Kyrgyz people

Kyrgyz people
Кыргыздар

1st row Chinghiz Aitmatov Alykul Osmonov Bubusara Beyshenalieva Shabdan Baatyr 2nd row Suymenkul Chokmorov Kurmanjan Datka Tolomush Okeyev Bokonbayev 3rd row Baytik baatyr Kasym Tynystanov Sayakbay Karalaev Togolok Moldo
Total population
approx. 4.5 million
Regions with significant populations
Kyrgyzstan	3,804,800[1]
Uzbekistan	250,000[2]
China	143,500[3]
Russia	103,422[4]
Tajikistan	60,000
Kazakhstan	23,274[5]
Afghanistan	1,130[6]
Ukraine	1,128[7]
Languages
Kyrgyz, Russian
Religion
Predominantly Sunni Islam[8][9] Tengrism Christianity[10] Shamanism[11] Tibetan Buddhism[11][12] minorities
Related ethnic groups
Khakas, Tuvans, Altay people, Shors, Kazakhs, Mongols

The Kyrgyz, also spelled Kyrghyz and Kirghiz, are a Turkic people living primarily in Kyrgyz Republic.

Etymology

There are several theories on the origin of ethnonym "Kyrgyz". The word "Kyrgyz" is derived from the Turkic word "kyrk"-meaning forty, with -"Iz" being an old plural suffix, referring to a collection of forty tribes.^[13]

Kyrgyz also means "imperishable", "inextinguishable", "immortal", "unconquerable" or "unbeatable", presumably referring to the epic hero Manas who, as legend has it, unified the forty tribes against the Khitans.

The Chinese transcription "Tse-gu" (Gekun, Jiankun) allows to restore the pronunciation of the ethnonym as Kirkut (Kirgut) and Kirkur (Kirgur). Both forms go back to the earliest variation Kirkün (Chinese Tszyan-kun) of the term "Kyrgyz" meaning "Field People", "Field Huns".

By the Mongol epoch, the initial meaning of the word Kirkun was already lost, evidenced by differing readings of the earlier reductions of the Yuán Shǐ. The change of ethnonym produced a new version of an origin, and the memory about their steppe motherland, recorded in Yuán Shǐ, survived only as a recollection of the initial birthplace of forty women. Subsequently, however, that recollection was also lost.^[14]

In the 18th and 19th century, European writers used the word "Kirghiz" (the early Anglicized form of the contemporary Russian "киргизы") to refer not only to the people we now know as Kyrgyz, but also to their more numerous northern relatives, the Kazakhs. When distinction had to be made, more specific terms were used: Kara-Kirghiz for the Kyrgyz proper, and Kaisaks for the Kazakhs.^[15][16]

Origins

Kyrgyz around Murghab, in the Pamirs of Tajikistan.

A Kyrgyz woman in national costume in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The early Kyrgyz people, known as Yenisei Kyrgyz, first appear in written records in the Chinese annals of the Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian (compiled 109 BC to 91 BC), as Gekun or Jiankun (鬲昆 or 隔昆). They were described in Tang Dynasty texts as having "red hair and green eyes", while those with dark hair and eyes were said to be descendants of a Chinese general Li Ling.^[17]

The Middle Age Chinese composition "Tanghuiyao" of the 8–10th century transcribed the name "Kyrgyz" as Tsze-gu (Kirgut), and their tamga was depicted as identical to the tamga of present day Kyrgyz tribes Azyk, Bugu, Cherik, Sary Bagysh and few others.^[18]

According to recent historical findings, Kyrgyz history dates back to 201 BC.^[19] The Yenisei Kyrgyz lived in the upper Yenisey River valley, central Siberia. In Late Antiquity the Yenisei Kyrgyz were a part of the Tiele people. Later, in the Early Middle Ages, the Yenisei Kyrgyz were a part of the confederations of the Göktürk and Uyghur Khaganates.

