Culture / Kyrgyz cuisine

The Food Culture of the Kyrgyz in the Second Half of the 19th Century.

The Food Culture of the Kyrgyz The formation of the traditional food culture of the Kyrgyz went through several stages, determined by the peculiarities of ethnic history, economic structure, and ethnocultural contacts with neighboring peoples. The first fragmentary information about the peculiarities of Kyrgyz food from the second half of the 19th century is found in reports, accounts, and works of travelers and scholars who visited Kyrgyz lands before and after its annexation to the Russian

18.10.2020, 13:16

Kyrgyz heroic epic "Manas"

Short Biographies of the Most Famous Manaschi

The Most Famous Manaschi The modern storyteller Shapak Urysmendiev was born in 1863 in what is now the Chuy region, in a family of farmers. In his childhood, he began working in agriculture and later lived off the income from it. The profession of a singer was a side endeavor for him as a lover of the art. Shapak did not receive formal education but can read. He became a true storyteller only as an adult, although he had known and performed separate excerpts from the epic before that.

16.10.2020, 17:30

Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Tale of the Clever Boy

HOW THE BOY SAVED HIS CITY In ancient times, there lived a warlike khan named Zhanibek. He became famous for his brutal raids on neighboring khanates. One day, the countless armies of Khan Zhanibek besieged the city of Khan Sultanmamyt. The inhabitants of the besieged city were told by the enemies: — If you do not surrender within three days, we will destroy your city!

16.10.2020, 17:16

Meat and offal dishes

Tandoor Samsa

Tandoor Samsa Of course, nothing compares to samsa from a tandoor! If you have the opportunity to use a tandoor, the samsa made at home will be incredibly delicious, aromatic, and appetizing. INGREDIENTS

06.10.2020, 16:16

The epic "Manas" in prose

The Tale of Manas. Remembrance of Kököktöy. Part - 2

Memorial for Kökötöy. Part - 2 The people rejoiced in the freedom of the new pasture. It was convenient for the livestock and suitable for memorial feasts. Then the people began to prepare for the noisy feast, searching the surroundings for sources of clean water and gathering fuel.

03.10.2020, 08:55

Poetic retelling of the epic "Manas"

The Epic of "Manas". The Tale of How Manas's Relative Kozkaman Wanted to Poison Him with Poison

A tale of how Manas' relative Kozkaman wanted to poison him with poison Hey! The head of all khans, Esenkhan, Gave an order to the satraps: To go to Manas and kill him! To whoever accomplishes this, He promised publicly To reward them with a khanship. When the invader Alooke Drove the Kyrgyz from their homeland, The descendant of Orozdu — Usen Took the name Kozkaman for himself, And stayed hidden there. No Chinese knew That Kozkaman was Kyrgyz. And so Kozkaman decided With his elder son

02.10.2020, 15:59

Kyrgyz heroic epic "Manas"

The title translates to "Togolok Moldo and Sayakbay Karalaev."

Togolok Moldo and Sayakbay Karalaev Sayakbay Karalaev The most outstanding storyteller of our time is Sayakbay Karalaev from the Bugy clan. He was born in 1894 in what is now the Jeti-Oguz district of the Issyk-Kul region. His father was a poor man. From childhood, Sayakbay worked as a hired laborer. In 1916, the 22-year-old young man participated in the uprising of the Kyrgyz people and fled to China with some comrades, but was detained by tsarist soldiers on the way. Some of those detained

30.09.2020, 13:24

Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Tale of the Clever Karachach

ZHÉERENCHÉ-CHÉCHEN AND KARACHACH In ancient times, there lived a man named Zhéerenché-chéchen. Chéchen means "eloquent." He was nicknamed this because he was wise and resourceful in conversation. He had a son named Telemyrza, about whom the wise Zhéerenché heard every day from the people: "He is such a deceiver, such a liar; he has never spoken a single word of truth in his life." Telemyrza would kill a crow and boast that he had killed a gazelle. In reality, he could do

29.09.2020, 22:37

Drinks of Kyrgyzstan

Bal - a Sweet Drink among the Kyrgyz

Bal (sweet drink) Popular among the Kyrgyz, bal is a sweet hot drink made from honey with the addition of black ground pepper, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and bay leaves. Ingredients:

27.09.2020, 22:43

The epic "Manas" in prose

The Tale of Manas. Remembrance of Kököktöy. Part - 1

Mourning for Kökötöy Kökötöy, the khan of Tashkent, had eleven daughters but no sons, and this saddened his heart. The daughter of the mergen, the beautiful Bektoru, fell in love with the batyr Töshtük and became pregnant by him. When Töshtük was about to leave, Bektoru asked him: - Tell me, what should I do with the child that lives in my womb, as your amanat?

