Kyrgyz Legends

retold by Oksana Vasilenko

Copyright Oksana Vasilenko 2012

Photos by Alexander Miyusov and Oksana Vasilenko

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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.’