Arab and Persian Sources of the IX—XVII Centuries
Medieval Arab and Persian authors left us very valuable and quite rich information about the Kyrgyz. They were and remain the main basis for studying the history of the Kyrgyz people.
Materials on the History of the Kyrgyz and Kyrgyzstan, Vol. I. Moscow, 1973
This collection includes excerpts from translations of works by Eastern authors of the IX—XVI centuries on the history of the Kyrgyz and Kyrgyzstan, as well as neighboring peoples and tribes. They were carried out in 1954—1957 by employees of the Leningrad Branch of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences. We have selected excerpts that concern only the Kyrgyz and directly related materials. Significant corrections and additions have been introduced in the notes and comments of the translators in light of the achievements of science in recent years.
The "Materials..." also contain excerpts from the works of Eastern authors up to the XIX century.
Al-Istakhri. "Kitab Masalik al-Mamalik" ("Book of the Ways of States")
There is no biographical information about this geographer from Fars (Iran). It is only known that he traveled extensively and visited Central Asia. In 930—933, he composed his work "Kitab Masalik al-Mamalik" ("Book of the Ways of States"), which has reached us in Arabic and Persian. In his section "Mawara al-Nahr," there is information about the peoples of Central Asia, their cities, settlements, trade, etc.
Translation from Arabic by L. Z. Pisarevsky. ("Book of the Ways of States")
Text: In the kingdom of Sin1, there are various languages. As for all the Turks, (such as) Toguzguz, Khyrkhyz, Kimak, Guzz, and Khazladzhi, they have one language, and each of them understands each other.
As for the Khyrkhyz, they live between the possessions of the Toguzguz2, Kimak3, the ocean4, and the land of Khazladzhi5.
The Toguzguz are located between Tubbat6, the land of Khazladzhi, the Khyrkhyz, and the kingdom of Sin.
And it extends behind the Gura mountains within Khorasan to the borders of Bamiyan up to Bandjhir, until they enter the land of Wakhhan and branch out (then) in Mawara al-Nahr, (passing) to the inner limits (of the land) of the Turks up to the borders of Ilak7 and Shash8, near the Khyrkhyz.
In it (in Mawara al-Nahr), there is musk, which is delivered to them (the inhabitants of Mawara al-Nahr) from Tubbat and from the Khyrkhyz. And from there, it is delivered (musk) to other countries.
And these mines, which are located in Usrushana9, Fergana, Ilak, Shelji10, and Labana11 up to the land of the Khyrkhyz12, all of them are located in the main ridge of these mountains and in the adjacent mountains.
The next largest city is Kuba13, the most pleasant of all cities. There is a citadel14, rabat15, a congregational mosque, and markets.
Then comes the city of Osh. This is a lively city, surrounded by walls; it has a citadel and the emir's palace. The city is adjacent to the mountain16, on which there is a watchpoint to observe the Turks.
Uzgend is the last of the cities of Fergana, (if going) towards the area of war (with the Muslims)17. It has a wall, rabat, citadel, flowing waters, and gardens,
Translation from Persian by N. Vorozheikina. ("Book of the Ways of States")
Text: And if one goes from the eastern border in such a way (p. 25) as to exit through the western border and approach the land of Nubiyan18, (passing) through the lands of the Khyrkhyz and Toguzguz, until the Kimak appear, up to the sea, it will be a four-month journey.
As for Turkestan, the Toguzguz, Khyrkhyz, Kimak, Guzz, and Khazladzhi all speak the same language, and they all (descend) from one another.
And they (the Kimak) are located among the Guzz19 and Khyrkhyz and behind the Saklab20.
As for the Khyrkhyz, their (settlement) place is between the Tuz and Kimak, the ocean, and the lands of Khazradzhi (i.e., Khazladzhi — O. K.). And the land of Tibet is located between the Khyrkhyz and the land of Chin21.
And the river Itnil flows from the border of the Khyrkhyz and from there reaches the Kimak, enters (the lands) of the Guzz and comes to the Bulgars, and at the borders of the Burtas it flows into the sea22.
The Gura mountains are within Khorasan. And they extend to the borders of Bamiyan, Panjshir, and Mawara al-Nahr, up to Inner Turkestan, to Chacha23 and the Khyrkhyz. And in these mountains, from beginning to end, there are silver and gold mines, and the best of them are those within the borders of the Khyrkhyz. And among the mines that are within the Muslim world, the best are those within the borders of Panjshir.
And musk from Tibet and from the Khyrkhyz is first delivered there, and from there it is taken to (all) countries of the world. And on the opposite side of the main ridge of these mountains (there is) a desert: (it lies) in the area of Usrushana on the border of Fergana and Ilak and up to the Khyrkhyz, and all this is located next to (the main) ridge of these mountains.
