QUESTIONS WITHOUT ANSWERS The morphological department of the medical institute is not a cheerful place. In the basement, there are two morgues; in the classrooms, students study anatomy. Having lost my way in the desolate labyrinths of the upper floors, I carelessly entered one of these classrooms...
The Mystery of the Mass Grave. For many years, Bubuyra Kydyralieva could not share her secret. No one wanted to listen; she was not taken seriously. Yet she wanted to find someone who could investigate the tragic story she had remembered since she was 10 years old. Everything changed with her acquaintance with a young careerist from the KGB. Bolot Abdrakhmanov knew how to listen to the end. "I met with Bubuyra-ezhe at a time when Gorbachev began to implement democratic reforms. She said
In this anonymous work from the 17th century, the spread of the Islamic religion among the Kyrgyz and Kalmyks is discussed. Translation from Persian by N. Vorozheikina. Text: And after this, His Excellency deigned to say: “In the name of serving Muslims, I have dedicated myself to this cause, and thanks to the sanctity of the souls of their best great khodjas — may mercy and blessings be upon them! — I have brought several thousand Kyrgyz and Kalmyks into the light of faith, (liberating them)
Hagiographic works can serve as a valuable supplement to historical sources for studying various aspects of the internal life and existence of the population. Relevant excerpts are included in the collection "Materials on the History of the Kyrgyz and Kyrgyzstan." Vol. I. Moscow, 1973. “Ziya al-Qulub” (“The Radiance of Hearts”) This anonymous work from the 17th century contains information about the spread of Islam among the Kyrgyz. Translation from Persian by Z. N. Vorozheikina.
This work by Abu-l-Ghazi (1603—1664) is based on legends about the genealogy of tribes and the works of predecessors. Shah-Mahmud Churas. Chronicle. Critical text, translation, comments, research, and indexes by O. F. Akimushkin. Moscow, 1976 There is very little information about Shah-Mahmud. He was born in the 1620s into a noble family of the Churas clan and died in the late 17th century. He received a good education and was proficient in Arabic and Persian. His work "Chronicle"
Excerpt from the work of Abu-l-Ghazi (1603—1664) — almost a retelling from Rashid ad-Din's "Collection of Chronicles" and Muhammad Haidar's "Tarikh-i Rashidi." Text: Oghuz Khan had a grandson named Kyrgyz: the Kyrgyz descend from him; but in our time, very few people from this lineage remain. The Mongols and other tribes, having exterminated the Kyrgyz in fire and water, entered their land and, having settled here, took on the name of Kyrgyz. They themselves know
Muhammad Haider. "Tarikh-i Rashidi" ("The Rashid History"). Materials from the fund of the Institute of Literature and Art of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic. Inv. No. 5176 The author came from a noble and influential Duglat tribe in Eastern Turkestan. In 1541, he managed to seize Kashmir and establish an independent principality there. Between 1541 and 1546, he wrote the book "Tarikh-i Rashidi," which is the main source of the history of
Seifi Chelebi. "Tavarikh" ("Chronicles"), Materials from the fund of the Institute of Literature and Art of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. Inv. No. 5176 Nothing is known about the biography of this Ottoman historian. His "Tavarikh" was composed somewhere at the end of the 16th century. In Seifi's work, there are original details about the beliefs, customs, and social structure of the Kyrgyz.
Mirkhond. "Rawzat as-Safa" ("The Garden of Purity"). Materials from the fund of the Institute of Literature and Art of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic. Inventory No. 5176 Mirkhond (died in 1498) belonged to the school of courtly Timurid historiography in Herat. He came from a family of Bukhara sayyids and spent most of his life in Herat. The "Geographical Appendix" to "Rawzat" ... was fully included in "Bada'i
Rashid ad-Din. Collection of Chronicles. Vol. I. M.-L., 1952 Rashid ad-Din (1247—1318) was the vizier of several Mongol khans in Iran and had access to their treasury, where the official chronicle of the Mongols was kept. In addition to this source, his informants included experts on Mongolian traditions. The author and his colleagues also drew on data from many books in various languages. "Jami-atu-tawarikh" ("Collection of Chronicles") was completed in 1310—11.
