Dastan
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The Dastan is an ornate form of oral history present in Central Asia. The Dastan conveys values and traditions of generations of peoples. A Dastan is centered on one individual who protects his tribe or his people from an outside invader/enemy. This main character sets an example of how one should act; the Dastan has now become a teaching tool. It is possible that the Dastans of Central Asia came into contact and influenced each other. Sufi Master Ahmet Yesevi “Let the scholars hear my wisdom, treating my words like a Dastan”, can sum up the importance of a Dastan with a quote. The importance of the Dastan lies in the fact that it is rich with cultural history and can provide scholars with a bountiful amount of information. Some Dastans can be traced back to actual historical figures. The first Dastan recorded is Dede Korkut. During the Russian invasion and occupation of Central Asia, many new Dastans were created to protest the Russian occupation. According to Turkish historian Hasan Bülent Paksoy, the Bolsheviks tried to destroy these symbols of culture, e.g. by only publishing them in insufficiently large quantities and in a distorted form "in order to weaken the heroic impact".[1] To this day, the Dastan is a revered part of Central Asian culture. Dastans can be purchased in cassette form or in written form. The Dastan provides a unique and exciting look into the history of Central Asian Cultures.
[edit] References
- ^ Paksoy, H.B.. "DASTAN GENRE IN CENTRAL ASIA." ESSAYS ON CENTRAL ASIA. 4 May 2007.
