"Si-yu-chi" about the Kyrgyz

Protoichkiliks and Arka

These accounts may refer to the separation of a certain part of the tribes of the right wing of Arka (the combination of the right and left wings) and the formation of a separate group of Kyrgyz, which could later form the core of the clan-tribal group of the Kyrgyz people known as ichkilik. Perhaps they were also mentioned in the "Majmu at-tavarikh" as a group of tribes called Bul(a)gachi. Incidentally, according to the same accounts provided by B. Soltonoev, "the Tagai, after clashes with the Uzbeks ('according to widespread reports' 'there was a dispute regarding the horde') came to Arka," i.e., to the lands of the Kyrgyz of the right and left wings. He further writes that "the relocation of Tagai to Arka indicates their long-standing connection with each other."

This data may confirm the information from the "Majmu at-tavarikh," which associates the group of tribes Bul(a)gachi with the right wing of the Kyrgyz, and which likely formed the core of the future ichkiliks. All of this may support the idea that the core of the group of tribes known as Ichkilik was connected by origin to the Kyrgyz of Arka (right and left wings) or the right wing.


All these events are evidently mentioned in the Chinese work "Si-yu-zhi" ("Description of the Western Lands"), compiled in the 1770s. It states: "Gradually the population increased, and everyone lacked hunting grounds, which led to a struggle for land among them. The shortage of clothing gave rise to a habit of robbing travelers. From the discord, no one benefited. Over 220 years ago, they jointly held peace negotiations and divided the population into equal parts. They singled out two subdivisions, elected two leaders from the wealthy, and assigned each of them territories: lands, rivers, mountains.

They divided into two branches — northern and southern. The southern was called To-go-so-ho-le (probably toguz-uul — E. u. K.). The northern — ke-er-ge-ci-si (Kyrgyz — E. u. K.). The name of the branch is the name of the originally main tribe. Each was further divided into branches."

This information was obtained by Manchu officials in Eastern Turkestan after questioning Kyrgyz elders knowledgeable in genealogy. In these accounts, there may have been reports of the division of the Kyrgyz into two groups-branches: northern — Arka or Arkalik (right and left wing), which is mentioned as — Ke-er-ge-ci-si (Kyrgyz), and southern — protoichkiliks, who could have inhabited the regions of Fergana. In To-go-so-ho-le from the Chinese source, one can see the transmission — togus-ogul.

It should be emphasized that it should not be excluded that in all the information mentioned above, there may have been some omissions, errors, and distortions. These are quite possible.

Arka-taraf

In Abul-Ghazi, the expression "the back side" (arka taraf) is encountered, "used in Central Asia among Turkic peoples to denote the country from which a certain people considers itself to have originated." In this case, it may also support the idea that at least the core of the ichkiliks (bul(a)gachi) originated from the Kyrgyz of Arkalik or from their right wing.

It should also be noted that "not all tribes that are traditionally considered to be part of the ichkiliks recognize this unifying name. By their origin, they are different. Their inclusion in this grouping occurred at different times... However, the observed similarities in the culture, domestic features, and dialects of the main tribes of this peculiar group testify to the common stages of ethnic and socio-political history they experienced. At the same time, the ethnographic traits characteristic in the past of individual tribes of this group, noted by several researchers, indicate that the process of consolidation of the ichkiliks group occurred not too long ago." This may confirm that the ichkiliks are an internal group and that this name could have been given to them due to their habitation among the tribes of the right and left wings, i.e., in the territory bordered by Arkaliks. It may also confirm that the Arkaliks could have referred to the tribes of the right and left wings as ichkiliks. However, it should be assumed that among the ichkiliks, there were likely other descendants from Arkaliks.

In the Middle Ages, "as now, the word — arka in most Turkic languages of Central Asia meant 'north,' the direction opposite to the qibla."