Al-Marwazi. "Taba'i al-hayawan" ("The Nature of Animals"). Materials from the fund of the Institute of Literature and Art of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic. Inv. No. 1820 There is very little information about the life and activities of the court physician of the Seljuk sultans, Al-Marwazi. By nisba, he was a native of the city of Merv and completed his book in 1120.
Gardizi. "Zayn al-Akhbar" ("The Ornament of Reports") V.V. Bartold. Collected Works. Vol. VIII. Moscow, 1973 The author hails from the village of Gardiz near Ghazni (Iran). He wrote his work "The Ornament of Reports" during the reign of the Ghaznavid Sultan Abd al-Rashid (1050-1053). It contains a chapter about the Turks, which includes new geographical information and interesting legends about the origins of various tribes. Translation from Persian by V.V.
Abu Dulaf. "Risale" ("Note") — Kitab asar al-bilad” al-Kazvini. Gottingen, 1848 The author came from Southern Arabia and, for some reason, ended up at the court of the Samanids in Central Asia. Abu Dulaf began his travels in 942 from Bukhara and traveled through the Tian Shan and Eastern Turkestan to China. His "Note" became known to us through the authors of the 13th century, Yakut and al-Kazvini. All of Abu Dulaf's reports about the Kyrgyz are confirmed by
«Hudud al-Alam». («Boundaries of the World»). Translation from Persian by N. Vorozheikina. This anonymous work was written in 372/982—83 in Persian. It was discovered in 1892 in Bukhara by A. G. Tumansky. The Orientalist V. F. Minorsky translated it into English with extensive scholarly commentary. The «Hudud al-Alam» («Boundaries of the World») contains very valuable information about the Kyrgyz and the geography of Kyrgyzstan. V. V. Bartold based his first writings on their information
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
Monument in honor of the "Kyrgyz Son" in Suji. It was found by G. I. Ramstedt in 1900 on the elevation of Sujin-davan south of Mongolia. Text: I, Yaglakhar-khan-ata(1), was a newcomer in the Uyghur land. I am Kyrgyz. I am Boila(2), the high judge. I am Ogya-buyuruk (the appointed) of the happy Baga-Tarkhan. Rumors and inquiries about me reached from sunrise to sunset. I was wealthy. I had ten enclosures for livestock. I had countless livestock. I had seven younger brothers, three
Epitaph in Honor of Bars-Beg This gravestone runic inscription in honor of the Kyrgyz khan Bars-Beg was found by a peasant from the village of Iudino (modern S. Bondarevo) Y. F. Korchakov near a small lake Altyn-Kul (in Khakassia) and is kept in the Minusinsk Historical Museum. We present a new, corrected translation by St. Petersburg Turkologist S. G. Klyashtorny: Ten moons bore (me), my mother! She brought (me) to my el (people). I established myself on the earth thanks to my valor. I
Monument to Kagan Mogilyan (Bilge. 716—734 AD) The monument to this kagan of the Eastern Turkic Kaganate was found in 1889 by N. M. Yadrintsev in the Koshoy-Tsai Dam valley on the banks of the Orkhon River. Its content is similar to that of the monument of Kültegin, the brother of Mogilyan, discovered in the same place. Text: When I was twenty-six years old, the Chik people(1) became my enemies along with the Kyrgyz. Crossing the Kem(2), I moved with my army against the Chiks, fought at Orpen,
Orkhon-Yenisei Turkic Monuments These runic inscriptions were mainly found in the territory of Yenisei, Mongolia, and the Talas Valley. They contain very valuable information about the Turkic peoples, including the Kyrgyz. The Orkhon-Yenisei runic alphabet was used by many Turkic peoples of Central Asia from the 6th to the 11th centuries. There are various opinions regarding the ownership of this writing system. It is not by chance that prominent Turkologists attribute them to the Yenisei
A. G. Malyavkin. Tang Chronicles of the States of Central Asia. Novosibirsk. 1989 Ouyan Xiu. Xin Tang Shu (New Chronicle of the Tang Dynasty). Beijing. 1958. Text: Administration of Dudu, Jianggun. Created on (the territory of settlement) of the tribe of Jegu (Kyrgyz).
