Achik-Chuchuk (Shakarap) A delicious, simple salad made from tomatoes in Uzbek cuisine, served alongside the national Eastern dish — plov. It is prepared extremely simply and quickly, yet turns out amazing, harmoniously adding a sour-spicy taste to the fluffy rice of the plov. Variations of the Achik-Chuchuk tomato salad are widely spread in Central Asia. Kyrgyz cuisine has named it Shakarap. Ingredients:
Stove-fireplace The stove-fireplace with a wide chimney that narrows towards the top has become widely used in Southern Kyrgyzstan. Therefore, the Kyrgyz call this stove moru (chimney). It is never closed. Its mass appearance, evidently, dates back to the late 19th century, as many houses of that time still used a home hearth and made smoke holes in the roofs. This is mentioned in some literary sources, and the same is recounted by the elders. The main purpose of the stove is the same as that
Childhood of Semetey. Part - 2 Semetey enjoyed the khan's power Not knowing that his father was Manas He considered himself the son of Ismail Not knowing his mother and homeland – Talas! At that time, Chiyyrdy turned ninety-five She became a weak, hunched old woman But she heard that Semetey was the khan of Bukhara!
Tribal Institutions of Power The power system among all groups of Kyrgyz was similar and did not imply centralized governance. It was limited to the tribal level, led by the clan nobility, and governance was primarily based on unwritten adat rules. The relationships of dominance and subordination were built on traditional institutions. In the late 18th - first half of the 19th century, with the inclusion of the peripheral, Pamir-Alai, and Talas Kyrgyz into the orbit of the state policies of
Childhood Years of Semetey. Part - 2 Semetey did not know that his father was Manas, his mother was Kanykey, and his homeland was Talas. Considering himself the son of Ismail, he enjoyed the khan's power and amusements. At this time, Chiyyrdy had reached the age of ninety-five. From old age, she had become weak, powerless, and a hunched old woman. She had never seen Semetey. From Kanykey, she had heard that he had become the khan of the city of Bukhara.
“HOW SAD...” Once upon a time, there was an old man. Every new day, he greeted with the same words: “How sad...” One day, a passing traveler asked him: — Why do you say these words every morning: “How sad...”?
SALAD "ZHAI" Salads have become an integral part of modern meals. They are always tasty, diverse, and can be prepared for any occasion. Salads can adorn a festive table or be an essential part of everyday menus. Their amazing property is that extraordinarily delicious salads can be made from the most ordinary ingredients. There are many salad recipes — from simple to quite complex. We offer you one of such salads.
Southern Kyrgyz Houses For a family consisting of several married couples, a different house plan is typical, taking the form of an elongated rectangle divided into separate living cells. Each living cell is a one-room (or two-room) space with a separate entrance. The number of such living spaces, arranged in a row, depends on the number of married sons or brothers of the head of the family. Such structures are widespread throughout the region. They are characterized by flat roofs. In houses
Childhood Years of Semetey. Part - 1 Growing up, Semetey did not yet know That his father was the hero Manas That his mother was Kanykey And that his homeland was Talas At twelve, he became unruly Once he beat, to bloody wounds Eighty khojas and a hundred priests They hastened to complain to Temirkhan
Kyrgyz Division into Tribes and Clans Despite the absence of a centralized state, the Kyrgyz had their own territory, an ethnic identity, and a cultural community. In the 18th to the first half of the 19th century, the system of power and governance institutions were based on tribal organization and patriarchal relations. The Kyrgyz were divided into tribes (uru) and clans (uruk), which clearly identified themselves with the common ethnonym "Kyrgyz." There is reliable historical
Childhood years of Semetey. When Semetey grew up, he was completely unaware that Manas was his father, Kanikei was his mother, and Talas was his homeland. At the age of twelve, he was a wild and audacious boy. One day he beat up eighty hodjas and a hundred priests until they bled. The hodjas and priests he had beaten gathered and went to complain to Temir Khan, trying to slander Semetey before him, but Temir Khan did not listen to their complaints, executed many of them, and imprisoned the
JOOMBART AND ADIL In ancient times, there were khans among neighboring peoples—Joombart-khan and Adil-khan. Joombart-khan was just and sought for all people to live equally well. He worked until noon, and in the second half of the day, he walked among the people, noticing if there were any hungry or poorly dressed. Adil-khan was quite different. People said of him that he was a man who played on dark strings. When he needed to learn something, he would summon someone for interrogation and
Kuyruk Boor Kuyruk Boor or Kuyryk Bauyr is a popular snack prepared in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. There is a similar dish in Uzbekistan called Dumba Jigar, but it is served very rarely, as people prefer to make delicious shashlik from these ingredients. Traditionally, before serving the main dish - Beshbarmak / Et asu, a series of snacks are offered to guests to stimulate their appetite, among which is Kuyruk Boor. The name of the dish comes from two words - Kuyruk (Kuyryk) meaning lamb tail
House with a high gable roof. Aksy District. Fergana and Mixed Types of Houses. While the spread of the first type of dwelling (Pamir type), according to the data we have, was limited, the second type (Fergana type) has been widely constructed in both variations throughout the southern part of the Osh region for a long time and has the broadest distribution among all the types of houses we have noted. The third, mixed type, starting from the late 19th century and especially in the early 20th
The Escape of Kanykey to Bukhara. Part - 3 Kanykey jumped up, performed ablution Stuck the spear into the ground and in hope A miracle happened, the lake filled up The trees turned green again, just like before! Out of happiness that a miracle occurred The fugitives believed in the joyful hour: - Semetey will grow up safely And will be braver than his father – Manas!
