Turkic-speaking countries. Altai is the center of the universe of the Turkic peoples

The Turks are a community of ethno-linguistic peoples who predominantly speak Turkic languages. Most of the Turks today are Muslims. However, there are those who profess Orthodoxy. Strengthened integration with other peoples has led to a wide globalization of the Turks around the world. In this article, we have collected brief information about the Turkic peoples, as well as interesting facts about the above-mentioned communities.

The first mention of the Turkic peoples

For the first time, the Turkic peoples became known in 542. The term was used by the Chinese people in chronicles. Almost 25 years have passed and the Byzantines also started talking about the Turkic peoples. Today, the whole world knows about the Turks. In general, the term "Turks" is translated as solid or strong.

Who were the ancestors of the Turks?

Mostly, the ancestors of the Turks had "Mongoloid" facial features. What it means: dark coarse straight hair, dark eye color; small eyelashes; light or swarthy skin color, cheekbones protruding strongly, the face itself is flattened, often low nose bridge and a highly developed fold of the upper eyelid.

Turks today

Today the Turks are far from their ancestors. At least in terms of looks. Now it is a kind of "blood with milk." That is, a mixed type. The current Turks no longer have pronounced facial features, as it used to be. And of course, there is a logical explanation for this. As mentioned earlier, the Turkic peoples have integrated with other peoples around the world. A kind of "crossing" of the Turkic peoples took place, which led to a change in appearance.

Azerbaijanis

Today, Azerbaijanis are one of the largest communities among the Turkic peoples. And by the way, this is a large Muslim layer all over the world. Today, more than seven million Azerbaijanis live in the country of the same name, and this makes up over 90 percent of the entire population of the country. The history of the origin of the people dates back to primitive times. Gradual colonization led to a mixed ethnic background. A special difference is the mentality, which acts as a kind of link between the West and the East in the modern world.

They have the following qualities:

• Temperamental, emotional, very quick-tempered;
• Hospitable and generous;
• Opponents of interethnic marriages, in other words, Azerbaijanis - for the purity of blood;
• Respect and reverence for elders;
• Very good at learning languages.

Azerbaijanis are famous for their carpets. For them, it is both a traditional occupation and a source of income. In addition, Azerbaijanis are excellent jewelers. Until the 20th century, Azerbaijanis led a nomadic and semi-nomadic lifestyle. Today, Azerbaijanis are culturally and linguistically similar to the Turks, but by origin they are no less close to the most ancient peoples of the Caucasus and the Middle East.

Altaians

This people is probably one of the most mysterious. For several centuries, the Altaians have been living in their own "galaxy", which by right will not be appreciated by a single living soul in the modern world. Nobody will understand. The Altai people are divided into 2 communities. These are the northern group and the southern group. The first communicate exclusively in the Altai language. Among the latter, it is customary to speak the Northern Altai language. Altaians carried cultural values ​​through the years, and continue to live according to the rules of their ancestors. Interestingly, the source of health and the so-called "healer" for this nation is water. The Altaians believed that a spirit lives in the depths of the waters, capable of curing any ailment. The people today continue to exist in balance with the outside world. Wood, water, rock - they consider all this to be animated objects and treat the above with great respect. Any appeal to higher spirits is a message of love to all living things.

Balkars

The native home for the Balkars is the mountains of the Caucasus. Northern. By the way, the name itself suggests that the Balkars are the inhabitants of the mountains. These people are easy to recognize. They have characteristic features of appearance. Big head, aquiline nose, light skin, but dark hair and eyes. The history of the origin of the aforementioned people is a mystery shrouded in darkness. However, cultural values ​​and traditions have been known for a long time and originate from ancient times. For example, a woman, a girl, any representative of the weaker half is obliged to unconditionally obey a man. Sitting at the same table with your husband is forbidden. To be in front of other men - compare treason.

Bashkirs

The Bashkirs are another Turkic people. There are about 2 million Bashkirs in the world. One and a half million of them live in Russia. The national language is Bashkir, and the people also speak Russian and Tatar. Religion, like most Turkic peoples, is Islam. Interestingly, in Russia, the people of Bashkiria are considered to be "titular". Most of them live in the south of the Urals. Since ancient times, the people led a nomadic lifestyle. In the beginning, families lived in yurts and moved to new places following herds of cattle. Until the 12th century, people lived in tribes. Cattle breeding, hunting, and fishing were developed. Due to the enmity between the tribes, the people almost disappeared, since marriage with a representative of a hostile tribe was comparable to betrayal.

Gagauz

The Gagauz people are mostly living on the Balkan Peninsula. Today the home of the Gagauz is Bessarabia. This is to the south of Moldova and the Odessa region of Ukraine. The total number of modern Gagauz is about 250 thousand people. The Gagauz profess Orthodoxy. Probably the whole world knows about the music of the Gagauz people. In something, but in this form of art they are professionals. They are also famous for their open political struggle and high level of democracy.

Dolgans

Dolgans are the people of the Turks living in Russia. There are about 8,000 of them in total. In comparison with other Turkic peoples, this community is very small. The people are devoted to Orthodoxy, unlike most of the Turks. However, history says that in ancient times the people professed animism. In other words, shamanism. The language spoken by the Dolgans is Yakut. Today, the habitat of the Dolgans is Yakutia and the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

Karachays

Karachays are a community that lives in the Caucasus, in its northern part. For the most part, this is the population of Karachay-Cherkessia. There are about three hundred thousand representatives of this nationality in the world. They practice Islam. It is noteworthy that the Karachays have a unique character. For centuries, the Karachays led an isolated lifestyle. So today they are independent. Karachays need freedom like air. Traditions originate from ancient times. And this means that family values ​​​​and respect for age are a priority.

Kyrgyz

The Kirghiz are a Turkic people. Indigenous population of modern Kyrgyzstan. There are also numerous Kyrgyz communities in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, China, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. The Kyrgyz are Muslims. There are about 5 million people in the world. The history of the formation of the people originates in the 1st and 2nd millennium of our era. And it was formed only in the 15th century. Ancestors - residents of Central Asia and South Siberia. Today, the Kyrgyz have combined a decent level of development and devotion to traditional culture. Sports competitions, namely horse racing, are very common. Folklore is well preserved - songs, music, the heroic epic work "Manas", improvisational poetry of akyns.

Nogais

Today, over a hundred thousand representatives of the people live on the territory of the Russian Federation - the Nagais. This is one of the Turkic peoples who have long lived in the Lower Volga region, in the North Caucasus, in the Crimea, the Northern Black Sea region. In total, according to rough estimates, there are a little more than 110 thousand representatives of Nogais in the world. In addition to Russia, there are communities in Romania, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Turkey. Experts are sure that it was founded by the Golden Horde temnik Nogay. And the center of the Nogais was the city of Sraychik on the Ural River. Today, there is a memorial sign.

telengits

The Telengits are a relatively small people living on the territory of the great Russian Federation. At the beginning of the 2000s, the people were introduced to the indigenous peoples of Russia. At present, the Telengits live in the southern regions of Altai. In particularly dry places. However, they are sure that they have chosen a place that is saturated with unprecedented, extraordinary and enormous power, so moving is out of the question. There are a little more than 15 thousand Telengits in total. This people is on the verge of extinction, it is possible that after some 100 years there will be no representatives of the Telengits at all. Today, they believe in spirits. A shaman is a kind of conductor between people and spirits. The harsh climate of Altai does not prevent the Telengits from leading a nomadic lifestyle. The people are engaged in cattle breeding: they breed cows, sheep, horses and so on. They live in yurts and periodically move to new habitats. The men hunt, the women gather.

Teleuts

Teleuts are rightfully considered the indigenous people of the Russian Federation. The language and culture of the people is very similar to the culture of the Altaians. Modern Teleuts settled in the southern regions of the Kemerovo region. There are 2500 Teleuts in total. And for the most part, they are residents of rural areas. They profess Orthodoxy and adhere to traditional customs in religion. The people are literally dying out. Every year they become less and less.

Turks

Turks are the second largest ethnic group in Cyprus. In total, there are almost eighty-one million people in the world. Most believers are Sunni Muslims. They make up almost 90 percent of the total. Interesting facts about Turks:

• Turkish men smoke a lot, the country's authorities, in the struggle for a healthy lifestyle, even began to fine citizens who smoke in crowded places;
• tea lovers;
• Men cut men's hair, women cut women's hair. Such a rule;
• Cunning sellers strive to weigh more than they should;
• Bright makeup for women;
• Love board games
• They love domestic music and are very proud of it;
• Good taste.

The Turks are a peculiar people, they are patient and unpretentious, but very insidious and vindictive. Non-Muslims do not exist for them.

Uighurs

The Uighurs are a people who live in the eastern part of Turkestan. They practice Islam, Sunni interpretation. Interestingly, people are literally scattered all over the world. From Russia to the west of China. At the beginning of the 19th century, people were forcibly converted to the Orthodox faith. However, this was not crowned with great success.

