“Hudud al-Alam” on the Kyrgyz
In the anonymous 10th-century work “Hudud al-Alam,” in the chapter “On the Mountains and the Mines Located in Them,” it is stated: “And another mountain rises from the very beginning of the border of the Toghuzghuz, near Lake Issyk-Kul, stretching all the way to the end (of the territory) of the Tukhsi and the beginning of the Khallukh border, and then it turns; its spur enters the territory of one of the Khyrgyz tribes. This mountain is called Tulas. On this mountain, sable is found, as well as many gray squirrels and musk gazelles. And in that spur, which goes towards the territory of the Khyrgyz, there are musk deer, deer with hut horns, gray squirrels, and sable.” It is evident that this refers to the aforementioned “Talas” Kyrgyz. The description in the above episode goes from east to west, which is clear not only from the sequence in which this information is presented but also from the very title of the aforementioned work, which is fully named — “Kitab Hudud al-Alam-min al-Mashrak ila-l-Maghrib” (“Book on the Limits of the World from East to West”).
“Talas” Kyrgyz and Talas
According to “On the Territory of the Tukhsi and Its Cities” in “Hudud al-Alam,” it states: “To the east of it (i.e., the territory of the Tukhsi — E. u. K.) are the borders (settlements) of the Chigils, to the south — the Khallukh and forested mountains, to the west of it — a group of Khyrgyz, and to the north — also Khyrgyz. This area is even richer than the area of the Chigils; ...”. It is clear that the “Talas” Kyrgyz are mentioned in this information. The Kyrgyz were newcomers from Altai, just like the Karluks. Meanwhile, it is known that Altai was anciently called — Tulas, Tules (perhaps also Talas). Therefore, it is quite possible that the Talas Valley, where the “Talas” Kyrgyz settled, could have been named by them (or the Karluks) — Talas (Tulas, Tules) (perhaps in memory of their homeland Talas (Tulas, Tules) — Altai?). Hence, the name of the city — Taraz (Talas), located there (at the site of modern Jambul), could have originated.
“Tian Shan” Kyrgyz
In the chapter “On the Territory of the Toghuzghuz and Its Cities” in “Hudud al-Alam,” it is reported that “to the east of it (i.e., the territory of the Toghuzghuz — E. u. K.) is the land of Chin, to the south — part of Tibet and part of Khallukh, to the west of it — a certain part of Khyrgyz, and to the north — also Khyrgyz, (they) settle along all its borders.” It is interesting to note the mention of a certain part of the Kyrgyz to the west of the territory of the Toghuzghuz. Apparently, this group of “Western” Kyrgyz inhabited the areas of Central Tian Shan or somewhere nearby. They can conditionally be called “Tian Shan” Kyrgyz. In 840, the Kyrgyz destroyed the Uyghur Khaganate that dominated Central Asia at that time, and supremacy in these areas passed to them. Therefore, part of the “Western” Kyrgyz could have penetrated into the aforementioned areas of Tian Shan.
In “On the Territory of the Yagma and Its Cities” in “Hudud al-Alam,” it states that “Kashgar belongs to the territory of Chiniistan, located on the border between Yagma, Tibet, Khyrgyz, and Chin.” It is evident that this refers to the “Tian Shan” Kyrgyz.
In “On the Territory of the Khallukh and Its Cities” in “Hudud al-Alam,” it states: “Penchul (is located) within the settlement of Khallukh, and in ancient times its ruler was from the Toghuzghuz, but now it is owned by Khyrgyz.” According to V. V. Baryuld, the aforementioned city Penchul “was located at the site of present-day Aksu.” The city of Penchul could have been located either at the site of Aksu or somewhere nearby, and it could have been owned by the “Tian Shan” Kyrgyz. This, in turn, may confirm that the city of Penchul was “at the site of present-day Aksu” or at least somewhere not far from the areas of Central Tian Shan.
Abu Dulaf on the “Tian Shan” Kyrgyz.
Abu Dulaf is an Arab poet who served at the court of the Samanid Nasr II ibn Ahmad (913—942) and supposedly “joined” the corresponding embassy to China, “taking advantage of such a convenient opportunity to visit the ‘Turkic and Chinese’ lands.” Upon his return, Abu Dulaf left “Risale” (“Notes”) about this journey, which has reached us “only through the mediation of later geographical writers...”.
According to this information, Abu Dulaf visited the Kyrgyz, who could have been located between the Karluks and the Toghuzghuz. It is stated that these Kyrgyz eat millet, rice “and all kinds of meat except camel; they have a house of worship and their own script; they are distinguished by prudence and caution; they do not extinguish the lamp and let it go out by itself. They have a measured speech, which they use during prayer. Their banners are green. During prayer, they face south. Among the planets, they honor Saturn and Venus; they regard Mars as a star that portends evil. There are many predatory animals. There is a stone that glows at night, so they do without lighting; from this stone, things are made only by them. Their king cares for their well-being, and they obey him; in his presence, only a person over forty years old may sit.”
It is most likely that the embassy with which Abu Dulaf traveled went to China via the shorter — Southern route, through Fergana and Eastern Turkestan. Therefore, Abu Dulaf could have visited the “Tian Shan” Kyrgyz who lived in Central Tian Shan.
The “Tian Shan” Kyrgyz mentioned by Al-Istakhri, Mahmud Kashgari, Ibn Hawqal Abu Dulaf may have confused information relating to other tribes (most likely to the Karluks or Chigils) and attributed them (or some of them) to their related “Tian Shan” Kyrgyz, although the above-mentioned information from Abu Dulaf could very well belong to this group of “Western” Kyrgyz.
The “Tian Shan” Kyrgyz were evidently mentioned in the report of Al-Istakhri (“Kitab Masalik al-Mamalik,” 10th century), in the chapter on Maverranahr, where it is stated: “In it (Maverranahr — E. u. K.) there is musk, which is delivered to them (the inhabitants of Maverranahr) from Tubbet and from the Khyrgyz. And from there, (musk) is delivered to other countries.” In this report, the “Tian Shan” Kyrgyz could have been referred to. The same is evidently mentioned by Mahmud Kashgari, who in one place mentions the Kyrgyz alongside the Chigils and Yagma. On the map of Ibn Hawqal, the lands of the Kyrgyz directly border the lands of the Karluks.
Here, the lands of the “Tian Shan” Kyrgyz could have been referred to.
About the “Talas” and “Tian Shan” Kyrgyz, Mahmud Kashgari evidently reports, who in one case mentions the Kyrgyz among the tribes that spoke purely Turkic language, and in another, he includes the Kyrgyz among the Turks.