A. G. Malyavkin. The Uyghur States in the IX—XII Centuries. Novosibirsk, 1983 Sima Guang. Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government). Beijing. 1956. Text: The Kyrgyz sent General Tabu-khezu and others to the fortress of the Tian'de province... they also reported that they would be relocating to the Helo River(1) to live on the old territory of the Uyghur state; moreover, five tribes submitted to them — Anxi (Kucha), Beiting (Beshbalyk), Dada (Tatars), and others (2nd year
A. G. Malyavkin. Historical Geography of Central Asia. Novosibirsk, 1981 "Jiu Tanshu" ("New Chronicle of the Tang Dynasty"). Text: Initially, the czequ (Kyrgyz) were never in contact with the Central State, but upon learning that the Tele and others had all submitted, they immediately performed a bow to the ground and called themselves vassals(1).
A. G. Malyavkin. Materials on the History of the Uyghurs in the IX—XII Centuries. Vol. 2. Novosibirsk. 1974 In this book, A. G. Malyavkin translated and published with comprehensive comments all the information on the history of the Uyghurs in the IX—XII centuries from various sources written in Chinese. It contains very valuable information about the Yenisei Kyrgyz in connection with their defeat of the Uyghur Khaganate. Below are these excerpts with the corresponding comments. Text:
N. V. Kyuner. Chinese News about the Peoples of Southern Siberia, Central Asia, and the Far East. Moscow, 1961 N. V. Kyuner supplemented the translation of N. Bichurin's book "Collection of Information..." from Chinese sources. In doing so, he made appropriate corrections or clarifications to the translations of his predecessor and provided a parallel translation of texts from other works not used by N. Bichurin himself. The excerpt about the Hagas is translated from the
Chinese Written Sources The first historical information about the Kyrgyz appears in the early Chinese source "Shiji" ("Historical Records," compiled in the 1st century BC) by Sima Qian, where it discusses the expansion of the Xiongnu chanyu Maodun's state borders to the east up to Korea and to the west up to modern Xinjiang, around 201 BC.
Southwest ceremonial complex of Burana buildings In 1972 and 1974, protective work was conducted at the Burana settlement by the Institute of History of the Kyrgyz SSR. The construction zone for the irrigation network and the development of new land for the "Alchal" collective farm included part of the hills, including the remnants of a medieval estate in the southeastern sector of the settlement. A specially formed group from the Burana detachment of the Kyrgyz archaeological
Archaeological and Architectural Research Since 1970, the Ministry of Culture of the Kyrgyz SSR has been conducting archaeological and architectural research aimed at restoring the monument by the Special Scientific Restoration Production Workshops (SSRPW) of the republic. The Uzgen team of the Kyrgyz Archaeological Expedition of the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz SSR, led by D. F. Vinnik, was involved in the excavation work (V. D. Goryacheva participated in
Renewal of Research at Burana in the Post-War Period The continuation of research at Burana falls into the post-war period in the history of the study and preservation of monuments in Kyrgyzstan, lasting until the 1960s. This stage is characterized by a rise in Central Asian archaeology as a whole, the expansion of archaeological work by the Kyrgyz Comprehensive Archaeological and Ethnographic Expedition, as well as systematic study of architectural monuments and preparation for their
Expeditions 1937-1940 at the Burana Settlement The difficulties of the recovery period in the country, the shortage of archaeologists in Central Asia, and their complete absence in Kyrgyzstan, as well as the closure of the Central Asian Committee for several years, slowed down the ongoing work on the study and restoration of architectural monuments in the region. Neither the establishment of the Kyrgyz Scientific Research Institute of Local Lore in October 1928 (based at the State Museum of
Identification of Burana with the settlement of Munora The identification of Burana with the settlement of Munora, mentioned in the 16th century by Muhammad Haidar Guragani, is widely accepted among contemporary scholars. In this regard, particular interest is drawn to this author's account of an epitaph he saw and read on a slab for the "glorious imam," "most perfect sheikh," "a scholar of both branches and fundamentals of jurisprudence," the capital scholar
Resolution of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the Turkestan Republic The resolution of 1917 found the Burana settlement in a deplorable state. In the beginning, the temptation to use bricks from the minaret noticeably increased among the population of Tokmak, and by 1919, due to the complete impunity of such actions, it took on a threatening character. This was partially halted by the spontaneously awakened interest of the broad public in