In 840 a revolt led by the Yenisei Kyrgyz brought down the Uyghur Khaganate, and brought the Yenisei Kyrgyz to a dominating position in the former Turkic Khaganate. With the rise to power, the center of the Kyrgyz Khaganate moved to Jeti-su, and brought about a spread south of the Kyrgyz people, to reach Tian Shan mountains and Xinjiang, bringing them into contact with the existing peoples of western China, especially Tibet.

By the 16th century the carriers of the ethnonym "Kirgiz" lived in South Siberia, Xinjiang, Tian Shan, Pamir-Alay, Middle Asia, Urals (among Bashkorts), in Kazakhstan.^[20] In the Tian Shan and Xinjiang area, the term "Kyrgyz" retained its unifying political designation, and became a general ethnonym for the Yenisei Kirgizes and aboriginal Turkic tribes that presently constitute the Kyrgyz population.^[21] Though it is obviously impossible to directly identify the Yenisei and Tien Shan Kyrgyz, a trace of their ethnogenetical connections is apparent in archaeology, history, language and ethnography. A majority of modern researchers came to the conclusion that the ancestors of Kyrgyz tribes had their origin in the most ancient tribal unions of Sakas and Usuns, Dinlins, Mongols and Huns.^[22]

Also, there follow from the oldest notes about the Kyrgyz that the definite mention of Kyrgyz ethnonym originates from 6th century. There is certain probability that there was relation between Kyrgyz and Gegunese already in 2nd century BC, next, between Kyrgyz and Khakases since 6th century A.D., but there is quite missing a unique mention. The Kyrgyz as ethnic group are mentioned quite unambiguously in the time of Genghis Khan rule (1162–1227), when their name replaces the former name Khakas.^[23]

A Kyrgyz family

Genetics

An ethnic Kyrgyz teenage girl from the Ulupamir village in the Van province, Turkey. 21.06.2009.

The genetic makeup of the Kyrgyz is confirmed by various genetic studies.^[24][25] For instance, 63% of modern Kyrgyz men of Jumgal District^[26] share Haplogroup R1a1 (Y-DNA) with Ishkashimis (68%),^[24] Tajiks of Panjikent^[27] (64%, three times more than other Tajiks^[28]), Pashtuns (51%),^[29] and Bartangis (40%).^[24][30] Low diversity of Kyrgyz R1a1 indicates a founder effect within the historical period.^[27] Haplogroup R1a1 (Y-DNA) is often believed to be a marker of the Proto-Indo-European language speakers.^{[24][27][31][32]} Other groups of Kyrgyz show considerably lower haplogroup R frequencies and almost lack haplogroup N.^[33]

In a maternal mtDNA study, West Eurasian DNA ranges from 27% to 42.6% in the Kyrgyz.^[34]

Because of the processes of migration, conquest, intermarriage, and assimilation, many of the Kyrgyz peoples who now inhabit Central and Southwest Asia are of mixed origins, often stemming from fragments of many different tribes, though they speak closely related languages.^[35]

Political development

The Kyrgyz state reached its greatest expansion after defeating the Uyghur Khaganate in 840 AD, in alliance with the Chinese Tang dynasty.

The Kirghiz Khagans of the Yenisei Kirghiz Khaganate claimed descent from the Han Chinese general Li Ling (Han Dynasty), which was mentioned in the diplomatic correspondence between the Kirghiz Khagan and the Tang Dynasty Emperor, since the Tang Imperial Li family claimed descent from Li Ling's grandfather, Li Guang. The Kirghiz Qaghan assisted the Tang dynasty in destroying the Uyghur Khaganate and rescuing the Taihe princess from the Uyghurs. They also killed a Uyghur Khagan in the process.

Then Kyrgyz quickly moved as far as the Tian Shan range and maintained their dominance over this territory for about 200 years. In the 12th century, however, the Kyrgyz domination had shrunk to the Altai Range and the Sayan Mountains as a result of the rising Mongol expansion. With the rise of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, the Kyrgyz migrated south. In 1207, after the establishment of Yekhe Mongol Ulus (Mongol empire), Genghis Khan's oldest son Jochi occupied Kyrgyzstan without resistance. They remained a Mongol vassal until the late 14th century.