Shors

The Shors are a rather small people of the Turks. Only 13 thousand people. They live in the south of Western Siberia. They communicate, for the most part, in Russian. In this regard, the native Shor language is on the verge of extinction. Every year the traditions are overgrown with "Russianness". They call themselves Tatars. Appearance - Mongoloid. Dark and elongated eyes, pronounced cheekbones. Truly beautiful people. Religion - Orthodoxy. However, to this day, part of the Shors profess Tengrism. That is, three realms and nine heavens, which have powerful power. According to Tengrism, the earth is overflowing with good and evil spirits. Interestingly, for men, a young widow with a child was considered a major find. This is a sure sign of wealth. Therefore, there was a real struggle for young mothers who had lost their spouses.

Chuvash

Chuvash. There are about one and a half million people in the world. 98 percent of which live on the territory of the Russian Federation. Namely, in the Chuvash Republic. The rest is in Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. They communicate in their native language - the Chuvash language, which by the way has 3 dialects. Chuvash profess Orthodoxy and Islam. But if you believe the myths of the Chuvash, then our world is divided into three parts: the upper, middle and, accordingly, the lower worlds. Each world has three layers. The earth is square. And rests on a tree. From 4 sides the earth is washed away by water. And the Chuvash believe that someday it will reach them. By the way, if you believe the myths, they live just the same in the center of the "square land". God - lives in the upper world, along with the saints and unborn children. And when someone dies, the path of the soul lies through the rainbow. In general, not myths, but a real fairy tale!

The Turks are the generalized name of the ethno-linguistic group of the Turkic peoples. Geographically, the Turks are scattered over a vast territory, which occupies about a quarter of the entire Eurasian continent. The ancestral home of the Turks is Central Asia, and the first mention of the ethnonym "Turk" dates back to the 6th century AD. and it is connected with the name of the Kök Türks (Heavenly Türks), who, under the leadership of the Ashina clan, created the Türkic Kaganate. In history, the Turks are known as: skilled cattle breeders, warriors, founders of states and empires.

Turk is quite an ancient name. It was first mentioned in Chinese chronicles in relation to a certain group of tribes from the 6th century BC. AD The nomadic territory of these tribes extended to Xinjiang, Mongolia and Altai. Turkic tribes, Turkic languages ​​existed long before their ethnonym was recorded in the annals of history.

From the speech of the Turkic tribes, the Turkish language originates, from their common name - the name of the Turkish nation (in Turkish "Turk", in Russian "Turk"). Scientists distinguish the meanings of the words "Turk". and "Turk". At the same time, all the peoples who speak Turkic languages ​​are called Turks: these are Azerbaijanis, Altaians (Altai-Kizhi), Afshars, Balkars, Bashkirs, Gagauz, Dolgans, Qajars, Kazakhs, Karagas, Karakalpaks, Karapapahis, Karachays, Kashkais, Kirghiz, Kumyks, Nogais, Tatars, Tofs, Tuvans, Turks, Turkmens, Uzbeks, Uighurs, Khakasses, Chuvashs, Chulyms, Shors, Yakuts. Of these languages, the closest to each other are Turkish, Gagauz, South Crimean Tatar, Azerbaijani, Turkmen, which make up the Oguz subgroup of the Turkic group of the Altaic language family.

Although the Turks are not historically a single ethnic group, but include not only kindred, but also assimilated peoples, nevertheless, the Turkic peoples are a single ethno-cultural whole. And according to anthropological features, one can distinguish Turks belonging to both the Caucasian and Mongoloid races, but most often there is a transitional type belonging to the Turanian (South Siberian) race. Read more → Where did the Turks come from? .

The Turkic world is one of the most ancient and numerous ethnic groups. The first settlements of the ancient ancestors of the modern Turkic peoples stretched from east to west from Lake Baikal to the Ural Mountains, separating Asia from Europe. In the south, the territory of their habitat was covered by the Altai (Altan-Zoltoy) and Sayan Mountains, as well as Lakes Baikal and Aral. In the ancient historical era, the Turks from Altai penetrated into northwestern China, and from there around 1000 BC. a significant part of them moved to the West.

Then the Turks also reached that part of Central Asia, which is called Turkestan (the country of the Turks). Over time, part of the Turkic tribes migrated to the Volga, and then through the Dnieper, Dniester and Danube - to the Balkans. Among those Turkic tribes that found shelter in the Balkan Peninsula in the second half of the 11th - first half of the 13th centuries were the ancestors of the modern Gagauz. The Balkans (Balkanlar - from Turkish) have been used since the beginning of the 19th century and mean "impassable, dense, wooded mountains."

L.N. Gumilev. Ancient Turks. Central Asia on the eve of the creation of the Turkic state, con. 5th century

Today, the Turkic peoples are collectively called the "Turkic world".

Reconstructions of the appearance of the ancient Turks (Göktürks)

By the beginning of the XXI century. 44 Turkic ethnic groups were recorded. This is 150-200 million people. The largest Turkic state in the world with a population of 75 million (2007) is Turkey. A small part of the Turkic world is the Gagauz people, most of whom live in the Republic of Moldova. The disunity of the Turkic tribes, settling in vast territories led to a significant difference in their linguistic features, although in ancient times they all spoke two or three ancient Turkic dialects. The Turkic population is divided into eight geographical regions:

1. Türkiye;
2. Balkans;
3. Iran;
4. Caucasus;
5. Volga-Ural;
6. Western Turkestan;
7. Eastern Turkestan;
8. Moldova-Ukraine (over 200 thousand Gagauz).

About 500,000 Yakuts (Sakhas) live in Siberia, about 8 million Turkic people live in Afghanistan, over 500,000 people in Syria, and 2.5 million Turkmen in Iraq.

The Göktürks were a strong nomadic people of Turkic origin and were the first people who launched a massive invasion of modern Central Asia and conquered the local Iranian-speaking, Indo-European peoples. Their people were not entirely Caucasoid or Mongoloid, but were a Mongoloid-Caucasoid mixed race, according to anthropologists. Read more → Turkic world - Huns (Huns), Gokturks... .

The Turkic Khaganate controlled part of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Siberia, part of the Caucasus and Western Manchuria. They fought against 100% Mongoloid, East Asian, Chinese civilization. They also fought against other civilizations, Central Asia and the Caucasus, which were 100% Indo-European.

Turkic Khaganate at its peak

Gökturk from Altai

Gökturk V-VIII AD, from Kyrgyzstan

Göktürks from Mongolia

According to anthropologists, racially these people were 67-70% Mongoloid, and with 33-30% Caucasoid admixture, from a technical point of view they are closer to the Mongoloid race, but with an admixture. Also, they were often quite tall.

It is interesting that among them there were reddish and brown hair with gray and green eyes.

Museum of the Turkic memorial complex Khushuu Tsaidam (Mongolia). Thanks to the incredible work of Mongolian and Russian archaeologists, the museum has become a true repository of valuable exhibits of the ancient Turkic era.

About 90% of the Turkic peoples of the former USSR belong to the Islamic faith. Most of them inhabit Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The rest of the Muslim Turks live in the Volga region and the Caucasus. Of the Turkic peoples, only the Gagauz and Chuvash living in Europe, as well as the Yakuts and Tuvans living in Asia, were not affected by Islam. The Turks have no common physical features, and only language unites them.

The Volga Turks - Tatars, Chuvashs, Bashkirs - were under the long influence of Slavic settlers, and now their ethnic regions do not have clear boundaries. The Turkmens and Uzbeks were influenced by Persian culture, and the Kirghiz - by the long-term influence of the Mongols. Some nomadic Turkic peoples suffered significant losses during the period of collectivization, which forcibly attached them to the land.

In the Russian Federation, the peoples of this language group constitute the second largest "bloc". All Turkic languages ​​are very close to each other, although usually several branches are distinguished in their composition: Kypchak, Oguz, Bulgar, Karluk, etc.

Tatars (5522 thousand people) are concentrated mainly in Tataria (1765.4 thousand people), Bashkiria (1120.7 thousand people),

Udmurtia (110.5 thousand people), Mordovia (47.3 thousand people), Chuvashia (35.7 thousand people), Mari El (43.8 thousand people), however, they live dispersedly in all regions of European Russia, as well as in Siberia and the Far East. The Tatar population is divided into three main ethno-territorial groups: Volga-Ural, Siberian and Astrakhan Tatars. The Tatar literary language was formed on the basis of the middle one, but with a noticeable participation of the Western dialect. A special group of Crimean Tatars stands out (21.3 thousand people; in Ukraine, mainly in the Crimea, about 270 thousand people), who speak a special, Crimean Tatar language.

Bashkirs (1345.3 thousand people) live in Bashkiria, as well as in the Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, Perm, Sverdlovsk, Kurgan, Tyumen regions and in Central Asia. Outside of Bashkiria, 40.4% of the Bashkir population lives in the Russian Federation, and in Bashkiria itself, this titular people is the third largest ethnic group after the Tatars and Russians.

Chuvashs (1773.6 thousand people) linguistically represent a special, Bulgar, branch of the Turkic languages. In Chuvashia, the titular population is 907 thousand people, in Tataria - 134.2 thousand people, in Bashkiria - 118.6 thousand people, in the Samara region - 117.8

thousand people, in the Ulyanovsk region - 116.5 thousand people. However, at present, the Chuvash people have a relatively high degree of consolidation.