POWER SYSTEM AND MANAGEMENT INSTITUTIONS According to historical sources, the Kyrgyz people went through a series of stages of state-political development from the end of the 3rd - beginning of the 2nd century BC to the first half of the 19th century. This development ranged from the simplest political organization in the form of "ownership" to a centralized medieval empire in the 9th-10th centuries. In Southern Siberia and Eastern Turkestan, until the early 18th century, there were
The Escape of Kanikey to Bukhara. Part - 2 A day passed, then another, after the departure of Bakay. Kanikey could not remain calm and decided to set off again. They traveled for a long time and finally approached a sacred place called Baiterek. There, both fugitives fell into a deep sleep, with Semetey lying between them. While they were sleeping, a female white argali approached them. Seeing Semetey, she struck her hoof against his cradle. The boy woke up from this, crawled out of the
Part - 2 Many years passed. The boy grew into a young man. One day he asked the old man what was behind the locked doors. The old man showed him six rooms filled with all sorts of wonders, but he did not show him the seventh, explaining: “If you enter this room, you will condemn yourself to sufferings that may end in your death. Why should I open it, when I have come to love you so much, and you have become like a son to me?” The young man said nothing in response, but the thought of the
Shishkebek Shishkebek is a dish from Kyrgyz cuisine, consisting of kebab made from lamb or beef, marinated in onions and vinegar with the addition of spices. Ingredients:
The Influence of Other Peoples on the Craftsmanship of Kyrgyz The builders of Kyrgyz houses in the 19th century were masters from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Uyghur, and Russian (since the end of the last century). In some areas, local Kyrgyz and those who came from Kashgar also built houses. Among our informants were Kyrgyz masters whose teachers were their fathers and even grandfathers. This fact may serve as indirect evidence that southern Kyrgyz began constructing settled dwellings a long time
The Escape of Kanikey to Bukhara. Part - 2 Bakay, after losing his support Began to wheeze from grief, unable to bear He fulfilled the last wishes of Kankor Left his affairs, began to herd camels One morning, after praying for the hero He decided to visit Semetey, his orphan When he arrived, he saw that from the palace and throne Nothing was left at all
Military-Police Institute and the Institute of Seniority The Military-Police Institute in ancient times was called "choro" or "kyrk choro" (forty heroes), later - "zhigitter" - "jigits", "jasak" - lieutenants, "atkaminer" - horsemen (late 19th - early 20th century). Initially, this institute was the foundation of a military-democratic structure, and later became the personal guard of khans and tribal leaders. In conditions of
The Escape of Kanikei to Bukhara. When Manas died, Kёbёsh became the khan in his place, while his brother Abike and Adzhibai went to Hindustan and Afghanistan at that time to settle the quarrel of three khans. At that very moment, old Jakyp plotted something evil against Kanikei. One day he summoned all his children and angrily said to them:
The Orphan. Part - 1 In ancient times, there were many orphans on the earth. One of them served as a shepherd for a wealthy man. One day, the orphan boy was herding sheep on the slope of a mountain. At noon, he dozed off next to the sheep, and when he woke up, the flock was gone; it had been stolen by thieves. The boy ran for a long time in search of the flock through the gorges and ravines, but all in vain. Suddenly, he saw three men resting on a hill. He ran up to them and plaintively asked
"Mai Tokoch" The cuisines of nomadic peoples are simple. They predominantly feature dishes made from meat, milk, and flour. Therefore, such flatbreads replace bread for first courses, and they are also served with tea. In modern Kyrgyz cuisine, there is an effort to preserve traditions and national dishes. The pancakes made from this recipe turn out fluffy, airy, and delicious. To prepare Kyrgyz pancakes, you will need the ingredients listed below.
