Chyz-byz Chyz-byz is a well-known dish of Kyrgyz cuisine. It is a dish of shepherds, which they used to eat and still eat during their long journeys across the pastures. In Kyrgyz cuisine, the dish is made from lamb meat and lamb offal. During cooking, it is important not to stray far from the pan. You need to keep everything under control, stir, and add the ingredients one by one. Chyz-byz cooked over an open fire, infused with smoke, is undoubtedly delicious. But it can also be prepared in
Settlements and Permanent Housing The 19th century was a turning point in the life of the Kyrgyz. It marked the beginning of their settlement on land. One of the most important factors that led to the gradual transition to settled life among the southern Kyrgyz was the historical event of Southern Kyrgyzstan's annexation to Russia. This decisively changed the lifestyle of the Kyrgyz: conflicts and wars between Kyrgyz tribes and neighboring peoples ceased, economic life began to stabilize,
Prayer of Manas Almighty God! My Creator! I am on my knees before you. You gave us the sun above, You illuminate the earthly world, Dimming the light at night, You leave us with darkness. Holy prophets, wise men You give us, Creator, yourself. You send us brainless, foolish fools To the earth. So that we live in wars and struggles, You send us enemies. Giving the heart flame and love, You create heroes yourself. Creator of heaven and earth, Only you can judge us! I led your sons into battle,
Bais, Biis, and Manaps The measure of wealth and the main equivalent in trade and economic relations was livestock; accordingly, the prosperity of a household was determined by its quantity. Bais were categorized based on the composition and size of their herds, as well as their lifestyle and personal qualities: “1) chon bai - big bai or mart bai - generous (a wealthy person who was not stingy and was acquainted with the powerful); 2) saran bai or koltukchu bai - stingy bai (lived poorly,
THE WOODCUTTER SULTANALY Once upon a time, there was a woodcutter named Sultanaly. When the time came for him to marry, he took as his wife the daughter of a poor man, just like himself. Her name was Umsunay. They formed an ordinary young family, as they say, two poor people and one horse. Later, they had a son whom they named Myrza. To feed his family, Sultanaly had to work twice as hard, but the money he earned was barely enough to survive. Sultanaly really wanted to save some money to
The Beginning of the Battle. Part - 2 Hearing the joyful news, Kanykey was not pleased: — Taking Beijing, the Chinese throne, He has doomed himself to death. Let him return quickly — Here a son has been born, Semetey! And if suddenly he perishes there His father, my beloved, Our only child Will become an orphan from swaddling clothes, — Kanykey wept bitterly. Shuutu rushed to Beijing, Brought news to Manas, That a son had been born to him, That they named him Semetey, And that Kanykey asked To
Dymdama Dymdama is a mixture of vegetables that are stewed in a special way. It has many names - dymlyama, dumlyama, domlyama. There are similar dishes - khashlama, basma. The vegetables are partially steamed, while the lower layers cook in their own juice. It is very tasty and healthy. Traditionally, it is made with lamb with fat tail. However, it can be made with any meat. The amount of vegetables can vary depending on the size of the pot. The vegetables used for dymdama include cabbage,
Migrations of Kyrgyz to Jailoo A significant event in the life of nomadic Kyrgyz was the migration from winter camps to spring and then to summer pastures (jailoo). The migrations of southern Kyrgyz have been described by some travelers. Such a description can be found, for example, in G. E. Grum-Grzhimailo: "Already in early spring, in April, as soon as the buds of trees begin to unfold and the ground is covered with fluff, the Kyrgyz from Andijan, Osh, and Margilan emerge from their
The Beginning of the Battle. Part - 1 From morning till night, the slaughter went on, And from night again until morning They fought, sparing no lives. A mountain of corpses rose high. And the blood from the fateful battle Flowed like a red river. And everywhere there were groans, curses, screams, You could not distinguish strangers from your own. Zholoya er-Chubak caught up, Pierced him through with a spear, But then the Chinese khan Ushan Drove a spear into Chubak's side. And the
Social and Professional Structure. The Kyrgyz did not have closed caste associations, typical of the settled population of Turkestan, except for the so-called chosen ones of the spirits - carriers of special knowledge and skills of a religious-mystical nature, although sometimes such people were also newcomers from outside. It was not necessary to have wealthy and noble ancestors to gain authority among one's tribesmen; the main thing was to show energy and skill, courage, and bravery.