Kazakhs (636 thousand people, the total number in the world is more than 9 million people) were divided into three territorial nomadic associations: Semirechye - Senior Zhuz (uly zhuz), Central Kazakhstan - Middle Zhuz (orta zhuz), Western Kazakhstan - Junior Zhuz (kishi zhuz). The zhuz structure of the Kazakhs has been preserved to this day.

Azerbaijanis (in the Russian Federation 335.9 thousand people, in Azerbaijan 5805 thousand people, in Iran about 10 million people, in total about 17 million people in the world) speak the language of the Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages. The Azerbaijani language is divided into eastern, western, northern and southern dialect groups. For the most part, Azerbaijanis profess Shiite Islam, and Sunnism is widespread only in the north of Azerbaijan.

Gagauz (in the Russian Federation 10.1 thousand people) live in the Tyumen region, Khabarovsk Territory, Moscow, St. Petersburg; the majority of the Gagauz live in Moldova (153.5 thousand people) and Ukraine (31.9 thousand people); separate groups - in Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Canada and Brazil. The Gagauz language belongs to the Oguz branch of the Turkic languages. 87.4% of the Gagauz consider the Gagauz language as their native language. By religion, the Gagauz are Orthodox.

Meskhetian Turks (9.9 thousand people in the Russian Federation) also live in Uzbekistan (106 thousand people), Kazakhstan (49.6 thousand people), Kyrgyzstan (21.3 thousand people), Azerbaijan (17.7 thousand people). The total number in the former USSR is 207.5 thousand people.

People speak Turkish.

Khakasses (78.5 thousand people) - the indigenous population of the Republic of Khakassia (62.9 thousand people), also live in Tuva (2.3 thousand people), Krasnoyarsk Territory (5.2 thousand people).

Tuvinians (206.2 thousand people, of which 198.4 thousand people live in Tuva). They also live in Mongolia (25 thousand people), China (3 thousand people). The total number of Tuvans is 235 thousand people. They are divided into western (mountain-steppe regions of western, central and southern Tuva) and eastern, or Todzha Tuvans (mountain-taiga part of northeastern and southeastern Tuva).

Altaians (self-name Altai-Kizhi) are the indigenous population of the Altai Republic. 69.4 thousand people live in the Russian Federation, including 59.1 thousand people in the Altai Republic. Their total number is 70.8 thousand people. There are ethnographic groups of northern and southern Altaians. The Altai language is divided into northern (Tuba, Kumandin, Cheskan) and southern (Altai-Kizhi, Telengit) dialects. Most of the believing Altaians are Orthodox, there are Baptists, etc. At the beginning of the 20th century. Burkhanism, a kind of Lamaism with elements of shamanism, spread among the southern Altaians. During the 1989 census, 89.3% of Altaians called their language their native language, and 77.7% indicated that they were fluent in Russian.

Teleuts are currently distinguished as a separate people. They speak one of the southern dialects of the Altaic language. Their number is 3 thousand people, and the majority (about 2.5 thousand people) live in rural areas and cities of the Kemerovo region. The main part of believing Teleuts are Orthodox, but traditional religious beliefs are also widespread among them.

Chulyms (Chulym Turks) live in the Tomsk region and the Krasnoyarsk Territory in the basin of the river. Chulym and its tributaries Yaya and Kiya. Number - 0.75 thousand people. Believing Chulyms are Orthodox Christians.

Uzbeks (126.9 thousand people) live in the diaspora in Moscow and the Moscow region, in St. Petersburg and in the regions of Siberia. The total number of Uzbeks in the world reaches 18.5 million people.

Kirghiz (in the Russian Federation about 41.7 thousand people) - the main population of Kyrgyzstan (2229.7 thousand people). They also live in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Xinjiang (PRC), Mongolia. The total number of the Kyrgyz population of the world exceeds 2.5 million people.

Karakalpaks (6.2 thousand people) in the Russian Federation live mainly in cities (73.7%), although in Central Asia they make up a predominantly rural population. The total number of Karakalpaks exceeds 423.5

thousand people, of which 411.9 live in Uzbekistan

Karachays (150.3 thousand people) - the indigenous population of Karachay (in Karachay-Cherkessia), where most of them live (over 129.4 thousand people). Karachays also live in Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Turkey, Syria, and the USA. They speak the Karachay-Balkarian language.

Balkars (78.3 thousand people) - the indigenous population of Kabardino-Balkaria (70.8 thousand people). They also live in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Their total number reaches 85.1

thousand people The Balkars and their kindred Karachais are Sunni Muslims.

Kumyks (277.2 thousand people, of which in Dagestan - 231.8 thousand people, in Checheno-Ingushetia - 9.9 thousand people, in North Ossetia - 9.5 thousand people; total number - 282.2

thousand people) - the indigenous population of the Kumyk plain and the foothills of Dagestan. For the most part (97.4%), they retained their native language - Kumyk.

The Nogais (73.7 thousand people) are settled within Dagestan (28.3 thousand people), Chechnya (6.9 thousand people) and the Stavropol Territory. They also live in Turkey, Romania and some other countries. The Nogai language breaks up into the Karanogai and Kuban dialects. Believing Nogais are Sunni Muslims.

The Shors (the self-designation of the Shors) reach the number of 15.7 thousand people. The Shors are the indigenous population of the Kemerovo region (Gornaya Shoria), they also live in Khakassia and the Altai Republic. Believing Shors are Orthodox Christians.

In the old days there was no means of transportation faster and more convenient horse . On a horse they transported goods, hunted, fought; on a horse they went to woo and brought the bride to the house. Without a horse, they could not imagine farming. A delicious and healing drink, koumiss, was obtained (and is still being received) from mare's milk, strong ropes were made from the hair of the mane, and soles for shoes were made from the skin, boxes and buckles were made from the horn coating of hooves. In a horse, especially in a horse, his position was valued. There were even signs by which you can recognize a good horse. The Kalmyks, for example, had 33 such signs.

The peoples that will be discussed, whether Turkic or Mongolian, know, love and breed this animal in their household. Perhaps their ancestors were not the first to domesticate a horse, but perhaps there are no peoples on earth in whose history a horse would play such a role. big role. Thanks to the light cavalry, the ancient Turks and Mongols settled on a vast territory - the steppe and forest-steppe, desert and semi-desert spaces of Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

On the globe about 40 peoples live in different countries speaking in Turkic languages ; more than 20 -in Russia. Their number is about 10 million people. Only 11 out of 20 have republics within the Russian Federation: Tatars (Republic of Tatarstan), Bashkirs (Republic of Bashkortostan), Chuvash (Chuvash Republic), Altaians (Altai Republic), Tuvans (Republic of Tuva), Khakass (The Republic of Khakassia), Yakuts (The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)); among Karachays with Circassians and Balkars with Kabardians - common republics (Karachay-Cherkess and Kabardino-Balkaria).

The rest of the Turkic peoples are scattered throughout Russia, in its European and Asian regions and regions. This Dolgans, Shors, Tofalars, Chulyms, Nagaibaks, Kumyks, Nogais, Astrakhan and Siberian Tatars . The list can include Azerbaijanis (Derbent Turks) Dagestan, Crimean Tatars, Meskhetian Turks, Karaites, a significant number of whom now live not in their original land, in the Crimea and Transcaucasia, but in Russia.

The largest Turkic people of Russia - Tatars, there are about 6 million people. The smallest - Chulyms and Tofalars: the number of each nation is just over 700 people. northernmost - Dolgans on the Taimyr Peninsula, and southernmost - Kumyks in Dagestan, one of the republics of the North Caucasus. The most eastern Turks of Russia - Yakuts(their self-name - Sakha), and they live in the north-east of Siberia. A most western - Karachays inhabiting the southern regions of Karachay-Cherkessia. The Turks of Russia live in different geographical zones - in the mountains, in the steppe, in the tundra, in the taiga, in the forest-steppe zone.

The ancestral home of the Turkic peoples is the steppes of Central Asia. Starting from the II century. and ending in the 13th century, pressed by their neighbors, they gradually moved to the territory of present-day Russia and occupied the lands where their descendants now live (see the article "From primitive tribes to modern peoples").

The languages ​​of these peoples are similar, they have many common words, but, most importantly, the grammar is similar. As scientists suggest, in ancient times they were dialects of the same language. Over time, the closeness was lost. The Turks settled on a very large area, stopped communicating with each other, they had new neighbors, and their languages ​​could not help but influence the Turkic ones. All Turks understand each other, but, say, Altaians with Tuvans and Khakasses, Nogais with Balkars and Karachays, Tatars with Bashkirs and Kumyks can easily come to an agreement. And only the Chuvash language stands apart in the Turkic family of languages.

Representatives of the Turkic peoples of Russia differ greatly in appearance. . in the east This North Asian and Central Asian Mongoloids -Yakuts, Tuvans, Altaians, Khakasses, Shors.In the west, typical Caucasians -Karachays, Balkars. And finally, the intermediate type refers in general caucasoid , But with a strong admixture of Mongoloid features Tatars, Bashkirs, Chuvashs, Kumyks, Nogais.

