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TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE > In Search of Knowledge

In Search of Traditional Knowledgee among Ethnic Kyrgyz in China

History of the Kyrgyz people is original and unusual, exciting and full of interesting events and facts. Historical and social changes had an influence on the fate of the Kyrgyz people. For many years due to the influence of external and internal factors the Kyrgyz, being the nomadic people, moved a lot from place to place. In this way, there are big ethic Kyrgyz groups have been living in China, Turkey, Afghanistan and other countries. However, no matter where Kyrgyz people moved from native lands, they have not lost their native roots, traditions and knowledge. In April 2010 the RDF researchers organized the scientific trip to China in order to study the life of the ethnic Kyrgyz there.

Main purpose of the Trip

The missionaries of the trip were aimed to gather information on traditional knowledge of local ethnic Kyrgyz and their nomadic lifestyle.

Visited Sites 

The RDF experts visited villages in Tekes and Kulja valleys, as well as in Kyzyl-Suu territorial okrug, which is in 2000km from Urumchi in south-west. It is interesting that here Kyrgyz people have a special peculiarity - the Kyrgyz living in the valleys of Tekes and Kulja are engaged in animal husbandry due to favorable climate and availability of large pasture lands. Their lifestyle differs from the Kyrgyz who live in the Kyzyl-Suu okrug. The semi-desert landscape of Kyzyl-Suu made local people to be engaged in vegetable-growing and there are only few breeders involved in breeding of camels and goats.

RDF experts visited villages of Shaty, Kok-Terek, Mongol Kuro, Kulan Saraca, Kara Julgo, Manas, Uluu-chat, where they interviewed many local residents, took a lot of photos of interesting moments, landscapes, and personalities. There were over 30 focus-groups and interviews organized there, during which researchers interviewed more than 100 people. All meetings and discussions were held in interesting, entertaining and even exciting way. Just imagine that our respondents were well-known and outstanding people, as, for instance, Jusup Mamai, who is one of the famous manaschy (narrator of Manas epic) and made a great contribution to the development of folk tales and, in particular, the trilogy of Manas epic.

During the visit of some villages the RDF researchers became directly involved into practical use of traditional elements. For example, in village of Shaty our researchers were the witnesses of preparation process to the visit of daughter's parents-in-law. The house masters prepared to the ceremony carefully and thoroughly - women cooked traditional meals of Kyrgyz cuisine keeping order of use and proportions of different ingredients while cooking. Olobo was one of such dishes that was cooked from the sheep's lungs. The recipe for this interesting and, what is more important, delicious and nutritious dish, was immediately reported by our researchers and included into materials on Kyrgyz nomadic cuisine.

Research Openings and Discoveries

The researchers were pleasantly surprised by efforts of Kyrgyz young people, who launched in Artush the workshop of national handicraft named Onorkana. One of the girls attending this workshop said that needlework helps her to develop good qualities such as patience and perseverance in work, wisdom and creativeness that has positive effect on her personality traits. In this workshop famous craftsmen and masters teach children how to embroider on textile and sew national clothes, make jewelry, horse equipment and Kyrgyz musical instruments. In addition, the products made here are sold at local fairs and bazaars.

It was also amazing and unexpected to see that names of all villages where ethnic Kyrgyz have been living, are in Kyrgyz. For example, the village which inhabitants are engaged in hunting with eagles, is called Burkut Ayil, whereas village, where Jusup Mamai was born, is called as Manas. It should be noticed that the ethnic Kyrgyz have not lost the ability to speak in Kyrgyz language. Moreover, they use ancient and even forgotten words and expressions in their everyday life. It means that even being far away from the historical homeland, Kyrgyz people kept the very basic elements of ethnic belongingness - language and traditions.

No doubt, keepers of traditional knowledge were the most interesting respondents among those whom we met during the trip. As a rule, they were people of older generation, who practiced and carefully stored traditional knowledge and shared it with other concerned people. The RDF researchers have collected invaluable materials RDF on how in the past people treated livestock animals, practiced rational and sustainable methods of use of pasture lands and bred and trained racehorses. We have gathered information on secrets of nomad lifestyle and culture, ancient Kyrgyz customs and traditions, and even games at jailoo.

Field Research Results 

There were a lot of materials on rites, techniques, methods and skills of nomadic life gathered during the trip to the neighboring country. In some places we were able to find out differences from data that was already obtained in Kyrgyzstan, in other places we confirmed our assumptions or discovered completely new materials and facts. It should be noted that some methods of animal treatment, selection of settlement places, rites and rituals, and even recipes of soap producing and games at jailoo, were completed after the meeting with ethnic Kyrgyz in China.

We are thankful to our friends in China, who supported us in organizing meetings and conducting interviews in field works. All dwellers of villages that we visited were kind and friendly, and welcomed with us hospitably offering food and lodging and expressing their respect and politeness. We are confident in saying that our trip was successful and effectively productive, we have collected valuable materials, which have been analyzed and processed at present time, and will be published shortly.

We hope that it was first, but not last meeting with the proud inheritors of Kyrgyz nomadic traditions and secrets living on the other side of the Ala-Too Mountains... 

Rural Development Fund

102-104, Toktogul Street, Office 1

Bishkek, 720040, Kyrgyz Republic 

Phone: +996 (312) 976 100

Fax: +996 (312) 976 103

E-mail: general@rdf.in.kg

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Rural Development Fund