24.09.2020, 21:07

Poetic retelling of the epic "Manas"

The Epic of "Manas". The Marriage of Manas to Kanikey

The Marriage of Manas to Kanikei Hey! Manas, who had two wives, Lived in this world for thirty years. And he often began to grieve, That until now there were no children. And Karabork and Akylai Managed to get along with each other And share their husband at night, But they could not together Give Manas a son. Seeing how his friend was sorrowing, Almanbet said to Manas: — Although you have two wives, At thirty years old, you are still a bachelor. You did not court them at all, And did not go

21.09.2020, 23:15

Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Tale of the Foolish Khan

THE FOOLISH KHAN In ancient times, there lived a rich khan. He had plenty of livestock, but not much wisdom. One day, this khan called his son to him and said: — My son, I have heard that there lives a wise old woman in the neighboring aul. I want to hear her advice. You go and invite her to me, but do not tell anyone about this. The son agreed, but immediately told his companions about his father's request and ordered them to bring the old woman. The khan's son met her.

20.09.2020, 20:19

Ethnography

The Horse Tack of the Kyrgyz in the 18th-20th Centuries.

Horse Equipment. The horse harness kit, known as jabdyk (also abzel in southwestern regions, am abzeli), included: saddle (eer, eger), stirrups with straps (uzyongulor, boolorumenen), potfei, flanks or crupper (kuyushkan), girth or breastplate (komelduruk), girths with strings to secure the blanket or cushion to the saddle (basmayyldar, kyopchuk bastyrgych byshtandary menen), saddle pads or underlays for the saddle (zheldikter, zha-azdar), sweat cloth with a sweat cloth roof (terdik, ichmegi

19.09.2020, 22:09

Kyrgyz heroic epic "Manas"

The First Recordings of the Texts of Sagymbay Orozbakov

The First Records of the Texts of the Epic "Manas" Until now, we have mentioned those storytellers of "Manas" from whom no recordings were made. We now turn to the biographies of the second group of singers, from whom full-fledged recordings of the texts were made in a scientific context. The first of this group is Sagymbay Orozbakov. The great akyn (Chon akyn), as the people called him, was born in 1867 in the locality of Kabyra in the Issyk-Kul valley. His father was a

16.09.2020, 16:08

Sweet dishes of Kyrgyzstan

Khalvaitar – Kyrgyz Sauce for Flour Dishes

Halvaitar — a liquid halvah-like mixture. Ingredients: 100 g of lamb fat or melted butter 100 g of nut kernels 1 cup of flour 1 cup of granulated sugar 1—3 cups of water 0.25 tsp of vanillin Preparation: In different countries of Central Asia, it is made with varying consistencies by diluting with different amounts of water, but within the limits specified above. First, heat the fat or oil, cool it down, add the flour, and stir while placing it back on the heat, gently warming it until the

14.09.2020, 14:07

Poetic retelling of the epic "Manas"

The Epic "Manas". The Tale of How Almanbet Came to Manas

The Tale of How Almanbet Came to Manas The khan Manas gathered the heroes And said: — I look at you And see boredom and despair. Intrigues, gossip, fuss — There’s no escaping them anywhere. The native land beneath our feet — There’s no reason for us to go to battle. There’s no need for military campaigns — Our steeds are growing fat. Now all that’s left for us Is to grow fat, grow old, and die. What a bore! Damn it! Maybe we should all go hunting? Like in battle, To amuse our hands there,