Excavations by F. V. Poyarkov at the Burana Settlement In the late 19th century, Semirechye attracted the attention of several all-Russian archaeological organizations due to unexpected discoveries. In the summer of 1885, land surveyor V. A. Andreyev, who was working on mapping the cultural lands of Jetysu, a prominent local historian fluent in several local languages and the author of several literary and ethnographic works, including translations of folk works from Uzbek and Tajik,
Ancient People — Kyrgyz The Kyrgyz, whose roots go deep into antiquity, lost in the darkness of millennia, hold many secrets and mysteries. The end of the 3rd century BC is only the first mention of the Kyrgyz, which by no means indicates that they originated at that time. Who knows what path of historical development the ancient Kyrgyz went through before their first appearance in written sources. Neither the time nor the place of their origin is known, and who they were at all?
“The Kyrgyz Tribe Named Itself Oghuz-Khan” The clan-tribal structure of the Kyrgyz of the right and left wings reveals many similarities with a similar division among the Oghuz. Rashid ad-Din provides the military division of all Oghuz into a right and left wing (which were also called Buzuk and Uchuk), with 12 tribes in each. Researchers evidently interpret the name — Uchuk, as deriving from the Turkic — uch — three, and — ok (uk) — arrow (another meaning — generation, subdivision, kin,
Mogol-Khan and His Children In general, medieval authors were often inclined to creatively process materials they knew from earlier sources, mixing them with various other reports and expressing their interpretations. For instance, Gardizi (11th century), based on information from an unknown work by Ibn Muqaffa (8th century) about the 'Eastern' Kyrgyz and data about the origin of the Kyrgyz from the Oghuz, provides his own interpretation, composing a legend about the origin of the
Ibrahim ibn Ahmed. This may refer to events related to the struggle of the great khan Ahmed, the head of the Eastern Karakhanids, against the Karakhanids in the first half of the 12th century, the creation of the Kyrgyz unions of the right — Ong and left — Sol wings, the defeat of the Karakhanids who invaded the territories of the Eastern Karakhanids, and his death. The great khan Ahmed defeated the Karakhanids in 1128. In 1127, according to the "Majmu' al-Tawarikh," he created
Writings of "Shajarat al-Atrak" In the anonymous work "Shajarat al-Atrak," which represents a reworking of the lost manuscript "Tarikh-i Arba-i Ulas," "usually attributed to Ulugh Beg," the following legend is recounted. "A thousand years after the death of Oghuz Khan, during the reign of Ilkhan ibn Tengiz Khan, Shah Afridun-Tur ibn Faridun, with numerous armies, set out for Maverranahr and Turkestan. At that time, Suyunch Khan, who was the eighth
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,
Ichkiliki and Arkalyki. The name "Ichkiliki" may have originated from the ancient Turkic word "ichik" — gravitating (to the center) and the word "el" — people, community, i.e., ichik — el (il) — lik, ichikillik, ichkiliki — meaning — gravitating (to the center) (i.e., to the Kyrgyz of the right and left wing) people, el. However, "Ichkiliki" could also come from "ichik (ichki)" — internal, and the word "el" (il) — people, community,
Muhammad Haider refers to the Kyrgyz as "the forest (wild) lions of Moghulistan." It is likely that at this time the "Central Asian" Kyrgyz primarily inhabited the forested areas of the Tian Shan and the adjacent lands. The resettlement of the "Central Asian" Kyrgyz to the southwest, into the interior regions of Moghulistan, was accompanied to some extent by the subjugation of local tribes and clans. In the 16th century or later, a group of protoichiliks likely
Ulus Inga-Tyuri During military clashes, it appears that part of the "Central Asian" Kyrgyz from the right wing either migrated or was taken to the interior regions of Moghulistan and was evidently referred to as Mongols. The first mentions of them are found in written sources from the 15th century. In the "Zafarnama" (first half of the 15th century), Sharaf ad-Din Yazdi, in the account of "Timur's dispatch of troops against the Jete," these Kyrgyz were
Usy, Han-Hena, and Yilanzhou In the "Yuan-Shi," in relation to the land of the Kyrgyz, three regions are also mentioned: Usy, Han-Hena, and Yilanzhou. The region of Usy was located "to the east of the Kyrgyz and to the north of the Kyan River (Kem, Yenisei) and received its name from another river; it likely refers to the Us River. Even further east was the region of Han-Hena, where the Kem River flowed and from where two mountain passes led out; skis were used here in winter.