What's the matter here? The relationship of the Turks is more linguistic than genetic. Turkic languages are easy to pronounce, their grammar is very logical, there are almost no exceptions. In ancient times, nomadic Turks spread over a vast territory occupied by other tribes. Some of these tribes switched to the Turkic dialect because of its simplicity and over time began to feel like Turks, although they differed from them both in appearance and in traditional occupations.

Traditional farming , which the Turkic peoples of Russia were engaged in in the past, and in some places they continue to be engaged in now, are also diverse. Nearly all were grown cereals and vegetables. Many raised cattle: horses, sheep, cows. Excellent herdsmen have long been Tatars, Bashkirs, Tuvans, Yakuts, Altaians, Balkars. However deer bred and still few are bred. This Dolgans, northern Yakuts, Tofalars, Altaians and a small group of Tuvans living in the taiga part of Tuva - Todzha.

Religions among the Turkic peoples too different. Tatars, Bashkirs, Karachays, Nogais, Balkars, Kumyks - Muslims ; Tuvans - Buddhists . Altaians, Shors, Yakuts, Chulyms, although adopted in the XVII-XVIII centuries. Christianity , always remained secret worshipers of shamanism . Chuvash from the middle of the XVIII century. considered the most Christian people in the Volga region , but in recent years some of them return to paganism : they worship the sun, the moon, the spirits of the earth and the dwelling, the spirits-ancestors, without refusing, however, from orthodoxy .

WHO ARE YOU, T A T A R Y?

Tatars - the most numerous Turkic people of Russia. They live in Republic of Tatarstan, as well as in Bashkortostan, Udmurt Republic and adjacent areas Ural and Volga regions. There are large Tatar communities in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other major cities. And in general, in all regions of Russia, one can meet Tatars who have been living outside their homeland, the Volga region, for decades. They have taken root in a new place, fit into a new environment for them, feel great there and do not want to leave anywhere.

There are several peoples in Russia who call themselves Tatars . Astrakhan Tatars live close to Astrakhan, Siberian- V Western Siberia, Kasimov Tatars - near the city of Kasimov on the river Ok a (on the territory where serving Tatar princes lived several centuries ago). And finally Kazan Tatars named after the capital of Tatarstan - the city of Kazan. All these are different, although close to each other peoples. However just Tatars should be called only Kazan .

Among the Tatars distinguish two ethnographic groups - Mishari Tatars And Kryashen Tatars . The former are known for being Muslims do not celebrate the national holiday Sabantuy but they celebrate red egg day - something similar to the Orthodox Easter. On this day, children collect colored eggs from home and play with them. Kryashens ("baptized") because they are called that because they were baptized, that is, they accepted Christianity, and note not Muslim but Christian holidays .

The Tatars themselves began to call themselves that way quite late - only in the middle of the 19th century. For a very long time they did not like this name and considered it humiliating. Until the 19th century they were named differently: Bulgarly" (Bulgars), "Kazanly" (Kazan), "Meselman" (Muslims). And now many demand the return of the name "Bulgars".

Turks came to the regions of the Middle Volga and the Kama region from the steppes of Central Asia and the North Caucasus, crowded by tribes that moved from Asia to Europe. The migration continued for several centuries. At the end of the IX-X centuries. a prosperous state, the Volga Bulgaria, arose on the Middle Volga. The people living in this state were called Bulgars. Volga Bulgaria existed for two and a half centuries. Here agriculture and cattle breeding, handicrafts developed, there was trade with Russia and with the countries of Europe and Asia.

The high level of Bulgar culture in that period is evidenced by the existence of two types of writing - ancient Turkic runic(1) and later Arabic which came along with Islam in the 10th century. Arabic language and writing gradually replaced the signs of ancient Turkic writing from the sphere of state circulation. And this is natural: the entire Muslim East, with which Bulgaria had close political and economic contacts, used the Arabic language.

The names of remarkable poets, philosophers, scientists of Bulgaria, whose works are included in the treasury of the peoples of the East, have survived to our time. This Khoja Ahmed Bulgari (XI century) - a scientist and theologian, an expert on the moral precepts of Islam; WITH ulaiman ibn Daoud al-Saksini-Suwari (XII century) - the author of philosophical treatises with very poetic titles: "The light of the rays - the truthfulness of secrets", "The flower of the garden, delighting sick souls." And the poet Kul Gali (XII-XIII centuries) wrote the "Poem about Yusuf", which is considered a classic Turkic-language work of art of the pre-Mongolian period.

In the middle of the XIII century. Volga Bulgaria was conquered by the Tatar-Mongols and became part of the Golden Horde . After the fall of the Horde in 15th century . a new state arises in the Middle Volga region - Kazan Khanate . The main backbone of its population is formed by the same Bulgars, who by that time had already experienced the strong influence of their neighbors - the Finno-Ugric peoples (Mordovians, Mari, Udmurts), who lived next to them in the Volga basin, as well as the Mongols, who made up the majority of the ruling class of the Golden Horde.

Where did the name come from "Tatars" ? There are several versions of this. According to the most widespread, one of the Central Asian tribes conquered by the Mongols was called " tatan", "tatabi". In Rus', this word turned into "Tatars", and they began to call everyone: the Mongols, and the Turkic population of the Golden Horde subject to the Mongols, far from being monoethnic in composition. With the collapse of the Horde, the word "Tatars" did not disappear, they continued to collectively call the Turkic-speaking peoples on the southern and eastern borders of Rus'. Over time, its meaning narrowed down to the name of one people who lived on the territory of the Kazan Khanate.

The Khanate was conquered by Russian troops in 1552 . Since then, the Tatar lands have been part of Russia, and the history of the Tatars has been developing in close cooperation with the peoples inhabiting the Russian state.

Tatars excelled in various types of economic activity. They were wonderful s farmers (they grew rye, barley, millet, peas, lentils) and excellent cattle breeders . Of all types of livestock, sheep and horses were especially preferred.

Tatars were famous as beautiful artisans . Coopers made barrels for fish, caviar, sour, pickles, beer. Tanners made leather. Kazan morocco and Bulgar yuft (original locally produced leather), shoes and boots, very soft to the touch, decorated with applique from pieces of multi-colored leather, were especially valued at fairs. Among the Kazan Tatars there were many enterprising and successful merchants who traded throughout Russia.

TATAR NATIONAL CUISINE

In Tatar cuisine one can distinguish "agricultural" dishes and "cattle-breeding" dishes. The first ones are soups with pieces of dough, cereals, pancakes, tortillas , i.e., what can be prepared from grain and flour. To the second - dried horse meat sausage, sour cream, different types of cheese , a special kind of sour milk - katyk . And if you dilute the katyk with water and cool it, you get a wonderful thirst-quenching drink - ayran . well and belyashi - round pies fried in oil with meat or vegetable filling, which can be seen through a hole in the dough, are known to everyone. festive dish the Tatars considered smoked goose .

Already at the beginning of the X century. the ancestors of the Tatars accepted Islam , and since then their culture has developed within the Islamic world. This was facilitated by the spread of writing based on Arabic script and the construction of a large number of mosques - buildings for holding collective prayers. Schools were created at mosques - mektebe and madrasah , where children (and not only from noble families) learned to read the holy book of Muslims in Arabic - Koran .

Ten centuries of written tradition have not been in vain. Among the Kazan Tatars, in comparison with other Turkic peoples of Russia, there are many writers, poets, composers, and artists. Often it was the Tatars who were the mullahs and teachers of other Turkic peoples. Tatars have a highly developed sense of national identity, pride in their history and culture.

{1 } Runic (from the ancient Germanic and Gothic runa - "mystery*") is the name given to the most ancient Germanic writings, which were distinguished by a special inscription of characters. The ancient Turkic writing of the 8th-10th centuries was also called.

VISIT TO X A K A S A M

In southern Siberia on the banks of the Yenisei River another Turkic-speaking people lives - Khakass . There are only 79 thousand of them. Khakasses - descendants of the Yenisei Kyrgyz who lived more than a thousand years ago in the same area. Neighbors, the Chinese, called the Kyrgyz " hyagas"; from this word the name of the people came - the Khakass. By appearance Khakasses can be attributed to Mongoloid race, however, a strong Caucasoid admixture is also noticeable in them, which manifests itself in lighter skin than other Mongoloids and lighter, sometimes almost red, hair color.

Khakasses live in Minusinsk basin, sandwiched between the Sayan and Abakan ridges. They consider themselves mountain people , although the majority live in the flat, steppe part of Khakassia. Archaeological monuments of this basin - and there are more than 30 thousand of them - testify that a person lived on the Khakas land already 40-30 thousand years ago. From the drawings on the rocks and stones, one can get an idea of ​​how people lived at that time, what they did, who they hunted, what rituals they performed, what gods they worshiped. Of course, it cannot be said that Khakass{2 ) are direct descendants of the ancient inhabitants of these places, but there are still some common features between the ancient and modern population of the Minusinsk Basin.