Roofing of Houses The construction of the walls of the house is preceded by the laying of the foundation (pai duval). For this, a trench is dug 25–30 cm deep and about 60–80 cm wide. Pre-assembled boulders of various sizes are laid in it and covered with sand and fine gravel. In older houses, trenches were not made; the walls were placed directly on the ground or on stones laid in a row on the ground. Frame houses are more often built in the western regions of the area, using all the
Childhood and Youth of Semetey. The Escape of Kanakei to Bukhara Brother of Kyobesh, Abyke, and Adzhibai Went to Afghanistan and Hindustan, at that time To bring reason to this land To settle the endless quarrel of the khans Evil was plotted against Kanakei by Jakyp He called the children to him and said: - Six thousand dzhambas, a thousand beaver skins Ormonbek, son of Tekechi, has bribed Bakai!
Slavery in the Social Structure of the Kyrgyz Among the Kyrgyz of the South, there also existed a category of sharecroppers - chayrikers, day laborers - mardikers, characteristic of the Tajik and Uzbek populations of the Fergana Valley. In the trade sphere, there was a layer of people daldalchy, ortomchu, engaged in intermediary services: facilitating transactions, reconciling the interests of the seller and the buyer. Between the strata of the rich and the poor were the middle class - orto
CONTINUATION OF THE EPIC: "SEMETEY" The death of the beloved hero, the sorrowful end of the poem, did not satisfy the listeners. The tale was supposed to have a continuation, especially since there was a reason left - the main rival of Manas, the treacherous instigator of all bloody confrontations, Konurbai, escaped in the "Great Campaign." The beginning of the poem "Semetey" is tragic. Power is usurped by the envious relatives of Abike and Kebesh, who destroy
THE DOUGH GIANT An old man and an old woman had no children. And they were very sad about it. One evening, after kneading the dough, the old woman went outside and, with a plea, raised her hands to the sky: “Oh Almighty, if only you could turn this dough into a child!”
Kyrgyz-style 'Snails' with Onions Delicious fried flatbreads are very popular in Kyrgyzstan, where they are served hot, straight from the skillet, usually with soup. In this case, the "snails" called "kattama" can be made with or without yeast, but the sweet and slightly spicy caramelized onions in this recipe are essential. INGREDIENTS:
Three Methods of Wall Construction among the Kyrgyz When starting to describe the types of houses and estates, it is necessary to first provide a general overview of the building material and some basic technical methods used by the southern Kyrgyz. In the comprehensive work of A. K. Pisarchik, all the main data on the techniques of house construction in Fergana are presented. Similar methods are observed in the construction practices of various regions of Southern Kyrgyzstan. The main
Religion in the Epic "Manas" Comparing variants recorded from the words of different narrators, it is easy to notice not only thematic and plot coincidences but also certain similarities. They sometimes concern the composition of the epic; for example, the campaigns of Manas to the North and West are only mentioned by the narrator Sagymbay Orozbakov, while the pilgrimage of Chubak to Mecca is noted by Sayakbay Karalaev. Sometimes the well-known motif of the unification of Kyrgyz
Poor Kyrgyz in the Second Half of the 19th Century A numerous social category consisted of the poor - kedeiler - ordinary nomads and farmers. During military actions, they formed the backbone of the khan's armies, while in peacetime, kedeiler were the support of the tribal elite. In the 18th and the first half of the 19th century, the poor were generally economically viable, providing for themselves all that was necessary. In case of war, they had at least two battle horses and armor at
The Death of Manas At night, secretly Kanykey Gathered the loyal warriors, Far along the mountain paths She led them to the gorge in the morning. At the cliffs on the stone wall She made them break through a passage And there, for eternal rest, She built a grotto for Manas. When Kanykey returned: — Is everything ready? — asked Manas. — Now call my relatives here, My friends and warriors, I want to see them one last time… And people came from all sides To pay their last respects. When all the
Khan Janibek Once, Khan Janibek summoned the leader of one of the ails, Sultanmamit Khan, and said to him angrily: — Your stallions attacked my mares, and they are about to give birth to foals. Pay me for this, or you will be in trouble! Saddened, Sultanmamit Khan returned to his ailing and began to collect tribute from the people. He noticed a beardless young man sitting on a horse, staring at what was happening. Sultanmamit Khan got angry and shouted at him: — It's people like you who
Shirin alma. In translation from Kyrgyz, it means – sweet apple. To prepare this dish, you do not need any exotic ingredients or special spices, which are usually abundant in Eastern cuisine recipes. Shirin alma can be very easily and quickly prepared at any moment in any kitchen, and anyone without culinary skills can do it.