Part - 3 Meanwhile, the dzhigit who stole the stone and threw Chotur into the well arrived in Baghdad and presented the magical stone to the Baghdad padishah. In gratitude for the gift, the padishah appointed him as his vizier. Soon, Chotur also reached Baghdad. The treacherous dzhigit saw him, went to the padishah, and said: — A homeless young man has arrived in our city. He is plotting evil against you. He must be killed at all costs! The padishah ordered to capture Chotur and throw him into
The Beginning of the Battle Karagul rushed to the khan And informed Konurbai That the cunning Almanbet Had stolen the entire herd of Kyrgyz. — I will pierce the traitor and fugitive Through and through with my spear Or I will capture him alive! Binding him, I will bring him to the square, And publicly cut off his head! — Roared Konurbai in anger. In the narrow gorge on both sides Almanbet and Syrgak lay in wait, To set up an ambush there, To wipe out the troops from above, And to capture
Yutaza (a dish made from sour dough, steamed) Yutaza is a national dish of Kyrgyz cuisine that will appeal to those who love steamed dishes. It is a very interesting yet simple recipe. Yutaza is made from yeast dough, which is greased with oil, rolled into tubes, and steamed. Ingredients:
Yurts of Rich Herdsmen vs. Dwellings of Poor Shepherds The yurts of rich herdsmen were usually large: they consisted of ten or more lattice segments. Such yurts were commonly referred to as "ordo uy." While fulfilling orders for wooden parts of yurts for wealthy individuals, craftsmen connected the lattice framework with silver hinges; each dome pole, and sometimes even the wooden rim, was adorned with silver decorative plates. Special attention was paid to the decoration of the yurt
The Death of Manas. In Talas that night, Kanikei woke up in fear from a terrible dream. The heavy-horned gray bull Roars by the riverbank. Is my sultan Alma really lost? The white falcon Akshumkar, who chased the raven, Suddenly lost his wings. Has Chubak, my sultan's friend, Met with terrible misfortune? Has my priceless Syrgak really died? The tall chinar Helplessly bent towards Kybla, By the golden throne, on which my sultan sat, When he was the khan of eighteen nations, One leg broke.
Social Hierarchy of Men A man was considered the continuation of the family line, the heir to family traditions, and the life and safety of the family and clan depended on his actions. A boy was raised in harsh conditions. His life consisted of the following stages: infancy - bala chak, childhood - testier, adolescence - balagat boz ulan, young adulthood - zhigit, maturity - chon kisi, old age - aksakal, and elder - abyshka, chal. From an early age, boys were introduced to work. Their
Part - 2 Chotur thanked his friend, said goodbye, and set off on the road that his adoptive father had advised him against. Terrifying beasts ran out to meet him from time to time, but they did him no harm. Chotur traveled for a long time, grew tired, and decided to rest. He dismounted from his horse, tied it up, and let it graze. He then sat down to the side. At that moment, he noticed a snake skin.
In reconnaissance They came to the valley of Teshik-Tash, Where fragrant flowers Bloom on the meadows, Fruit gardens are in bloom And tea bushes grow in the fields. Here Almanbet dismounted from his horse. He fell face down into the grass And, like a child, began to cry: — Forgive me, my land! Syrgak, this is my homeland! My mother gave birth to me here, And from the umbilical cord, The native land accepted my blood. Here along the riverbank I ran barefoot in my childhood. Over there, under
Salad "Zhanilyk" The salad belongs to Kyrgyz cuisine and features a very interesting combination of ingredients. It is served with greens and canned cherries. The salad is hearty and meaty, enough to feed 4-5 people! Ingredients:
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
The Great Campaign. The Wounding of Manas and the Return of the Kyrgyz to Talas. Part-3 When Almambet was in battle, Konurbai sent the eloquent Changtiybes as an envoy to Manas and asked to suspend the battle for seven days. Manas agreed and announced a seven-day truce. Hearing this, Almambet was very upset and said to Manas:
CHOTUR THE ORPHAN. Part-1 In ancient times, in different parts of the vast steppe, there lived two herders — Aalybay and Musabay. They had countless sheep. The herders constantly migrated with their flocks. One day, Aalybay and Musabay met and became friends. But they were not together for long — it was time to drive the flocks to other places.
