Kyrgyz Legends
retold by Oksana Vasilenko
Copyright Oksana Vasilenko 2012
Photos by Alexander Miyusov and Oksana Vasilenko
Foreword
Kyrgyzstan is a small country in Central Asia which extends about 900 km from east to west and 400 km from north to south. Most of its territory is taken by the mountains of Tien Shan and Pamir. It has some of the highest peaks in the world, like the Victory Peak which towers at 7,439 m (24,406 ft) and is the northernmost 7,000-metre mountain.
People of many different ethnicities live in Kyrgyzstan, but the majority of the country’s population are the Kyrgyz people. Traditionally, the Kyrgyz people were nomads who lived in yurts (circular tents made of felt on wooden framework). In the summer they took their herds of horses, cows and sheep to jailoo (summer pastures in the mountains). For the winter they returned to the valleys.
Here are some legends from the beautiful land of Kyrgyzstan.
Contents
Legend about Lake Issyk Kul
Legend about the Burana Tower
Legend about the Santash Pass
Legend about Tash Rabat
Legend About Lake Issyk Kul
Lake Issyk Kul is located in the heart of Tien Shan mountains at the altitude of 1,607 m (5,272 ft). It is 182 km (113 mi) long, up to 60 km (37 mi) wide and reaches 668 m (2,192 ft) in depth. It’s the second largest mountain lake in the world (the first one is Lake Titicaca in South America). Its water is slightly salty and therefore never freezes even in the harsh winter temperatures. That’s why the Kyrgyz people called it Issyk Kul which means ‘Hot Lake’.
The Silk Road, a trade route from China to Europe, went through Lake Issyk Kul. It used to be a densely populated area and archeologists have discovered ancient ruins at the bottom of the lake. The vague memories of this long gone civilization are preserved in this legend.
Once upon a time, so long ago that people have forgotten when it really happened, there was a town at the foot of a high mountain. On top of the mountain, towering above the town, there stood the castle of a powerful Khan (‘Khan’ is ‘ruler’ in Kyrgyz). The Khan was known for his wealth but even more so for his cruelty. Nobody dared to disobey him for fear of being beaten up, thrown to jail or even hanged.
The Khan was also known for his love for young beautiful girls. He already had a hundred wifes in his harem, but he was always looking for more. One day the Khan heard about a beautiful girl who lived in a small village in the mountains. Many djigits (‘djigit’ means ‘a young man’ in Kyrgyz) tried to win the girl’s heart, but she told them all that her heart already belonged to somebody else. Who was the lucky guy? Even the girl herself didn’t know for she had only met him once. This is how it happened.
One day, early in the morning, when the sun hardly touched the tops of of the snow capped mountains, the girl went to the nearby stream to fetch water and suddenly a handsome djigit on a white horse came out of nowhere and took her in his arms. Faster than wind, the white horse galloped into the sky and took them to a mountain top covered with never melting snow. The djigit kissed the girl, then took a ring off his finger and put it on hers.
‘I will come back soon,’ he promised. ‘Never take off this ring and no harm will ever befall you.’
He took the girl back to the village and disappeared. Many a day passed, but the djigit didn’t come back. Meanwhile the Khan made up his mind to marry the girl and sent his servants to her. The servants brought many rich gifts and asked the girl to marry the Khan.
‘No,’ the girl said. ‘I love another man and he is the only one I will marry!’
The girl went to the mountains hoping to meet her beloved again. She looked for him everywhere. She searched in dark forests and climbed dangerous cliffs. She crossed swift mountain streams with ice-cold water and walked along narrow rocky paths above deep ravines. She called him, but only the echo answered her.
Suddenly the girl noticed that she had lost the ring that was to keep her safe. She cried bitterly and went back. But before she could reach her house, djigits on horses caught her, tied her up and took her to the Khan’s castle. Nobody could escape from that terrible place: it had high walls made of stone with only one gate which was guarded day and night.
When the Khan saw the girl, he was delighted with her youth and beauty.
‘You are prettier than I had thought,’ he said. ‘Marry me and you will have anything you want!’
‘No,’ the girl said. ‘I love another man and I will never be your wife!’
‘All right,’ the Khan said. ‘I’ll give you some time to think about it.’
He hoped that his wealth might make the girl change her mind. He locked her up, but showered her with precious gifts of gold jewelry and richly embroidered dresses. He sent her exotic fruit and the best sweets from far away lands. He gave her the most expensive perfumes and the finest silk scarves. But the girl never wore anything he gave her, never used perfumes and didn’t touch the fruit and sweets. In fact, she didn’t eat anything at all and was crying most of the time.
A week passed and the Khan got mad. He came into the girl’s room with his kamcha (a whip usually used for horseback riding) in his hand.
‘Are you going to starve yourself to death?’ he asked angrily. ‘I was being nice to you, but you do not appreciate my kindness!’ He brandished his kamcha as if to strike her. ‘If you don’t marry me, you will never leave this place! I’ll make you a slave! I’ll throw you into the deepest and darkest dungeon!’