Kyrgyz Settlements The character of the settlement, as well as the dwellings themselves, shows great diversity in southern Kyrgyzstan, influenced by a number of historical, social, economic, and geographical factors. Kyrgyz villages in the 19th and early 20th centuries were sharply different from the Tajik and Uzbek villages bordering them. The latter were characterized by narrow (straight and winding) streets with high walls surrounding each homestead.
Manas's Testament Embracing Kanike by the shoulders, He said to his beloved: — Be brave, my faithful, It seems my time has come. Take care of yourself for our son! When you bury me, Run to Bukhara, to your father — Let our Semetey grow there! Here, in his homeland, He will not see bright days. And the brothers Abike, Kobesh Will not let you live here, And if you resist, They will find a reason and kill. And they will turn our son Into a mankurta right away, Forcing him to herd cattle.
Kyrgyz Elite During the dominance of the Kokand Khanate, some changes occurred in the social hierarchy. Many southern Kyrgyz rulers of clans and tribes became part of the ruling elite of the khanate: Kubat bi, Akboto bi, Azhy-bek datka, Alimbek datka, Kurmandzhan datka, and others. Additionally, part of the khanate's cavalry consisted of Kyrgyz warriors, led by Kyrgyz military leaders. The khan conferred titles upon the leaders of Kyrgyz clans and tribes: datka, bek (head of a bekdom - a
THE FORTUNE TELLER Once upon a time, there lived a poor man with a nagging wife. One day, his wife said to him: — Are you a man or not? How long will I have to walk around in tattered rags and only dream of being full someday? Go and bring me money for food and new clothes! — Who will give me money? — the husband was surprised,
Return from the Great Campaign. Part - 2 When they passed the Great Wall of China, They settled down for a rest, Suddenly someone in the distance saw, That behind them a horse was coming, The rider lay, embracing the horse, The helmet and armor shone in the sun — And everyone recognized: it was The horse of Almanbet — Sarala. — My Almanbet! You are alive, dear! Has God truly forgiven me, If you have returned alive? — Manas cried out with joy And, despite the wounds and pain, Ran to meet his
Shepherd's Soup If you want to experience the charm of the nomadic life of a Kyrgyz shepherd and feel like a free herder in the valleys of Kyrgyzstan, then you can simply prepare a real Kyrgyz shepherd's soup. The base of most soups is broths made from meat, poultry, game, and vegetables. In the menu, soup usually comes first or follows a cold appetizer. Prepare shepherd's soup according to our delicious and quick culinary recipe from the national Kyrgyz cuisine.
Sedentary Life among the Kyrgyz The transition to sedentary life, being an extremely complex process, involves "the replacement of one form of economic life — pastoral-nomadic, with another — agricultural-sedentary," which led to a significant disruption of long-standing traditions and primarily a change in the form of housing. Initially, the yurt retained its significance as the main dwelling. In winter, it was insulated. Later, the yurt became only a summer dwelling and was used
Return from the Great Campaign. Part - 1 On one of the gloomy nights Kanykey woke up in tears, Taking the infant in her arms from the swaddling, Sobbing, she gave him her breast. And, recalling the terrible dream, She could not hold back her tears. By the river, a little gray bull Suddenly began to bellow like a child — Almanbet has probably perished. And the white falcon in flight Broke its mighty wings — It seems Chubak has fallen into trouble! The chinar tree, standing tall, Suddenly fell
Hero. The Institute of Heroism evolved from a military-democratic structure. The main purpose of a hero (baatyr) is to ensure the safety of society. From ancient times until the early 20th century, the hero was a key figure in military operations, a commander over a group of fighters. Among the outstanding, fearless, and far-sighted heroes emerged the founders of nomadic khanates, states, and empires. In the history of the Kyrgyz people, there is a notable array of heroes who took the
KARACH THE HERO In ancient times, there lived an old man and an old woman, and they had two sons — Egizbek and Segizbek. They lived in prosperity, confident in their future. When the children grew up, their father sent them to graze cattle in the most remote pasture, visiting them only once a year. On one of those visits, the father saw that the yurt where his sons lived was destroyed, the cattle had been stolen, and the children had disappeared. In despair, the father wept and returned home,
The Death of the Heroes A rumor swept through China That Khan Manas was wounded. The spirit of the Kangai people rose. For Konurbai and Neskara Their long-awaited hour had come. Surrounding Beijinge in three circles, To ensure that not a single one Of the buruts left China alive, And to drive out the Muslims, They incited the townspeople to revolt. And behold, a hundred thousand troops Marched towards the city of Chet-Beijing, To capture and destroy the Kyrgyz forces. Raising Manas' red