Taraz24 is the border between the Turks and Muslims, and around it, there are fortified walls, which are also called Taraz. The border of the spread of Islam reaches this place, and from there to the tents of the Kharlukh. This (simultaneously) marks the border of Chacha.
Kuba is equal (in size) to Ahsikent25. (The area) is the most pleasant in all this region. Here there is a kuhendiz26, shahristan27, and rabat.
Kuhendiz is in ruins. The Friday mosque is located in kuhendiz. The bazaar, the emir's palace, and the prison are located in rabat. Rabat is surrounded by a wall, there are gardens and abundant flowing waters.
Osh is equal (in size) to Kuba. The shahristan and kuhendiz there are well-maintained, the emir's palace and the prison (are located) in kuhendiz. In the shahristan, there is rabat. Rabat is surrounded by a wall, the wall reaches the mountain, on which guards are stationed; it observes the Turkestan troops. In Osh, there are three gates: Darvaza-yi Kuh, Darvaza-yi Ab, and Darvaza-yi Mugkede.
Uzgend is the area with the warmest climate in the vilayet (region) of Fergana. It is the border of the vilayet of Fergana and is located very close to the enemies. Uzgend is equal (in size) to two-thirds of Osh.
It has kuhendiz and shahristan, gardens, bustans, and flowing waters.
On the border with Osh, there is a city called Madva28. Uzgend is the name of the city, and there is no other city in the Uzgend region.
Mian-Rudan is an area29, the main city of which is called Khaylam. Emir Abu-l-Hasan Nasr ibn Ahmad (Samanid—O. K-) was born in this city.
Kervan is the name of a city, around which (there are) many villages. Near Uresta, there are also many villages. Astiaken (and) Shelata are two cities connected to Turkestan through Mian-Rudan, just as Uzgend is connected. This area is called Haftdih30 — seven separate villages that are part of Turkestan. In our age (they) have passed to the Muslims.
Comments and Notes
1 Sin — one of the names for China.
2 By the name Toguzguz, the author meant the Uighurs, who migrated to Eastern Turkestan in 840.
3 At that time, the Kimaks mainly inhabited Eastern Kazakhstan.
4 Referring to the Arctic Ocean.
5 They migrated in the Talas valley and to the west of it.
6 That is, Tibet. Therefore, according to al-Istakhri, the Kyrgyz lived in Eastern Tian Shan and further north to the Siberian forests.
7 Ilak — a region in the valley of the Angren River with the main city of Tunkent.
8 Shash — a region in the valley of the Chirchik River with the main city of Binkent (modern Tashkent).
9 Usrushana — this was the name of the region in the Middle Ages, now part of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, with the capital in the city of Bunjikete (the settlement of Kahkaha I—III).
10 Shelji — a city in the Talas valley. Its ruins are the settlement of Sadyr-Kurgan.
11 Labana — one of the Karluk tribes that inhabited the mountains of modern Kemin (Chuy valley) in the IX—X centuries.
12 From this data, it can be concluded that the land of the Khyrkhyz is located to the east of the Zailiysky mountains.
13 Kuba — a city near the modern village of Kuva in the eastern part of the Fergana valley.
14 Citadel — the palace of the ruler.
15 Rabat (Arabic) — the outer part of the old Muslim city, suburb.
16 Referring to Suleiman Mountain.
17 In the 10th century, the city of Uzgend was the easternmost point of the spread of Islam. In the mountains to the east, south, and north of it, the Kafirs — Turks — roamed.
18 In the Arabic text: at-Tubbat (Tibet). Apparently, in the Persian translation text, there is a copyist's error: instead of Nubiyan, it should be Tubiyan, which means "Tibetans," "the land of Tibet."
19 In the IX—X centuries, the Guzz (Oghuz) roamed in the lower reaches of the Syr Darya and to the west and northwest of the Aral Sea up to the Volga River.
20 Saklab — Russians.
21 Chin — one of the names for China.
22 Itil — the Volga River. According to al-Istakhri's representations, Itil flowed from the land of the Yenisei Kyrgyz.
23 Chach (Shash) — Tashkent.
24 The medieval city of Taraz was located at the site of modern Jambyl.
25 Ahsikent — the capital of Fergana, now the ruins of "Iskiakhsy," located on the right bank of the Syr Darya.
26 Kuhendiz (Persian) — the citadel of a medieval city.
27 Shahristan (Persian) — the main part of a medieval Muslim city, the city itself, as opposed to the suburb.
28 Madva (Medva) is identified with the modern village of Mady in the Kara-Suu district of the Osh region.
29 Mian-Rudan — a district located between the rivers Kara-Darya and Naryn.
30 Haftdih (Hefdeh, i.e., Seven Villages) — an area near Uzgend.