In 1123, the Chinese hermit Chan-Chun, while in the Altai region, "heard there that the country of Qian-Qian-zhu is located to the northwest, over 1000 li (about 500 versts) away." It does not matter what the aforementioned territory was called; what is important is that it refers to the northwestern part of Altai as belonging to the Kyrgyz. This information confirms the assertion that the western part of the Kyrgyz country extended to the Priirtyshye (the Ob-Irtysh interfluve). As
Kyrgyz Inhabitants of the Irtysh and Altai Regions? In this case, the area of "Kyrgyz" could have consisted of "Central Asian" and "Eastern" Kyrgyz, as well as other tribes and clans. Nevertheless, the "Central Asian" Kyrgyz likely occupied the western regions of the Kyrgyz country at that time. In "Si-shi-ji" (13th century), the Kyrgyz are already mentioned as inhabitants of the Irtysh and Altai regions. Obviously, these reports referred to
Rashid ad-Din on the "Kyrgyz Tribe" According to Rashid ad-Din's information about the "Kyrgyz tribe," it is stated in the "Collection of Chronicles" that "Kyrgyz and Këm-Këmjiut are two adjacent regions; both constitute one dominion (mamlakat). Këm-Këmjiut is a large river, one side of which borders the territory of the Mongols (Moghulistan), and one (its) boundary is with the Selenga River, where the Taichiut tribes reside; one side borders the (basin
Abul-Ghazi on the 12th Century Abul-Ghazi, in the chapter "On the People of China," writes: "There are two Chinas: one of them is called Kara-Kitai. Many families of the Kara-Kitai, for some reason, rebelled against their rulers and, fleeing from there, moved to the Kyrgyz Lands." He further writes: "Considering the local inhabitants as newcomers, they began to steal cattle from them, and therefore could not settle there, moving to the land of Idil (most likely
Ibrahim ibn Ahmed and Anal-Hakk Thus, the "progenitor" of the Kyrgyz ethnicity of the 12th century was evidently Ibrahim ibn Ahmed. Subsequently, he likely transformed into Anal-Hakk. According to the earliest reports, the progenitor of the Kyrgyz people was Anal-Hakk. Legends and traditions about this have survived to this day. The leader of the Kyrgyz right wing and, accordingly, the son of Anal-Hakk was Lur-khan. Only after him comes Ughuz-Kara-khan, who was at one time the head
The Basis of the “Great Campaign” in the Epic of “Manas” According to Ibn al-Asir (“Kitab alara-kitai kamil fit-tarikh”), in 1128, the Kara-Kitai invaded the territories of the Eastern Karakhanids, but they were defeated by the great khan Ahmed. After that, he died and his place was taken by Ibrahim, his son. The defeated parts of the Kara-Kitai, led by Yeluy Dashi, likely fled to Orkhon, where in the fortress of Khotun they gathered 20,000 veteran warriors, replenishing their numbers with