Khakass - pastoralists . They call themselves " threefold people", because three types of livestock are bred: horses, cattle (cows and bulls) and sheep . Previously, if a person had more than 100 horses and cows, they said about him that he had "a lot of cattle", and they called him a bai. In the XVIII-XIX centuries. The Khakass led a nomadic lifestyle. Cattle were grazed all year round. When horses, sheep, cows ate all the grass around the dwelling, the owners collected property, loaded it onto horses and, together with their herd, went to a new place. Having found a good pasture, they set up a yurt there and lived until the cattle again ate the grass. And so up to four times a year.

Bread they also sowed - and learned this a long time ago. An interesting folk way, which determined the readiness of the land for sowing. The owner plowed a small area and, having exposed the lower half of his body, sat down on the arable land to smoke a pipe. If, while he was smoking, the bare parts of the body did not freeze, it means that the earth has warmed up and it is possible to sow grain. However, other nations also used this method. While working on arable land, they did not wash their faces - so as not to wash away happiness. And when the sowing was over, they made an alcoholic drink from the remnants of last year's grain and sprinkled the sown land with it. This interesting Khakass rite was called "Uren Khurty", which means "to kill an earthworm". It was performed in order to appease the spirit - the owner of the earth, so that he would not "allow" various kinds of pests to destroy the future crop.

Now the Khakass quite willingly eat fish, but in the Middle Ages they were treated with disgust and called it "river worm". To prevent it from accidentally getting into drinking water, special channels were diverted from the river.

Until the middle of the XIX century. Khakass lived in yurts . Yurt- comfortable nomadic dwelling. It can be assembled and disassembled in two hours. First, sliding wooden grates are placed in a circle, a door frame is attached to them, then a dome is laid out from separate poles, while not forgetting about the upper hole: it plays the role of a window and a chimney at the same time. In summer, the outside of the yurt was covered with birch bark, and in winter - with felt. If you properly heat the hearth, which is placed in the center of the yurt, then it is very warm in it in any frost.

Like all pastoralists, the Khakass love meat and dairy products . With the onset of winter colds, cattle were slaughtered for meat - not all, of course, but as much as needed to last until the beginning of summer, until the first milk of cows that went out to pasture. Horses and sheep were slaughtered according to certain rules, dismembering the carcass at the joints with a knife. It was forbidden to break bones - otherwise the owner will have cattle transferred and there will be no happiness. On the day of the slaughter, a celebration was held and all the neighbors were invited. Adults and children are very loved pressed milk foam mixed with flour, bird cherry or lingonberries .

There have always been many children in Khakas families. There is a proverb "A man who has raised cattle has a full stomach, and a man who has raised children has a full soul"; If a woman gave birth and raised nine children - and the number nine had a special meaning in the mythology of many peoples of Central Asia - she was allowed to ride a "consecrated" horse. The horse, on which the shaman performed a special ceremony, was considered consecrated; after him, according to the beliefs of the Khakas, the horse was protected from trouble and protected the entire herd. Not every man was even allowed to touch such an animal.

In general, the Khakass many interesting customs . For example, a person who managed to catch the sacred bird flamingo while hunting (this bird is very rare in Khakassia) could woo any girl, and her parents had no right to refuse him. The groom dressed the bird in a red silk shirt, tied a red silk scarf around its neck and carried it as a gift to the bride's parents. Such a gift was considered very valuable, more expensive than any kalym - a ransom for the bride, which the groom had to pay to her family.

Since the 90s. 20th century Khakass - by religion They shamanists - annually celebrate the national holiday Ada Hoorai . It is dedicated to the memory of the ancestors - everyone who has ever fought and died for the freedom of Khakassia. In honor of these heroes, a public prayer is held, a ritual of sacrifice is performed.

THROAT SINGING OF THE KHAKAS

Khakasses own the art of throat singing . It's called " hai ". The singer does not utter words, but in the low and high sounds flying out of his throat, one can hear the sounds of an orchestra, then the rhythmic clatter of a horse's hooves, then the hoarse groans of a dying beast. Undoubtedly, this unusual art form was born in nomadic conditions, and its origins must be sought in ancient times. It is curious that throat singing is known only to the Turkic-speaking peoples - Tuvans, Khakasses, Bashkirs, Yakuts - and also to a small extent to the Buryats and Western Mongols, in which there is a strong admixture of Turkic blood. It is unknown to other nations. And this is one of the mysteries of nature and history, not yet revealed by scientists. Throat singing is only for men . You can learn it by training hard from childhood, and since far from everyone has enough patience, only a few achieve success.

{2 ) Before the revolution, the Khakasses were called Minusinsk or Abakan Tatars.

ON THE CHULYM RIVER UCHULYMTS EV

On the border of the Tomsk region and the Krasnoyarsk Territory in the Chulym river basin lives the smallest Turkic people in terms of numbers - Chulyms . Sometimes they are called Chulym Turks . But they talk about themselves "Pestyn Kizhiler", which means "our people". At the end of the 19th century there were about 5 thousand people, now there are just over 700. Small peoples living next to large ones usually merge with the latter, perceive their culture, language and self-consciousness. merged with the Siberian Tatars, others merged with the Khakass, others with the Russians.Those who still continue to call themselves Chulyms have almost lost their native language.

Chulyms - fishermen and hunters . At the same time, they catch fish mainly in the summer, and hunt mainly in the winter, although, of course, they know both winter ice fishing and summer hunting.

Fish was stored and eaten in any form: raw, boiled, dried with and without salt, crushed with wild roots, fried on a spit, mashed caviar. Sometimes the fish was cooked by placing the skewer at an angle to the fire so that the fat flowed out and it dried out a little, after which it was dried in an oven or in special closed pits. Frozen fish was mainly for sale.

Hunting was divided into hunting "for oneself" and hunting "for sale". ". For themselves, they beat - and continue to do it now - moose, taiga and lake game, put sniffs on the squirrel. Losyatin and game are indispensable in the food of Chulymets. For sable, fox and wolf, they hunted for fur skins: Russian merchants were paid well. Bear meat ate themselves, and the skin was most often sold to buy rifles and cartridges and sugar.

Still Chulyms are engaged in such an ancient activity as gathering: wild herbs, garlic and onions, wild dill are collected in the taiga, in the floodplain, along the banks of lakes, dried or salted, and added to food in autumn, winter and spring. These are the only vitamins available to them. In autumn, like many other peoples of Siberia, the Chulyms go out with their whole families to collect pine nuts.

Chulyms knew how make cloth out of nettles . Nettles were collected, tied into sheaves, dried in the sun, then kneaded with hands and crushed in a wooden mortar. All this was done by children. And the yarn itself from cooked nettles was made by adult women.

On the example of Tatars, Khakasses and Chulyms, one can see how the Turkic peoples of Russia are distinguished- in appearance, type of economy, spiritual culture. Tatars outwardly most similar on Europeans, Khakasses and Chulyms - typical Mongoloids with only a slight admixture of Caucasoid features.Tatars - settled farmers and pastoralists , Khakass -pastoral nomads in the recent past , Chulyms - fishermen, hunters, gatherers .Tatars - Muslims , Khakasses and Chulyms once accepted Christianity , and now return to the ancient shamanic cults. So the Turkic world is both united and diverse at the same time.

CLOSE RELATIVES OF BURYATY AND KALMYKI

If Turkic peoples in Russia more than twenty Mongolian - only two: Buryats and Kalmyks . Buryats live in Southern Siberia on the lands adjacent to Lake Baikal, and further to the east . In administrative terms, this is the territory of the Republic of Buryatia (the capital is Ulan-Ude) and two autonomous Buryat districts: Ust-Orda in the Irkutsk region and Aginsky in the Chita region . Buryats also live in Moscow, St. Petersburg and in many other large cities of Russia . Their number is more than 417 thousand people.

The Buryats formed as a single people by the middle of the 17th century. from the tribes that lived on the lands around Lake Baikal more than a thousand years ago. In the second half of the XVII century. these territories became part of Russia.

Kalmyks live in Lower Volga region in the Republic of Kalmykia (capital - Elista) and neighboring Astrakhan, Rostov, Volgograd regions and Stavropol Territory . The number of Kalmyks is about 170 thousand people.

The history of the Kalmyk people began in Asia. His ancestors - Western Mongolian tribes and nationalities - were called Oirats. In the XIII century. they were united under the rule of Genghis Khan and, together with other peoples, formed the vast Mongol Empire. As part of the army of Genghis Khan, they participated in his campaigns of conquest, including those against Rus'.

After the collapse of the empire (end of the 14th - beginning of the 15th centuries), unrest and wars began on its former territory. Part Oirat taishas (princes) subsequently asked for citizenship from the Russian tsar, and during the first half of the 17th century. in several groups they moved to Russia, in the steppes of the Lower Volga region. The word "Kalmyk" comes from the word halmg", which means "remnant". So they called themselves those who, having not converted to Islam, came from Dzungaria{3 ) to Russia, unlike those who continued to call themselves Oirats. And since the 18th century the word "Kalmyk" became the self-name of the people.