‘I will rather die than become your wife!’ cried the girl and suddenly jumped out of the window.
At this very moment a huge black cloud instantly filled the skies and a lightning struck the castle with such force that the thick walls shook and collapsed. Water started coming from every direction as if flowing from the mountains themselves. Soon the water covered the ruins of the castle but it still kept coming until it flooded the whole valley.
On the place where once the castle of the cruel Khan stood, there now was a mountain lake, clear like crystal and salty like the girl’s tears. It was named Issyk Kul which means ‘hot lake’ as it never freezes even in the coldest winter.
On quiet summer nights, when the sun sets behind the snow capped mountains surrounding the lake, the ruins of the castle can be seen under water and the girl’s voice is heard — she is still calling for her beloved djigit.
Legend About the Burana Tower
About 80 km from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, a lonely tower stands among the fields. It is called the Burana Tower. This is all that remained of the ancient city of Balasagun, the capital of Kara-Khanid Khanate. The city was built in the 9th century and played an important political and economic role until it was captured by the Mongols in 1218.
The Burana Tower was a large minaret (a tall tower at a mosque from which Muslims are called to prayer), originally 45 m (148 ft) tall, but it was damaged by earthquakes and lost its top. Its current height is only 25 m (82 ft). A narrow winding stairway with steep steps leads to the top of the tower.
Now it’s a part of the historical museum which also includes mausoleums, castle foundations and a collection of balbals (images of ancestors carved from stones which were usually installed at grave sites).
Here’s what the Kyrgyz people tell about the Burana Tower.
Once upon a time there was a powerful khan who ruled a great kingdom. The capital of this kingdom was a big and rich city, full of beautiful buildings. Caravans from East and West came through this city and made it even richer. The khan was very rich and so powerful that none of his neighbours dared to attack him, but he still wasn’t happy because he didn’t have any children. His first wife d
idn’t bear him a child, so he took another wife and then another one. He had nine wives and still no children. And he was getting old.
One day, while walking through the bazaar, he saw a beautiful slave girl. She was brought here by a merchant from a far away land. The girl was so pretty that the khan fell in love with her at first sight and bought her. She became his tenth wife and the youngest and prettiest of all. The khan was very fond of her and showered her with precious gifts. Imagine his joy when, in due time, his new wife bore him a child! Alas, she died in childbirth, but the child survived. At first the khan was a bit disappointed that the baby was a girl and not a boy who would become his heir, but his daughter was his only and long awaited child, and she was so pretty and very much like her mother that soon the khan loved her with all his heart.
The baby girl was growing up and the khan was growing old. Most of all he was afraid that he would die before his daughter grew up and could marry a good man who would become the khan’s heir. The khan worried about it so much that he could neither eat nor sleep and finally decided to go to magicians for help.
He gathered all the magicians of his kingdom in his palace and promised a rich reward to the one who can predict his daughter’s future. One after the other, the magicians were telling the khan that he was very wise and strong, he would still rule for many years and would live to see his daughter grow up and marry a wonderful young man and she would be the happiest person in the world. The khan was very pleased with their prophecies and rewarded each one of them with gold and precious gifts. Finally came the turn of the oldest magician.
‘Listen to me, O The Great Khan! You can hang me, if you like, but I will tell you the truth. The fate of your daughter is rather sad. She won’t have a long and happy life, but will be bitten by a karakurt and will die when she barely turns sixteen.’
The khan turned red with anger.
‘What are you talking about, old fool? Have you lost your mind?’
But the magician stood his ground.
‘I knew you wouldn’t believe me,’ he said. ‘But whether you like it or not, no one can escape one’s fate.’
‘Darn you and your prophecies!’ shouted the khan and ordered to throw the magician into the deepest and darkest dungeon.
The khan was afraid that the magician was right. But surely there was a way to protect his daughter? For three long days and three sleepless nights the khan stayed alone in his room thinking hard and finally came up with an idea.
He ordered to build a tower so tall that its top would reach the sky. At the basement of the tower there was a deep dungeon where the old magician was put while at the top there was an airy room where the khan’s daughter was to stay. She wasn’t allowed to leave the room and only two devoted servants climbed the steep steps twice a day to bring her food. Every time the servants carefully checked the food and their own clothes to make sure that a karakurt (a small black spider, very poisonous) wasn’t hiding there.
Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and months turned into years. The girl was growing up, getting more and more beautiful with every day, and finally came her sixteenth birthday. She looked pretty and fresh like a spring flower.
‘Thank God, that stupid prophecy hasn’t come true!’ the khan thought climbing the steep steps to the top of the tower.
‘Happy birthday, my dear!’ he said and put a big tray of juicy grapes at the girl’s feet.
‘Thank you, father!’ smiled the girl and kissed him on the cheek.
But hardly had she touched the grapes when she screamed with pain: in his joy, the khan had forgotten to check the grapes carefully and didn’t notice a karakurt hiding in them.
