayipov named the cheese made according to the restored recipes “Bekzhan.”

16.12.2014, 11:04

History / Culture

Kokand and Kyrgyz Fortifications

Types of Kokand Fortresses For a whole century (from the second half of the 18th century to the second half of the 19th century), the history of Kyrgyzstan was inextricably linked with the Kokand Khanate. Throughout this century, the Kyrgyz people tirelessly fought, first against the conquering campaigns of the Kokand khans, and then against the khanate-feudal oppression. Their persistent struggle contributed to the fall of the khan's despotism. However, the path to this was long and

14.12.2014, 21:55

Kyrgyz cuisine / Drinks of Kyrgyzstan

The History and Healing Properties of Kumys

Kumis – a fermented milk drink. It is made from mare's milk, and less frequently from cow or camel milk. In its finished form, kumis is a fizzy liquid with the smell and taste of alcohol. The history of kumis

13.12.2014, 14:17

Customs

Family and Marriage among the Kyrgyz

Family and marital relations among the Kyrgyz in the past were closely dependent on patriarchal-feudal relations. The dominant form of family was the individual (small) family. However, it still retained many features of its predecessor—the patriarchal family—and was not the only form of family. There is reliable information that in the 19th century, alongside the small family, a significant number of undivided large families continued to exist among the Kyrgyz, externally possessing many

11.12.2014, 21:21

Ethnography

Ethnic Connections with the Kazakh-Nogai Circle of Tribes

Other lines of connections among the Kyrgyz are significant, especially the ethnic ties with the Kazakh-Nogai circle of tribes. Attention should be drawn to facts such as the presence among the names of Kyrgyz tribes of the left wing of the ethnonym bechine (pichine), which leads us northwest from Tian Shan into the Oghuz environment, as it is not difficult to see the medieval ethnonym "Pecheneg" in it; in some Kyrgyz legends, the country of Bulgar is mentioned, from which some

29.11.2014, 10:53

Culture

Dictionary of Kyrgyz Artistic Terms

Aidar kel — wind incantation. Aitym kuulor — virtuoso instrumental performances. Aitysh — a major singing and poetic competition among akyns. Akynek — comedic women's or children's song-dialogue. Akyn — folk-professional singer and improvisational poet. Alym sabak — singing-poetic competition among akyns "catch the line". Arman — genre of lyrical song. Arnoo ыры — akyn's dedicatory song. Asa-musa (asa-tayak) — musical-noise instrument. Atkaruuchu — performer. Ashyktik

09.11.2014, 22:56

Folklore

Folklorists of Kyrgyzstan

In the post-October period, a new stage begins in the study of Kyrgyz musical folklore, laying the foundations for the formation of a musicology school in Kyrgyzstan.

09.11.2014, 22:25

Music / Folklore

Historical Sources on Kyrgyz Musical Folklore

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09.11.2014, 21:25