11.09.2020, 12:56

The epic "Manas" in prose

The Tale of Manas. The Conspiracy of the Kozkamans

THE CONSPIRACY OF KOZKAMANS Years passed, and the Kyrgyz lived peacefully with one another. But this very peace troubled their enemies. One day, the Kangai ruler Esen, disturbed by the well-being of his neighbors and fearing that difficult days might come for his own people, gathered all forty clans of the Kalmyks, Kara-Kitay, and Manchus and began his speech as follows: – Listen everyone and do not say later that you did not hear. The Kyrgyz ruler Manas has united all his tribes into one

04.09.2020, 13:03

Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Tale of the Wise Girl

The Wise Girl In ancient times, there lived a khan named Sarybay. One day he gathered his people and said to them: — For forty years I have been your khan and have seen much during this time; I have drunk and eaten as much as was destined for me. Now I have only to die, but I have no children to whom I can pass on the khanate. Choose for yourselves a new khan. And Sarybay's people replied: — You appoint us a new khan!

02.09.2020, 22:16

Meat and offal dishes

Manti - a traditional Central Asian dish of the Kyrgyz people

A traditional Central Asian dish with Chinese roots. Manti consists of dough filled with meat, steamed in a special pot called a kaskana (manti steamer). Manti can also be prepared in a steamer if a manti steamer is not available. The filling can vary. Primarily, it includes meat (lamb, beef, chicken, pork). Vegetable manti, manti with herbs, and cottage cheese are also made. In Kyrgyzstan, the most common filling for manti is finely chopped lamb or beef with onions. Often, pumpkin or jussai

01.09.2020, 21:24

Ethnography

Jewelry of Kyrgyz Women in the 18th-20th Centuries.

Women's Jewelry by Kyrgyz Jewelers Women's jewelry made by local jewelers is an essential attribute of the traditional attire of a Kyrgyz woman. The ancient wedding headdress—shekulë—is richly decorated and consists of a tall cap on a frame, adorned with rows of stamped silver plates, coral threads, and glass beads. The set of a woman's adornments included various earrings: stamped (round, oval, pear-shaped), usually made of two joined halves, as well as forged ones with simple

01.09.2020, 12:53

Kyrgyz heroic epic "Manas"

"Storytellers 'Manasa', from whom no recordings were made"

First Singers The collection and study of biographical data on the singers of the "Manas" epic began only after the Great October Socialist Revolution. Therefore, the material we have is primarily a description of the life and activities of those singers who lived relatively recently or are still alive today. The further away from our era the singer lived, the more scarce the information about him becomes. For a number of singers from the 19th century, we only have fragmentary data

30.08.2020, 13:37

Poetic retelling of the epic "Manas"

The Epic of "Manas". The Tale of How Almanbet Came to the Kazakh Khan Kokche

The Tale of How Almanbet Came to the Kazakh Khan Kokche Hey! Having fled from China, Almanbet Wandered the world for many days, And arrived on the vast steppes In the blessed Sar-Arka, Where the Kazakh hero Aydarkan Ruled for many years with his son. Seeing the traveler in the distance, Kokche's son came out to meet him. — Who are you? Where are you headed? What fate has brought you to us? And according to the steppe tradition, Taste some food, and then You will get to know me! — My

27.08.2020, 12:09

The epic "Manas" in prose

The Tale of Manas. The Marriage of Manas to Kanikei

MARRIAGE OF MANAS TO KANIKEI "If he does not peacefully hand over the populous Bukhara, I will attack the city and take it by force," thought the grim and frowning Chubak, who had left Alai with a firm intention to seize the throne of the Bukhara khan, Temir. His battle horse, Kogala, crushed stones into dust with every step, racing forward like a fearsome bird, while the hero, girded with a double-edged damask sword, led a numerous army, riding atop his horse. When he reached the

24.08.2020, 20:54

The epic "Manas" in prose

The Tale of Manas. Almanbet in the Camp of Manas

THE HERO ALMANBET IN THE CAMP OF MANAS In the camp of Karaborka with iron gates, having spread several layers of blankets under himself, placing a few down pillows under his head, stretching out his arms and legs, the hero Manas sweetly slept – and dreamed a dream. He dreamed that while riding along a foothill path, he found a sword in a sheath with a golden tip, and that sword was three to four arshins long, with a copper handle and a smooth grip, with a curved blade and the sharpest edge. He

19.08.2020, 15:57

Kyrgyz heroic epic "Manas"