SOCIAL HIERARCHY OF WOMEN Reliable information about the social structure of the Kyrgyz people can be found in various sources from the second half of the 19th century. During the Soviet period, social relations were viewed from the perspective of class struggle theory. While not denying social and property differentiation, it should be noted that the system of social relations functioned on the basis of patriarchal-clan relationships. Different strata of society can be grouped according to
The Quarrel of Chubak and Almanbet The head of the warriors, Kyrgyl, At forty, he still sinned. A well-known adulterer, He did no good for the people, He was known as a gossip in the folk. And once he spread a rumor That at night Chubak Met secretly with Kanikei. Learning that Almanbet and Syrgak Had gone on reconnaissance to Beijin, He said to Chubak in front of the warriors: — Son of Khan Akbalta, Chubak! Didn’t know you were such a fool. Though you are a Noygut hero, You are lower than a
Khoshan Khoshans are the Kyrgyz version of the well-known dish called manti. The general cooking technique is indeed similar. However, while manti are steamed in a steamer, khoshans are browned in a pan and then stewed in a small amount of water. The difference in taste is simply colossal; each dish has its own charm. Ingredients:
Yurt of the Laylak District (above), yurt of the Alay Valley (below). Motifs of the appliqué ornament on the dome of the yurt (right). 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,
The Great Campaign. The Wounding of Manas and the Return of the Kyrgyz to Talas. Part-2 Meanwhile, Konurbay was plotting something sinister. He was relentlessly thinking of a plan to kill Manas. He could not sleep at night, nor find peace during the day because of this thought. Manas' palace was guarded by forty choro and Kyrgyl. They drove away anyone who approached him with words, if someone understood their language, or with the point of spears and the edge of swords, if someone did
KYOCHPESBAI AND HIS SON SHUKURBEK Once upon a time, in ancient times, there lived two rich men. One was named Kyocherbai the Wanderer, and the other Kyochpesbai the Settler. Kyocherbai would migrate with his herds to the summer pastures of the jailoo every spring and return for wintering in late autumn. Kyochpesbai, on the other hand, never migrated anywhere and always lived in one place. But one year, Kyochpesbai's livestock completely ate all the grass around his camp, and he was forced
Transformation of Land Use Among the Kyrgyz There existed a patronage system that was most vividly manifested in wealthy collectives. Affluent leaders distributed the products of collective labor, expanded networks of social ties, and provided legal protection for their wards. Community heads were consulted for advice and assistance, and they had to find solutions to complex situations. This contributed to the development of a paternalistic psychology. The paradox was that, on one hand, any
Appointment of Almanbet as Commander-in-Chief In the valley of the Sary-Tal river The warriors on the march Set up a large camp. They stuck their spears in the soft ground, Threw their swords into the bushes, And let the horses graze. Some, escaping the heat, Bathed naked in the river, Others slept under the tent. Having trampled the grass in a circle, They organized a game of ordo. Appointing a large baiga, They played toguz-korgol here. As if a thousand troops Had set off on a great campaign
Boman-boza. This dish is prepared similarly to khoshan, but instead of frying, it is steamed, like manti. Boman-boza is round in shape. In the classic version, boman-boza is made from lamb and tail fat.
Components of the Yurt To understand the fastening system of the components of the yurt, it is necessary to sequentially examine the order of its installation. As is the case everywhere among the Kyrgyz, the installation of the yurt is the responsibility of women (men only helped to lift the heavy hoop). First, the door frame is set up, and the lattice walls are stretched, placing them in a circle. The edges are connected by tying them with twine or narrow woven tape (ribbon). The top of the
The Great Campaign. The Wounding of Manas and the Return of the Kyrgyz to Talas. Manas imposed a heavy tribute on Beidzhin. Meanwhile, Konurbai fled to the farthest Beidzhin to Karakhan and told him about the defeat that Manas inflicted on them. - This spawn, the villain Manas, will not leave us alive, - he concluded his story and wept.
The Great Campaign to China. Part - 2 As dawn broke in the skies, On the helmets of fierce warriors, On sharp peaks it played A reflected glimmer from the sun. Like a sign of war it fluttered The red banner with a green spear, So that the enemy could see and tremble. From the warriors marching to battle, The earth trembled beneath their feet. And ahead on Ak-Kul, With an impenetrable shield, With a merciless sword, Ach-albars, In all his glory Under the red flag stood Khan Manas. Like a fierce
The Bald Shepherd This happened a long time ago. A noble warrior named Sokbay was riding across the steppe when he saw an immense herd of cows in a valley by the river. A bald young shepherd, bold and fierce, was tending the herd. The noble warrior approached the shepherd, greeted him, and asked: — Whose herd is this? The shepherd was surprised.
Practice of Material Support for Economically Weak Members of the Community Communities were usually heterogeneous in social composition: they included both prosperous herders and the poor. Often, the latter would join wealthier relatives, which allowed them to migrate and support their families. In the 19th to early 20th centuries, there was a widespread practice of material support for economically weak members of the community.