Various Turkic peoples ruled them until 1685, when they came under the control of the Oirats (Dzungars).

Religion

A mosque in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz are predominantly Muslims of the Hanafi Sunni school.^[36] Islam was first introduced by Arab traders who travelled along the Silk Road in the seventh and eighth century. In the 8th century, orthodox Islam reached the Fergana valley with the Uzbeks. However, in the tenth century Persian text Hudud al-'alam, the Kyrgyz was still described as a people who "venerate the Fire and burn the dead".^[37]

Atheism has some following in the northern regions under Russian communist influence. As of today, few cultural rituals of Shamanism are still practiced alongside with Islam particularly in Central Kyrgyzstan. During a July 2007 interview, Bermet Akayeva, the daughter of Askar Akayev, the former President of Kyrgyzstan, stated that Islam is increasingly taking root even in the northern portion which came under communist influence.^[38] She emphasized that many mosques have been built and that the Kyrgyz are "increasingly devoting themselves to Islam."^[38]

Many ancient indigenous beliefs and practices, including shamanism and totemism, coexisted synthetically with Islam. Shamans, most of whom are women, still play a prominent role at funerals, memorials, and other ceremonies and rituals. This split between the northern and southern Kyrgyz in their religious adherence to Muslim practices can still be seen today. Likewise, the Sufi order of Islam has been one of the most active Muslim groups in Kyrgyzstan for over a century.

In Afghanistan

The Kyrgyz population of Afghanistan was 1,130 in 2003, all from eastern Wakhan District in the Badakhshan Province of northeastern Afghanistan.^[6] They still lead a nomadic lifestyle and are led by a khan or tekin.

The suppression of the 1916 rebellion against Russian rule in Central Asia caused many Kyrgyz later to migrate to China and Afghanistan. Most of Kyrgyz refugees in Afghanistan settled in the Wakhan region. Until 1978, the northeastern portion of Wakhan was home to about 3–5 thousand ethnic Kyrgyz.^[39][40] In 1978, most Kyrgyz inhabitants fled to Pakistan in the aftermath of the Saur Revolution. They requested 5,000 visas from the United States Consulate in Peshawar for resettlement in Alaska, a state of the USA which they thought might have a similar climate and temperature with the Wakhan Corridor. Their request was denied. In the meantime, the heat and the unsanitary conditions of the refugee camp were killing off the Kyrgyz refugees at an alarming rate. Turkey, which was under the military coup rule of General Kenan Evren, stepped in, and resettled the entire group in the Lake Van region of Turkey in 1982. The village of Ulupamir (or “Great Pamir” in Kyrgyz) in Erciş in Van Province was given to these, where more than 5,000 of them still reside today. The documentary film 37 Uses for a Dead Sheep – the story of the Pamir Kirghiz was based on the life of these Kyrgyz in their new home.^[41] Some Kyrgyz returned to Wakhan in October 1979, following the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.^[42]

Kyrgyz in China

China's Kyrgyz people (柯尔克孜族) portrayed on a poster near the Niujie Mosque in Beijing. (Fourth from the left, between the Dongxiang and the Dong).

The Kyrgyz form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. There are more than 145,000 Kyrgyz in China. They are known in China as Kēěrkèzī zú (simplified Chinese: 柯尔克孜族; traditional Chinese: 柯爾克孜族).

In the 19th century, Russian settlers on traditional Kirghiz land drove a lot of the Kirghiz over the border to China, causing their population to increase in China.^[43]

The Kirghiz of Xinjiang revolted in the 1932 Kirghiz rebellion, and also participated in the Battle of Kashgar (1933), and the Battle of Kashgar (1934).