Since then, the history of the Kalmyks has been closely connected with the history of Russia. Their nomad camps protected its southern borders from sudden attacks by the Turkish Sultan and the Crimean Khan. The Kalmyk cavalry was famous for its speed, lightness, and excellent fighting qualities. She participated in almost all the wars waged by the Russian Empire: Russian-Turkish, Russian-Swedish, the Persian campaign of 1722-1723, the Patriotic War of 1812.

The fate of the Kalmyks as part of Russia was not easy. Two events were especially tragic. The first is the departure of a part of the princes dissatisfied with the policy of Russia, together with their subjects, back to Western Mongolia in 1771. The second is the deportation of the Kalmyk people to Siberia and Central Asia in 1944-1957. on charges of aiding the Germans during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Both events left a heavy imprint in the memory and in the soul of the people.

Kalmyks and Buryats have a lot in common in culture , and not only because they speak close and understandable to each other languages ​​that are part of the Mongolian language group. The point is also different: both peoples up to the beginning of the 20th century. were engaged nomadic pastoralism ; in the past were shamanists , and later, although at different times (the Kalmyks in the 15th century, and the Buryats at the beginning of the 17th century), adopted Buddhism . Their culture combines shamanic and Buddhist features, rites of both religions coexist . There is nothing unusual about this. There are many peoples on earth who, officially considered Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, nevertheless continue to follow the pagan tradition.

Buryats and Kalmyks are also among such peoples. And although they have many Buddhist temples (before the 20s of the XX century, the Buryats had 48 of them, the Kalmyks - 104; now the Buryats have 28 temples, the Kalmyks - 14), but they celebrate traditional pre-Buddhist holidays with special solemnity. For the Buryats, this is Sagaalgan (White month) - New Year's holiday, which occurs on the first spring new moon. Now it is considered Buddhist, services are held in its honor in Buddhist temples, but, in fact, it was and remains a national holiday.

Every year, Sagaalgan is celebrated on different days, as the date is calculated according to the lunar calendar, and not according to the solar one. This calendar is called the 12-year animal cycle, because each year in it bears the name of an animal (the year of the Tiger, the year of the Dragon, the year of the Hare, etc.) and the “named” year is repeated every 12 years. In 1998, for example, the year of the tiger began on February 27th.

When Sagaalgan comes, it is supposed to eat a lot of white, i.e. dairy, food - cottage cheese, butter, cheese, foam, drink milk vodka and koumiss. That is why the holiday is called "White month". Everything white in the culture of the Mongolian-speaking peoples was considered sacred and was directly related to holidays and solemn ceremonies: white felt, on which the newly elected khan was raised, a bowl with fresh, freshly milked milk, which was brought to the honored guest. The horse that won the race was sprinkled with milk.

And here Kalmyks celebrate the New Year on December 25 and call it "dzul" , and the White month (in Kalmyk it is called "Tsagaan Sar") is considered by them as a holiday of the onset of spring and was not connected with the New Year in any way.

At the height of summer Buryats celebrate Surkharban . On this day, the best athletes compete in accuracy, shooting from a bow at felt balls - targets ("sur" - "felt ball", "harbakh" - "shoot"; hence the name of the holiday); horse races and national wrestling are arranged. An important moment of the holiday is the sacrifice to the spirits of the earth, water and mountains. If the spirits were appeased, the Buryats believed, they would send good weather, abundant grasses to pastures, which means that the cattle would be fat and well-fed, people would be full and contented with life.

Kalmyks have two similar holidays in summer: Usn Arshan (blessing of water) and Usn Tyaklgn (sacrifice to water). In the dry Kalmyk steppe, much depended on water, so it was necessary to make a sacrifice to the spirit of water in a timely manner in order to win its favor. At the end of autumn, each family performed the rite of sacrifice to fire - Gal Tyaklgn . A cold winter was approaching, and it was very important that the "owner" of the hearth and fire be kind to the family and provide warmth in the house, yurt, wagon. A ram was sacrificed, its meat was burned in the fire of the hearth.

Buryats and Kalmyks are extremely respectful and even affectionate towards the horse. This is one of the characteristic features of nomadic societies. Any poor man had several horses, the rich owned large herds, but, as a rule, each owner knew his horses "by sight", could distinguish them from strangers, and gave nicknames especially to his beloved. Heroes of all heroic legends (epos Buryat - "Geser ", Kalmyks - "Jangar ") had a beloved horse, which was called by name. He was not just a mount, but a friend and comrade in trouble, in joy, in a military campaign. A horse-friend in legends saved the owner in difficult times, carried him, seriously wounded, from the battlefield, obtained "living water" to bring him back to life. The horse and the nomad were attached to each other from childhood. son at full disposal. They grew up together, the boy fed, watered and walked his friend. The foal learned to be a horse, and the boy learned to be a rider. That is how the future winners of the races, dashing riders grew up. Low, hardy, with long manes, the Central Asian horses grazed in the steppe all year round. They were not afraid of either the cold or wolves, fighting off predators with strong and accurate hoof strikes.The excellent war cavalry more than once put the enemy to flight and caused amazement and respect both in Asia and in Europe.

"TROIKA" IN KALMYK

Kalmyk folklore surprisingly rich in genres - here and fairy tales, and legends, and the heroic epic "Dzhangar", and proverbs, and sayings, and riddles . There is also a peculiar genre that is difficult to define. It combines a riddle, a proverb and a saying and is called a "three line" or simply "troika" (no-Kalmyks - "gurvn"). The people believed that there were 99 such "threes"; in fact, there are probably many more. The youth loved to arrange competitions - who knows them more and better. Here are some of them.

Three of what is fast?
What is the fastest in the world? Horse legs.
An arrow, if it is dexterously thrown.
And thought is fast when it is smart.

Three of what is full?
In the month of May, the freedom of the steppes is full.
A child is fed, that is fed by his mother.
A well-fed old man who raised worthy children.

Three of those who are rich?
The old man, since there are many daughters and sons, is rich.
The skill of the master among the masters is rich.
The poor man, at least in that there are no debts, is rich.

In three lines, improvisation plays an important role. A participant in the competition can come up with his own “troika” right off the bat. The main thing is that the laws of the genre are observed in it: first there must be a question, and then an answer consisting of three parts. And, of course, meaning, worldly logic and folk wisdom are necessary.

{3 ) Dzungaria is a historical region on the territory of modern Northwest China.

TRADITIONAL BOOT COSTUME

Bashkirs , who for a long time maintained a semi-nomadic lifestyle, widely used leather, skins and wool for making clothes. Underwear was sewn from Central Asian or Russian factory fabrics. Those who early switched to a sedentary lifestyle made clothes from nettle, hemp, linen canvas.

Traditional male costume consisted of shirts with a turn-down collar and wide trousers . Over the shirt they wore a short sleeveless jacket and going out into the street caftan with a standing collar or a long, almost straight dressing gown made of dark fabric . Know and mullahs went to dressing gowns made of motley Central Asian silk . In the cold time of the Bashkirs dressed in spacious cloth robes, sheepskin coats or sheepskin coats .

Skullcaps were everyday headwear for men. , in the elderly- dark velvet young- bright, embroidered with colored threads. They put on over skullcaps in the cold felt hats or cloth-covered fur hats . In the steppes, during snowstorms, warm fur malachai, which covered the back of the head and ears, saved.

The most common shoes were boots : the bottom was made of leather, and the leg was made of canvas or cloth fabrics. On holidays they were changed to leather boots . Met at the Bashkirs and bast sandals .

Woman suit included dress, bloomers and sleeveless jacket . The dresses were detachable, with a wide skirt, they were decorated with ribbons and braid. It was supposed to be worn over the dress short fitted sleeveless jackets, sheathed with braid, coins and plaques . Apron , which at first served as work clothes, later became part of the festive costume.

Headdresses varied. Women of all ages covered their heads with a scarf and tied it under their chin. . Some young Bashkirs under scarves wore small velvet caps embroidered with beads, pearls, corals , A elderly- quilted cotton hats. Sometimes married Bashkirs worn over a scarf high fur hats .

PEOPLE OF THE SUN RAYS (Y KU T Y)

The people, who in Russia are called Yakuts, call themselves "Sakha"." , and in myths and legends it is very poetic - "people of the sun's rays with reins behind their backs." Their number is more than 380 thousand people. They live in the north Siberia, in the basins of the Lena and Vilyui rivers, in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Yakuts , the northernmost pastoralists of Russia, breed cattle and small cattle and horses. Kumys from mare's milk and smoked horse meat - favorite foods in summer and winter, on weekdays and holidays. In addition, the Yakuts are excellent fishermen and hunters . Fish are caught mainly with nets, which are now bought in a store, and in the old days they were woven from horsehair. They hunt in the taiga for a large animal, in the tundra - for game. Among the methods of extraction there is known only to the Yakuts - hunting with a bull. The hunter sneaks up on the prey, hiding behind the bull, and shoots at the beast.