Elements of Household Life in the Epic "Manas"

Characteristics of the socio-economic stages of development of the Kyrgyz people in the epic "Manas" The epic of the Kyrgyz people "Manas" glorifies the feats of the legendary Kyrgyz hero Manas and narrates many social and domestic events related to his life and activities. The significance of the epic for characterizing the socio-economic stages of development of the Kyrgyz people is immense. In "Manas," we see a reflection of clan, patriarchal-tribal, and

18.08.2020, 22:44

Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Tale of the Ungrateful Owl

HAWK AND OWL Once upon a time, there was an owl. One day, she fell seriously ill and could not fly out of her nest for food. Then the owl turned to the hawk: — Hawk, my hero, do a good deed — help me. The hawk agreed. He began to feed the sick owl and take care of her. The owl got better.

17.08.2020, 21:23

Ethnography

Kyrgyz Blacksmiths and Jewelers of the 18th-20th Centuries

Blacksmithing and Jewelry Art. The processing of metals, known to the Kyrgyz since ancient times, and the technical and artistic techniques developed by the 18th-20th centuries, reveal continuity with ancient traditions. Blacksmiths (temirchi, temirusta, kara usta, and in northern regions sometimes darqan) provided tools and equipment for crafts, agricultural production, and household industries. The master performed all the work himself: preparing the metal, making products, and finishing

17.08.2020, 21:14

Meat and offal dishes

Asip is a dish of Kyrgyz cuisine.

Asip (sausage) Asip is a lamb sausage made from offal with rice. This dish is part of Kyrgyz cuisine, and it's not too difficult to prepare. Well, maybe a little more complicated than making cutlets. Cooking description:

13.08.2020, 21:43

Poetic retelling of the epic "Manas"

The Epic of "Manas". The Tale of Almanbet

Tale of Almanbet Hey! At that time, China was ruled by The sons of Khan-Kakanchyna: Esen, Kary, Alooke And the youngest brother Aziz. One day the brothers gathered, They came to Esen's palace: They finally decided To marry off the younger Aziz. He was already over twenty-five, But still could not Find a bride for himself. And Esen-khan himself commanded To gather beautiful maidens From fifteen to twenty — To choose the highest beauty. From the Huanghe to the Irtysh, And from the Amur to

11.08.2020, 19:36

The epic "Manas" in prose

The Tale of Manas. Almanbet Comes to Kochcho. Part 2

Almanbet Comes to Kokcho. Part 2 Drunken Kokcho sometimes came to his senses and could barely see Almanbet before him. – You have Akerketch on your mind, you have been watching over her for a long time. You are thinking about Akerketch, you are keeping an eye on her anyway, – mumbled Kokcho.

06.08.2020, 06:00

The epic "Manas" in prose

The Tale of Manas. Almanbet Comes to Kokcho. Part 1

ALMANBET COMES TO KOKCHO Almanbet and Majik reached the vast main bay of Kyl-Ertish and stopped there. Almanbet took a telescope in his hands and surveyed the wide steppe stretching in the shimmering heat, looking around. On the shore of Kyl-Ertish, he saw countless people, and in the middle – on a purebred stallion, on a light horse with gray apples, sat proudly a stately hero. The hero descended from the hill and greeted Majik in Kalmyk, then they joined the majority. This was the hero

05.08.2020, 15:37

Kyrgyz heroic epic "Manas"

Tashim Uulu Mar — the first Russian-speaking Manaschi

[/h2] [h2]About the poem "The Tale of Manas". The creative individuality of the writer is most vividly manifested in the poetic vocabulary — the lexicon of the work. The foundation of "The Tale of Manas" as a Russian-language work is, of course, Russian vocabulary. It is presented, as required by the laws of the folk epic, in various speech variants (everyday, colloquial, military, jargon, etc.) and different stylistic layers (common vocabulary,

01.08.2020, 10:48

Drinks of Kyrgyzstan

Bozo - a natural, national drink of the Kyrgyz people

Bozo A natural, national drink of the Kyrgyz people. It is very beneficial for women and children, while men prefer to drink it on the 3rd or 4th day. At that point, bozo acquires a slight alcoholic degree but does not lose its beneficial properties. Bozo effectively raises hemoglobin levels and strengthens the immune system. Bozo is made from crushed or coarsely ground millet, corn, wheat, or rice. The most delicious and strong bozo is made from millet and corn. The base of bozo is ugut