The Great Campaign. Victory over Konurbai. Part - 2 Manas inflicted a bloody massacre on the Chinese, driving many into the turbulent waves of the Sarysu. Konurbai could not stop his fleeing army, became confused, and, without engaging in battle with Manas, fled as well. Half of the Chinese troops, fleeing from the slaughter, perished, drowning in the river. Konurbai sent a messenger to Beijing, and a new numerous army arrived from there, led by Madykan-doo. But Almambet, before their arrival,
Jumshak-et (soft meat) This culinary recipe is intended for all lovers of authentic Asian cuisine. Jumshak-et is a dish from Kyrgyzstan, where people love to cook food from lamb and its offal. Method of preparation: For the filling, chop the raw fat, onion, and garlic into small cubes, finely chop the jussai, drizzle with vinegar, mix, and leave to marinate for 1-2 hours, then add the steamed rice. Rinse the meat, clean it from membranes and tendons, cut it into 4 portions, slightly pound it,
Yurt Walls The walls of the yurt (kerege) are retractable. They consist of a lattice of sticks that are given a curved shape on a machine called tez. When the yurt is set up, this curve is noticeable; the wall has a slightly convex shape outward at its lower part. The length of the sticks depends on the size of the yurt (ranging from 200 to 290 cm). The upper part of the sticks, like those of the dome, is flattened. The diameter of the middle part of the stick is 2.5–3 cm. To drill holes in
The Great Campaign to China On the forty-first day in the morning On the argamak Ak-Kula Manas rode out to the square. And twenty warriors-choro Galloped to his left, And as many fierce fighters Galloped to his right — His loyal guard. The restless dobulbas Thundered like thunder across all Talas. With anger unhidden, Our enraged lion looked at the khans. — Bring everyone to me here! — He ordered his choro. The khans appeared at once. And now they stand before him, Shaking hands timidly and
ALYKE AND BARYPZHAN There lived two friends named Sarykan and Karakan. Sarykan had a son, Alyke, and Karakan had a daughter, Barypzhan. Soon, Karakan moved with his family far to the west.
Kydyr (the elder) with his family in front of their yurt. Mountain Semirechye, Kyrgyzstan. Aksu District, Karakol County. First third of the 20th century. Joint Labor of Community Members The community was managed by the elders of the village (ayil aksakals) - representatives of the older generation who held high social status and were identified by their names. The aksakals resolved economic and social issues, governed based on leadership qualities and real personal authority. They bore moral
Tan-mosho Ingredients: 0.5-1 liter of liquid (milk, water, or a mixture of both), 1/2 cup of vegetable oil or 3-4 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1-2 tablespoons of sugar, 20-50 g of yeast, 1-1.2 kg of flour (the amount of flour depends on its quality).
Dome Poles for the Yurt The process of making the wooden frame of the yurt proceeds as follows. The prepared wood is dried by the craftsman, stripped of its bark, planed with a tartky, and shaped to the required thickness and form. All parts of the frame, except for the frame itself, are subjected to bending.
The Great Campaign. Victory over Konurbay. Almambet and Syrgak, having left Beidzhin, crossed the Sary-Suu River and encountered numerous herds of horses on their way. Seeing them, they sent their spare horse Kartkyureng to lead all the herds towards Manas's troops. Almambet and Syrgak beat the drums, fired several shots from their rifles, and began to drive the herds. (58). Noticing this, the Chinese herder Janibay, leading forty herders on his red stallion, attacked Almambet and Syrgak.
The Arrival of the Envoys to Manas Six envoys rushed From six noble clans On a long journey to the Talas River, Where Khan Manas set his throne. And there they saw: Gates with a stone wall Shining under golden paint. A ravine filled with water, So that the enemy could not approach, And a powerful guard around. The envoys, not knowing what to do, Stood for a long time at the gates, Not knowing how or where to start: Knock on the door or shout, Until Zhoronchu-Kazakh Appeared before their eyes.
The family of Kokumbai Chinin with a native borzoi and a trained golden eagle. Village of Kyzyl, Pishpek District, Mountain Semirechye. 1925. COMMUNITY The community, as one of the main traditional institutions, played a key role in the social structure of the Kyrgyz. Alongside the family and tribe, it served as the basic social structure upon which the entire system of social relations was built. This type of community of people had both social and economic functions aimed at ensuring the
The Great Campaign. The Story of Alambet. Er Manas, how could it be, That I do not know the location of Beidzhin? How could I not know The ancient Beidzhin that you see in the distance? This is the place where I ran in my youth in an open dress, This is the place where my mother gave birth to me, This is the place where my umbilical cord was cut, This is the place where I grew from small to big. Day by day I had successes. In that great Beidzhin visible in the distance, There it is, standing
