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Kirghiz: house-world- universe of the nomad! |
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Kirghiz, inhabiting the massifs of the Tien Shan and Eastern Pamir, roam in a vertical direction - in winter in the valleys, in summer in the Alpine meadows. Transportable combined dwelling - yurt - ideally correspond to the main principle of the nomadic way of life - "All I have, I carry with myself."
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Family in the yurta. Kirghiz. Turkestan. Fergan region. Early 20th century. |
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| Female dress. Kirghiz. Turkestan. Fergan region. Early 20th century. |
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A Yutra in a aul. Kirghiz. Turkestan. Fergan region. Early 20th century. |
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| Decorative mat - door curtain. Kirghiz Turkestan. Fergan region. Early 20th century. |
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| Storage bag. Kirghiz Turkestan. Fergan region. Early 20th century. |
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Roaming under the clouds
Kirghiz, inhabiting the massifs of the Tien Shan and Eastern Pamir, roam in a vertical direction - in winter in the valleys, in summer in the Alpine meadows. Transportable combined dwelling - yurt - ideally correspond to the main principle of the nomadic way of life - "All I have, I carry with myself."
Yurt – the masterpiece of the nomadic architecture of the new time
Yurt is one of the outstanding achievments of the nomadic civilization. Its construction spread among nomadic peoples of Central Asia in general is the same, but its originality, its belonging to a certain culture can be seen in decorations of the outter part and interior. Kirghiz yurt amazes by the variety of the ways of its making and ornamentation of the things that are inside; its beauty can compete with the bright colors of the mountain nature.
To transport this compact and light house one needs 2-3 camels or 3-4 horses. Putting up the yurt takes one hour and it is of women's responsibility.
Its wooden frame consists of four parts. First of all one should mount a door-frame and leaf lattice walls must be connected to it, after that a man - honorable and respected wise old man - lifts a round roof ring in the slots of which upper ends of the domic poles are inserted while their lower ends are bound to the upper edge of the walls. Finished frame for being stronger is tied up with the patterned textile stripes, walls are covered with mats and the whole construction is wrapped around in felt. The house is ready. In the mounted yurt the first to come was an old woman, who had many children. She scattered sweets around and said "Be the house that brings happiness!"
Door marks the beginning of the house
The most ancient type of the door of the Kirghiz yurt is a felt curtain or mat. Later on the wooden folds also appeared. Anyway, the doors were decorated with special patterns, which in a certain magic way were to protect the house from evil spirits and at the same time to bring it goodness - numerous descendants, plenty of cattle, health. Among these magic patterns vortical solar rosettes, family-tree, sheep's horn were the most common.
The interior of the yurt
For the nomad yurt is not only a dwelling, but also a microcosm, model of the universe.
Its inner space down the vertical line is divided into three areas which correspond to the ideas about three worlds of the universe:floor (lower world of the supernatural forces), walls (middle world of the humans), dome (sacral upper part). The horizontal division of the yurt into two parts-men's and women's- reflects the universal duality of the world.
Opposite the yurt's entrance at the palce where the men's and women's parts meet there is a place of honor - tor. Here the family keeps the most valuable possessions - chests, felts, bedding put in piles on the carved wooden support. Master of the house and especially honorable guests can sit on the place of honour.
. Next to the tor there is the most sacral part of the dwelling - hearth which symbolises the well-being of the house.
Women’s part
Family life mainly takes place in the women's part which is on left from the place of honour; the right part of the yurt is left for the guests. To the left of the tor there is a place of the master and mistress of the yurt which is separated by the curtain. Kitchen isolated by the mat is closer to the door. Here one store food and utensils among which saba - a large vessel for making kumiss- stands out. There are felt bags for the wooden dishes and cases for the china on the walls.
Men’s part
Those who are considered to be guests in the traditional culture of the Kirghiz stay in this part of the yurt. Besides guests in the direct sense of the word, this category includes also daughter of the marriage age, newlyweds who have no own yurt, and dead members of the family who are transported to the right part for performing certain rituals. Horse harness, hunting outfit, cage with hunting bird are near the entrance.
Hospitality and etiquette
Hospitality is one of the noble customs of the Kirghiz. However, among nomads this custom received a status of a law because traveling through endless steppes and mountain areas was not safe.
Every traveler could count on bed and food but he had to show his respect to the house where he asked for the shelter. He couldn't approach the house galloping fast because people hurry only for the funeral. He should get off a horse in advance and come up to the yurt having stopped several steps away.
Having asked the question "Is their anybody at home?" he should calmly wait until the master of the house comes out to him and offers to come in. Door curtain should be moved aside with the right hand and traveler should step across the threshold without stumbling, otherwise there will be no wealth in this house.
Having entered the yurt, it is necessary to leave the shoes to the left of the entrance and following the sun go to a certain place shown by the master of the house. In old times, master of the house let the guest himself choose a lamb for the supper and while it had been preparing, they talked and drank tea. Kirghiz do appreciate witty companions who are good at rhetoric and to whom they to the full extent belong as well.
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