Before meeting the Russians, the Yakuts almost did not know agriculture, they did not sow bread, did not grow vegetables, but they were engaged in gathering in the taiga : they harvested wild onions, edible herbs and the so-called pine sapwood - a layer of wood located directly under the bark. She was dried, crushed, turning into flour. In winter, it was the main source of vitamins that saved from scurvy. Pine flour was diluted in water, a mash was made, to which fish or milk was added, and if they were not, they ate it just like that. This dish has remained in the distant past, now its description can only be found in books.

The Yakuts live in a country of taiga paths and full-flowing rivers, and therefore their traditional means of transportation have always been a horse, a deer and a bull or a sleigh (the same animals were harnessed to them), boats made of birch bark or hollowed out from a tree trunk. And even now, in the age of airlines, railways, developed river and sea navigation, people travel in remote areas of the republic just like in the old days.

The folk art of this people is surprisingly rich . The Yakuts were glorified far beyond the borders of their land by the heroic epic - olonkho - about the exploits of ancient heroes, wonderful women's jewelry and carved wooden goblets for koumiss - chorons , each of which has its own unique ornament.

The main holiday of the Yakuts - Ysyakh . It is celebrated on Konya June, on the days of the summer solstice. This is the holiday of the New Year, the holiday of the Revival of nature and the birth of a person - not a specific one, but a person in general. On this day, sacrifices are made to the gods and spirits, expecting patronage from them in all upcoming affairs.

RULES OF THE ROAD (YAKUT VARIANT)

Are you ready for the road? Be careful! Even if the path ahead of you is not very long and difficult, the rules of the road must be observed. And each nation has its own.

The Yakuts had a rather long set of rules for "leaving home" , and everyone tried to observe it, who wanted his journey to be successful and he returned safely. Before leaving, they sat down in a place of honor in the house, facing the fire, and threw firewood into the stove - they fed the fire. It was not supposed to tie shoelaces on a hat, mittens, clothes. On the day of departure, the household did not rake the ashes in the oven. According to the beliefs of the Yakuts, ashes are a symbol of wealth and happiness. There is a lot of ashes in the house - it means that the family is rich, little - poor. If you scoop up the ashes on the day of departure, then the departing person will not be lucky in business, he will return with nothing. A girl getting married, when leaving her parents' house, should not look back, otherwise her happiness will remain in their house.

To keep everything in order, sacrifices were made to the "owner" of the road at crossroads, mountain passes, watersheds: they hung bundles of horse hair, shreds of matter torn from the dress, left copper coins, buttons.

On the road, it was forbidden to call the objects taken with them by their real names - it was supposed to resort to allegories. There was no need to talk about the upcoming actions along the way. Travelers who stop on the banks of the river never say that they will cross the river tomorrow - there is a special expression for this, translated from Yakut approximately like this: "Tomorrow we will try to ask our grandmother there."

According to the beliefs of the Yakuts, objects thrown or found on the road acquired a special magical power - good or evil. If a leather rope or a knife was found on the road, they were not taken, as they were considered "dangerous", but a horsehair rope, on the contrary, was a "happy" find, and they took it with them.

ANNOTATION. The article deals with data on the origin of the Turkic people. Legends, oral and written sources of the history of this people are described.

The ancient history of the Turkic people and the relationship of some clans, tribes with the Kazakh people.

Historical news about the peoples of the Turkic tribe begins a little earlier. The first record was made by the Chinese and refers to the Turkic people of the Huns, who wandered the distant past of the Turks, they thought to establish according to folk tradition and legends. In the history of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-558), obviously, according to the Turkic envoys, one of the most remarkable legends is placed. According to her, the forefather of the Turks was from the domain of “So, which lay to the north of the Huns.” One of his descendants, Ijjini-Nishidu, who was born from a she-wolf, had two wives - the daughter of the spirit of heaven and the daughter of the spirit of the earth. From the first, four sons were born to him - the first, named Qi-gu (ki-ko), founded the state between the rivers Afu (Ara) and Gyan (Kien), the second turned into a swan, the third founded the kingdom on the banks of the Chu-si river, the fourth lived in the mountains of Basy-chu-si-shi, a horde, descended from a common forefather, lived for a year. Analyzing and commenting on the above legend, N. Aristov comes to the conclusion that the possessions of So should be located on the northern side of Altai.

The progenitor of the Turks came from the So people, the remains of which are preserved in the name of one clan in the Upper Kumandy region.

Ki-ko is one of the Chinese transcriptions of the name Kirghiz, the Gyan River, the place of their settlement, is Kyan or Kem, the native name of the Yenisei. In addition to the above, there are many other legends, partly recorded in the dynastic histories of the Chinese, partly transmitted orally. With all the interest that many of the existing legendary tales undoubtedly represent, using them as ethnographic material, in the absence of historical control data, is very risky and leads the researcher into the field of more or less witty conjectures and suggestions. More valuable and positive material for the study of the ethnic composition of the Turkic tribes is provided by acquaintance with family names, bones - tamgas - signs of family property, imposed on property by members of the family. During the period of the tribal principle, the clan, not only in everyday life, but also in political life, enjoyed a comprehensive meaning. The well-being of individual members of the genus depended on their belonging to a certain genus and its numbers. The clans were advanced from their midst by the most capable, enterprising ancestors, who, using their influence, united the individual clans of their tribe around themselves, and then, conquering new tribes, formed a new state. These states existed, usually until internal turmoil or the rise of a new tribe stopped their short existence.

Such, in rough outline, is the pattern of the formation and fall of states throughout the historical life of the Turkic tribes. The state is not rarely changed with the speed of a kaleidoscope, while childbirth almost never completely disappeared and did not lose its significance. They could enter into the most complex combination with each other in the formation of states, but almost never lost their generic name. In addition to the generation, departments and genera, the memory of the bones to which the genera belonged was never lost. "The names of the bones are a large part of the names of peoples, tribes of ancient clans, the descendants of which these bones are represented." As for the signs of tribal property - tamgas, they are also a valuable indicator of the ethnic composition of the Turkic peoples. The existence and emergence of tamga caused mainly practical considerations. With a large number of herds and compatibility with the use of pastures, each clan made signs on its livestock so that they would not mix with strangers. “In general, they put marks on livestock, and although it sticks to someone else’s on the floor, no one will take it,” says the oldest mention of tamgas among the Turks. Signs of tribal property were placed not only not on cattle, but also on other property, and were also minted on coins. The significance of these factors in elucidating the ethnic composition of tribes was recognized by almost all scholars of history and ethnography. V.V. Radlov devoted a lot of space in his research to these features and collected rich material on genera and bones from the Altai and Sayan Turks, from the Karakirghiz, Kirghiz-Cossacks and other peoples of Siberia and Central Asia. Another prominent scientist N. Aristov in his well-known "Notes" among other things, says:

“Observations about the features of everyday life, dialects of a physical type, in general, ethnographic, archaeological, linguistic and anthropological studies, of course, can significantly contribute to the study of the ethnic composition of various nationalities, but with regard to the Turkic tribes, our knowledge in these branches of science is still so rudimentary (although a lot has already been done) that at present ethnography, archeology, linguistics and anthropology do not yet give sufficient indications. Thus, they remain the main pointers to generic names and generic tamgas. Unfortunately, at present, many Turkic tribes are threatened by the influence of the mestizos of the former way of life, and tribal traditions of the past. The purpose of this article is to define in brief general terms information about the results that have been achieved at the present time in the field of history and ethnography of the Turkic people.

At present, it has been established with certainty by historical science that Altai and Mongolia should be considered the homeland of the peoples of the Turkic tribe. This is also evidenced by the legends and the names of the tribes, derived from the names of tracts and rivers. The neighbors of the Turks in Altai, who had been wandering for many centuries in Altai and the adjacent part of Mongolia, were the Dinlins, a people distinguished by a light skin outline, significant hairline and a dolichocephalic skull. According to Chinese sources that have come down to us, the Dinlin tribe lived between the Urals and Altai, while others were located on the Yenisei between the Ob and Baikal. What race the Dinlins belonged to was not established. Klaproth and Ritter suggest that the Dinlins must be of the Aryan race.

N. Aristov, without defining a race, calls the Dinlins an ancient North Asian long-headed, light-colored race. In the history of the Tan Dynasty, peoples are mentioned "po-ma" skewbald horses, the Turks called it "ala" - motley skewbald. This people lived on the Yenisei, that is, in those places where the second Dinlin tribe lived, and being similar in appearance to the Yenisei, they spoke in a special dialect. The Russians found the 17th century. in Siberia, the remnants of this people, already significantly Turkified and paying tribute to the Kirghiz. At that time, only Arins, Assans, Kotts, now extinct, retained their language. The only surviving people of the ancient long-headed race are the Ainu, who live in the northern part of the Japanese archipelago. The presence of representatives of the long-headed race in places very remote from each other led researchers to the hypothesis that this race spread not only to the extreme limit of Asia, but also far to the west to Europe. It is possible that it was the people of this race who left the oldest graves of Central Russia, in which there are dolichocephalic skulls and a product of the Bronze Age. Wandering adjacent to the Dinlins, the Turkic tribes, being more mobile and strong, obviously occupied the lands of the peaceful settled Dinlins, some of whom mixed with the conquerors and some died out.