30.07.2020, 06:00

Poetic retelling of the epic "Manas"

The Epic of "Manas". The Tale of How Manas, Upset with His Father, Left the Khan's Throne

A Tale of How Manas, Offended by His Father, Left the Khan's Throne and Took Up Farming In Talas, the valiant Manas Established his khan's throne, Created a strong state. Brave warriors came from all sides To serve him, To protect the people and the land. And he gave each one a horse, Clothes, a shield, a spear, and a sword. He taught the art of battle, Organized races and wrestling, Generously distributing prizes. All around was peace and quiet. Grass grew, livestock thrived, On the

27.07.2020, 19:05

Kyrgyz fairy tales

The Tale of the Greedy Wolf

THE INSATIABLE GLUTTON DIES OF HUNGER In ancient times, there lived a wolf. And this wolf was very rich — he owned a lot of land. The wolf was rich, but very greedy and insatiable. He often roamed in search of prey. One day, the wolf came across a piece of kazy — horse sausage — on the road. The wolf was delighted.

27.07.2020, 18:57

Ethnography

Leather Products among the Kyrgyz in the Late 19th - Early 20th Centuries

Leather. From the leather and hides of domestic and wild animals - horses, cows, camels, yaks, sheep, goats, foxes, martens, otters, mountain goats, and roe deer (Aitbaev, Ivanov, 1968, pp. 123-131) clothing was made (men's outer fur coats, hats, belts for elderly women, open skirts), footwear, dishes, household items, and horse harnesses. Lambskins (korne) were most often used for clothing. At home, the leather was cleaned, dyed, tanned, softened by hand or on a leather softener

22.07.2020, 10:35

Kyrgyz fairy tales

Tales of the Greedy Crow and the Cunning Cat

THE GREEDY CROW Once, a crow decided to hatch some chicks. She laid eggs, but it seemed to her that there weren't enough. When she saw that her neighbor—the hawk—had flown away, she sneaked into his nest and stole 2 hawk eggs. She brought them back, placed them with her own eggs, and began to incubate them. The chicks hatched. The crow started to feed them. Soon, the young crows grew up, got their feathers, became strong, and began to leave the nest.

20.07.2020, 15:37

Poetic retelling of the epic "Manas"

The Epic "Manas". The Tale of How the Afghan Khan-Shoruk Suffered Defeat from the Kyrgyz

The Defeat of Afghan Khan Shooruk by the Kyrgyz Hey! In the south, where Alay lies, And nearby is Afghanistan (Where the Pashtuns live), The ruler of the maiymunduk tribe, The self-satisfied Khan Shooruk, Decided to subdue the Kyrgyz, To drive away all their livestock and herds, To push them far into the mountains. Shooruk had a family, children: Three sons, two daughters. And the eldest daughter Akylai Was gentle, slender in form And distinguished from others By her intelligence and bright

20.07.2020, 14:35

Kyrgyz fairy tales

The title translates to "The Tale 'Who is Stronger?'"

WHO IS STRONGER? Once upon a time, a colorful Pheasant was running about his business when he unexpectedly slipped on the ice and fell. "Who knocked me onto my back?" he thought in confusion. — Ice, Ice, did you do this? — asked the frightened Pheasant. — Where do you get such strength?

17.07.2020, 03:00

The epic "Manas" in prose

The Tale of Manas. The Departure of the Hero Alambet from His People

The Departure of the Hero Almambet from His People In Beijing, China, there appeared a khan named Alooke. His son was similar to his father in every way, and everyone trembled in fear at the sound of his voice; all people feared his glory – he quickly became famous for his cruelty. He began his unjust deeds at the age of nine, and by eleven, the numerous people of China, unable to bear his demands, scattered across the world. At thirteen, he sowed discord among the people, killed a monk, and

16.07.2020, 21:47

Meat and offal dishes

Susamyr - Beefsteak in Kyrgyz Style

Susamyr (Beefsteak) In Kyrgyzstan, food made from lamb is very popular. This culinary recipe is one of the Kyrgyz recipes that does not follow this rule. It is made from beef. If you want to surprise your guests, prepare the "Susamyr" beefsteak. Beef tenderloin is cut across the grain, lightly beaten, trying to give each piece the shape of a patty.