Just as the magician had predicted, the girl got bitten and died on her sixteenth birthday. After her death the old khan got very sick and also died soon. He left no heir and various noblemen started fighting for his throne and finally the kingdom fell into pieces. The rich city turned into ruins and nothing remained of it — only the Burana Tower stands lonely among the fields.
Legend About the Santash Pass
To the north-east of Lake Issyk Kul there is a low mountain pass called Santash which means ‘Counted Stones’. Why such a strange name? Right in the middle of grassy meadows, there are two piles of stones: one bigger, the other one much smaller. How did those stones get there?
A long time ago this country was ruled by a very warlike khan who wanted to conquer the whole world. He was always at war with some other country and he always needed more soldiers for his army. Some young men came willingly, hoping for rich loot from the conquered lands. Others were forced to join the army. Some young men indeed got lucky and came back home with booty. Others were not so lucky and got killed. More and more young men went to war—and fewer and fewer of them came back.
One day, when the army was leaving for yet another war, an old man came to the khan who was sitting in the saddle and watching his troops march by.
‘O Great Khan, may I ask you for a small favour?’ the old man said.
The khan looked down at him with a frown, but customs demanded respect for the old age, so the khan decided to hear the old man out.
‘What is it that you want?’ he asked.
‘Order that each of your warriors should pick up a stone and carry it to the pass where they should put all the stones in one pile.’
‘What a strange idea!’ the khan said. ‘And why should they do this?’
‘This way you will see how mighty your army is, O Great Khan!’ the old man answered. ‘And if an enemy comes through this pass, they will see this huge pile of stones and they will know that this is the number of warriors you have and they will get scared and go away.’
The khan liked this idea very much and ordered his soldiers to do what the old man wanted.
Each soldier brought just one stone with him, but when the whole army marched through the pass, it left a huge heap of stones behind. The khan got very pleased and gave the old man a small bag of money.
‘O Great Khan, thank you very much for your generosity,’ the old man said. ‘But may I ask you for one more favour?’
‘What is it now?’ the khan asked curiously.
‘When you come back from this war, order your soldiers to do the same and let them make another pile next to this one.’
‘All right,’ the khan said. ‘I will do what you want.’ And off he rode to conquer yet another land.
A year passed and the army returned with victory. The khan kept his promise and ordered to make another pile of stones. A long line of soldiers was coming through the pass and each one of them put one more stone into the growing pile. The khan was watching them and thinking about the successful war which he had just won and about all the gold that he had got from it. He was so deep in those happy thoughts that he didn’t notice when the same old man came up to him.
‘O Great Khan,’ the old man said, ‘I see that you have brought back many camels loaded with treasures.’
‘Oh yes!’ the khan smiled. ‘I’ve got gold, and gems, and silks, and pretty young girls!’
‘But do you know how much you’ve lost?’ the old man asked.
‘Lost? What are you talking about?’ the khan asked in amazement.
‘Well, look at those two piles,’ the old man said. ‘Don’t you see that one of them is much, much smaller?’
And indeed, the second heap was barely half the size of the first one.
‘This is how many young men lost their lives in that war,’ the old man said. ‘Was your gold really worth it?’
* * *
Near the Santash pass archeologists discovered ancient burial mounds and the ruins of a caravanserai. Merchants and conquerors used this road in the olden days. Tamerlane passed through this pass in XIV century and some say that it was his warriors that left those piles of stones behind.
Legend About Tash Rabat
High in the mountains, at the altitude of over 3,000 m (10,000 ft), just 90 km (56 mi) from the bord
er with China, there is a small valley through which the Silk Road once passed. In this valley a stone building seems to be protruding right out of the hillside. The gate of the building is facing east and opens into a paved corridor. On both sides of this corridor low doorways lead into domed rooms of various sizes. Each dome has an opening which probably served as a flue when bonfire was lit in the room. During the day sunlight shines through the openings and provides natural illumination. The corridor itself leads to a large open space with a high dome above it. In some rooms there are long elevated platforms made of stone. There are two deep holes in the earth which are said to have served as dungeons. There are also rumours of an underground tunnel leading to a lookout on the side of the mountain.
This building is called Tash Rabat which means ‘a caravanserai built of stone’. Nobody knows exactly when it was built and whether it was indeed just a caravanserai. Some say that it was originally a monastery of Christian or Buddist monks. Here’s what the legend says about it.
Once upon a time there lived a mighty khan. Like all khans, sometimes he waged wars against his neighbours and sometimes his neighbours waged wars against him. But the khan was wise and preferred trading to fighting, so his land was prospering.
One day, while hunting in the mountains, he met a caravan of merchants.
‘Where are you from?’ the khan asked.
‘We are from the land in the East and going to the far away lands in the West,’ the caravan-bashi (leader of the caravan) answered. ‘Usually we take another route, but this time there are rumours that mobs of bandits rob everyone daring to go the old way, so I decided to find another way.’
The khan sent for his servants and told them to bring ten fat sheep and to prepare a great feast. And, of course, the guests were treated to the best kumys (fermented horse milk, a national Kyrgyz drink). For three days the caravan stayed in the small valley while people and animals were getting the much needed rest.