They are found mainly in the Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture in the southwestern part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with a smaller remainder found in the neighboring Wushi (Uqturpan), Aksu, Shache (Yarkand), Yingisar, Taxkorgan and Pishan (Guma), and in Tekes, Zhaosu (Monggolkure), Emin (Dorbiljin), Bole (Bortala), Jinghev (Jing) and Gongliu County in northern Xinjiang.^[44]

A peculiar group, also included under the "Kyrgyz nationality" by the PRC official classification, are the so-called "Fuyu Kyrgyz". It is a group of several hundred people whose forefathers were relocated to Manchuria in the 18th century, and who now live in Wujiazi Village in Fuyu County, Heilongjiang Province. Their language (the "Fuyü Gïrgïs dialect") is related to the Khakas language.

Certain segments of the Kyrgyz in China are followers of Tibetan Buddhism.^{[11][12][45][46][47][48]}

Notable Kyrgyz people

Chinghiz Aitmatov

• Chinghiz Aitmatov – author
• Kasym Tynystanov – a prominent Kyrgyz scientist, politician and poet, first minister of education
• Bubusara Beishenalieva – ballet dancer
• Askar Akayev – politician, scientist, first President of Kyrgyzstan
• Kurmanjan Datka – politician, former statesman
• Abdylas Maldybaev – actor/musician
• Orzubek Nazarov – former World Boxing Association lightweight boxing champion
• Nasirdin Isanov – politician, first Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan
• Roza Otunbayeva – politician, third President of Kyrgyzstan
• Kurmanbek Bakiyev – politician, second President of Kyrgyzstan
• Sopubek Begaliev – economist, politician

See also

• Kyrgyz language
• History of Kyrgyzstan
• Turkic languages
• Ethnic Violence in Southern Kyrgyzstan (2010)

Notes

References and further reading

• Abramzon, S.M. The Kirgiz and their ethnogenetical historical and cultural connections, Moscow, 1971, ISBN 5-655-00518-2. (Russian)
• Kyzlasov, L.R. "Mutual relationship of terms Khakas and Kyrgyz in written sources of 6–12th centuries". Peoples of Asia and Africa, 1968. (Russian)
• Zuev, Yu.A. "Kirgiz – Buruts". Soviet Ethnography, 1970, No 4, (Russian).
• Shahrani, M. Nazif. (1979) The Kirghiz and Wakhi of Afghanistan: Adaptation to Closed Frontiers and War. University of Washington Press. 1st paperback edition with new preface and epilogue (2002). ISBN 0-295-98262-4.
• Kyrgyz Republic, by Rowan Stewart and Susie Steldon, by Odyssey publications.
• Books by Chokan Valikhanov
• Aado Lintrop, "Hereditary Transmission in Siberian Shamanism and the Concept of the Reality of Legends"
• 2002 Smithsonian folklife festival
• Kyrgyz Healing Practices: Some Field Notes
• Politics of Language in the Ex-Soviet Muslim States: Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan by Jacob M. Landau and Barbara Kellner-Heinkele. Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-472-11226-5
• Culture of Kyrgyz Republic.Well made JAPANESE pages.
• Kyrgyz Textile Art
• Pulleyblank, E.G. (1990). "The Name of the Kirghiz". Central Asiatic Journal (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz) 34 (1–2): 98–108. 
• Mitchell, Laurence. (2008) Kyrgyzstan: The Bradt Travel Guide. The Globe Pequot Press. 2nd edition (2012). ISBN 1-84162-221-4.
• West, Barbara A. Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania, New York, 2009, ISBN 0-8160-7109-8.

External links

• Media related to Kyrgyz people at Wikimedia Commons
• Kirghiz tribal tree, Center for Culture and Conflict Studies, US Naval Postgraduate School
• Kirgiz in Orkhon Inscriptions

v t e Demographics of Kyrgyzstan Ethnic groups Major groups Kyrgyz (71.0%) Uzbeks (14.3%) Russians (7.8%) Dungans (1.1%) Uyghurs (0.9%) Tajiks (0.9%) Turks (0.7%) Tatars (0.6%) Kazakhs (0.6%) Ukrainians (0.4%) Koreans (0.3%) Azerbaijanis (0.3%) Germans (0.2%) Smaller groups Armenians Chinese Greeks Pakistanis Religion Islam Christianity (Roman Catholicism) Ethnic group statistics according to the 2009 census