15.07.2020, 06:00

Kyrgyz heroic epic "Manas"

The Traditional Feature of the Epic "Manas"

The Epic "Manas" — A True Encyclopedia of Kyrgyz Life in Historical Time In "The Tale of Manas" by M. Baidzhiev, there are many monologues, sought out by the experienced hand of the playwright. Some of them (Kanykey's appeal to Almanbet before the Great Campaign, Almanbet's monologue upon encountering his territory, Manas's prayer, Manas's last will) are perceived as independent excerpts of text. At the same time, M. Baidzhiev, as a playwright, shows an

13.07.2020, 12:24

Ethnography

Wooden Products of the Kyrgyz in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

Wooden Products Wooden products have long been widely used in everyday life. Wood craftsmen (жыгач уста) valued poplar (терек), willow (тал), juniper (арча), birch (кайын), black wood (кайрагач, кара жыгач), apricot (врук), walnut (жангак), apple (алма жыгач), and other trees. They primarily worked on orders, and each craftsman had their own specialization (Burkovsky, 1954, p. 96; Antipina, 1962, p. 144; Cherkasova, 1968, pp. 132, 133; Kapalbaev, 2007). From local wood species, they made the

01.07.2020, 22:44

Poetic retelling of the epic "Manas"

The Epic of "Manas". The Tale of How Khan Alooke, Upon Seeing Manas, Fled from Fergana

A Tale of How Khan Alooke, Upon Seeing Manas, Fled from Fergana In the hands of the Chinese was then Our blessed Turkestan. The people were ruled in Fergana By the Chinese Khan Alooke. Cruel and merciless was This Khan to the Turkic peoples. And whoever did not flatter him, Was slaughtered like a sheep. To poverty he brought the people With a burdensome tax. One hundred thousand ingots of gold And as many sable skins Were collected only in Margilan. And all the pretty maidens He took into his

28.06.2020, 19:43

The epic "Manas" in prose

The Tale of Manas. Proclamation of Manas as Khan

VICTORY OVER ALOOKE AND THE PROCLAMATION OF MANAS AS KHAN The pursuers chased the enemy day and night and reached the shores of Kum-Aryk. When dawn broke and it began to lighten, the troops of Alooke crossed the Shyta-Kechuu and Tash-Kechuu by wading, and at the very foothills, the wise Bakai ascended to survey the surroundings. At that time, in the area of Boyrok, by the shores of the Great Ak-Chiya, the hero Alooke sat in a white tent adorned with golden cords. Clouds of smoke billowed – the

23.06.2020, 12:37

Kyrgyz heroic epic "Manas"

8 Thousand Lines of "The Tale of Manas" by M. Baidzhiev

Innovation of M. Baidzhiev What dramatic elements did M. Baidzhiev transform in 'The Epic of Manas'? Action, characterized by activity, purposefulness, and density; conflict, defining the unity of action; "self-assertive" manifestation of characters through actions and direct speech of the characters. Naturally, this required a transformation of the epic form of 'Manas'. M. Baidzhiev practically abandoned repetitions — brief retellings of events preceding new

19.06.2020, 11:06

Ethnography

Embroidery and Patterned Chia Mats

Embroidery. This ancient art was the most accessible activity for girls and women. Embroidery adorned many household items (Chepelevetskaya, 1968. p. 78, 79; Antipina, 1962. pp. 97-124; Satybaldieva, 2008). Many embroidered items were part of the dowry that a mother prepared for her daughter with the help of relatives.

19.06.2020, 10:41

Meat and offal dishes

Dish of Kyrgyz cuisine — lamb stuffed with tail fat

Lamb Stuffed with Tail Fat Ingredients lamb 180 g garlic 5 g jussai (Chinese chives) 10 g tail fat 15 g radish 70 g onion 40 g bell pepper 30 g fresh tomatoes 20 g tomato paste 10 g eggplant 30 g pattypan squash 50 g salt, pepper to taste.

15.06.2020, 23:16