According to N. Aristov, the admixture of Dinlin blood is noticeable in some Kazakh clans of the younger zhuz Alchin. The participation of the Dingling in the education of the Kazakhs is confirmed by Chinese sources. So in the history of the Tan dynasties, when describing the lands of the Kazakhs, it is said that “The inhabitants mixed with the Dinlins.. generally tall, with red hair, ruddy faces and blue eyes. Since the indigenous Türks belonged to a race with black hair and eyes, the signs described by the Chinese chroniclers are the result of a miscegenation of the Türks with Dinlins with a pronounced predominance of Dinlin features.

Due to the conditions of the subsequent historical life of the Kazakhs - namely, their territorial isolation for many centuries and the proximity of the Turkic and Mongol tribes - they gradually lost the Dinlin features of the physical type, revealing to a large extent their former Turkic type. Formed on the Yenisei by miscegenation of the Turks with the Dinlins, the Turkic clans, for some reason, were divided into two parts, of which one remained in the upper reaches of the Yenisei, and the other moved to central Mongolia. The part that remained in its original place became known to the Chinese from the 5th century, first under the name Gian-gun (Kian-kuen), then under the name Khagas (according to Chinese information , red-haired, ruddy face and light-eyed face) and, finally, under the name Kirghiz, according to Chinese transcription, kilik-uzes. The Yenisei Kirghiz waged a stubborn struggle against the Russian conquerors of Siberia, which ended complete defeat of the Kirghiz. Some of them died in battles, some (small) reached the Kazakh steppe, while those who remained in place soon lost their independence and even their name, mixing with other nationalities. Another part of the indigenous Kirghiz, who left the Yenisei for central Mongolia, wandered in the 3rd century. between the Tien Shan and the Tannu-Ola ridge, forming the so-called Usun Union and this included not only the Kirghiz (Kazakhs), but also other Turkic clans, the name of the union was obviously given by the Usun clan of the Dinlin Turks, who headed the union. That this was so is confirmed by the description of their physical type found in Chinese sources. According to this description, the Usuns belong to the race of blue-eyed fair-haired blonds. Chinese scientist Shygu, who lived in the 7th century. says: “The Usuns look very different from other foreigners of the western region. Today, the Turks with blue eyes and red hair are the descendants of the Ikh.

Under pressure from new tribes, the Usun Union in VI V. broke up, and part of the Turkic clans, which by that time occupied the mountainous regions, retained their isolation, having lost the common name of the Usuns, while the other, nomadic in the steppes, gradually merged with the clans and tribes of the Kangls and Dulats and later became part of, mainly, the senior zhuz of the Kazakh people.

The remains of the Usuns exist to this day in the form of the Kazakh genus Uysun in the territory of Kazakhstan and the genus Sary-Uysun (red-haired Uysun) as part of the senior zhuz of the Kazakh people.

In the 3rd century The Usuns, who roamed between Tannu-Ola and the eastern Tien Shan, had the Turkic people of the Huns in the east, the Yuezhi or Yusti in the south, and the S or Sai people in the west. Yuezhi, according to scientists, were part of the people who lived northeast of Jaxart under the name Massagets or "Great Getae", that is, they belonged to the Aryan race. The Se or Sai people are also recognized as being of Aryan origin. V.V. Grigoriev, on the basis of this Sanskrit literature, the annals of the Chinese, the testimony of Greek and Roman writers, identifies the Seits with the Scythians of the Greeks (Saki of the Persians). Being to the west of the Usuns, the Saks occupied the inhabited parts of the Pamirs and Altai in Fergana, the western part of Kashkar, the Semirechensk region and the northern part of the Syr-Darya region. The described picture of the resettlement of peoples was violated at the end of the 3rd or at the beginning of the 2nd century. strengthened in this time by the Huns. The leader of the Huns, Shanyu Mode, having first conquered China, then moved on at the end of the 3rd century. the Yuezhi roaming in the neighborhood with him and pushed them to the west. A few years later, the campaign of the Huns in the Yuezhi was repeated, while some of the latter submitted, while the other part moved to the west and the lands occupied by the Sakas. The Sakas, under pressure from the Yuezhi, withdrew from their places and went south beyond the Hanging Passage and occupied the state of Gibin (History of the Elder Khans). Hanging Passage, obviously the Pamir Heights, and the state of Gibin is the current Kabulistan. However, not all Sakas retired to Gibin - "a part could merge with the more or less related Getes (Yuetians, Massagets) and together with them move to eastern Europe. About 30-40 years after the events described, the Usuns, under pressure from the Huns, attacked the Yuezhi, who occupied the former place of the Saks, and having forced them out, they themselves settled on these lands. The Yuezhi, having passed Ferghana and Sogdan (between the Amu and Syr rivers), established themselves in Bactrian, owning the right bank of the Amu Darya (possession of Khorezm). In the 5th century the descendants of the Yuezhi people who occupied Khorezm, made known to Byzantine historians under the name of the Hephthalites Huns or "White Huns", then conquered the remnants of these tribes and assimilated them, with the more numerous Sakas, a special generation, the real name Sayak. According to Chinese sources, "between the Usuns there are branches of the Saka and Yuezhi tribes." At the same time, according to the common custom in Central Asia, the Saks should lose their name, taking instead the name of their winners. The foreign origin of the Sayak clan is confirmed by the legend that exists to this day among the Kyrgyz. According to the legend, the ancestor of the Sayaks came from Togai and the tribe is unknown. And in such cases, it can positively be argued that the matter here is not in the marriage of individuals, but in the union of entire tribal groups and nationalities. Soon after the Usuns occupied new lands, the Chinese embassy headed by Zhan Qian passed through their territory. The purpose of the embassy was to conclude a defensive alliance against the Huns advancing on China. Zhan-Qian set off in 157, but, passing through the Hun possession, he was captured by them and only after 12 years of imprisonment he returned to China again. During his forced stay, Zhan-Qian, of course, many saw and heard from others about the peoples who lived in eastern Turkestan and neighboring countries. His report as an official document was included in the "History" of the senior court of Han "(from 202 to 25). Describing in it the vision of the country. Zhan-Qian, among other things, says: “Usun lies almost 2000 liters from Davan (Fergana) to the northeast. This is a nomadic possession, whose inhabitants go from place to place for cattle. Kangyui lies almost 2000 li from Davan to the northwest.

In Chinese sources, we also find a description of the country occupied by the Usuns - “The land is flat and grassy, ​​the country is too rainy and cold. There are many coniferous forests in the mountains. The Usun people are not engaged in dividing the land, and in cattle breeding, and with cattle they migrate from place to place. Prince Usunky called himself Gun-mo, his residence was the city of Chi-gu or Chi-gu-chin, i.e. city ​​of the red valley. The Chinese call the Usuns ignorant and rude, perfidious and predatory. The Usuns waged frequent wars with the Huns and often depended on them; During one struggle, the Usun prince was killed. According to legend, the son of this prince was fed by a she-wolf, and the bird brought him food. The Hun Shanyu, having learned about this, raised the child and then returned the kingdom of his father to him and gave him the title of Gun-mo. Soon the power of the Usuns increased, the Chinese began again to seek an alliance with them against their common enemies - the Huns. In 107, the Chinese, in order to strengthen the alliance, even gave their princess to the Usun Gun-mo. For the princess it was a palace was built by the Chinese, and Maduan Lin, a Chinese chronicler, preserved her mournful flax in a strange wild country. Not only the Huns, however, were the enemies of the Usuns. The Kangyuis mentioned by Zhan Qian (Kankly according to Zemarch and Kangit according to Plano Karpina), as it is now established, the people of a nomadic Turkic tribe, were their closest neighbors in that era. The Kangyuis, as competitors of the Usuns in pastures, naturally, had to be in hostility towards the Usuns. Chinese historians give some information about one war that took place between the Kangyuts and the Usuns. In the last year, the Kangyui, supported by the Huns ruled by Shanyu-Chzhi-Chzhi, defeated the Usuns and forced them to destroy their capital Chi-gu-chin. The Chinese, who arrived in time to help the Usuns, although they defeated the army of Zhi-Chzhi and even captured him, they could no longer restore the power of the Usuns. The Kangyui drove them away, and the Usuns were again seriously defeated. Shortly thereafter, the empire of the Huns collapsed, then divided into northern and southern ones. The first, having gone west to Kangyui and stayed there for about 2 centuries, appeared in 375 in Europe. call , the so-called great migration of peoples. The southern Huns soon submitted to China. Together with the Huns, a significant part of the Kangyui went to Europe, immediately weakening the power of the Kangyui clans that remained in the places. At the beginning of the 1st century the Usun state also weakened and disintegrated into those that made up its clan. By this time, it is obvious and necessary to attribute the beginning of mixing between the Usun and Kangyu clans and generations, which resulted in those clans of the older zhuz, the composition of which is mixed and the presence of generations of Kangyui or Kangly in which is beyond doubt.

1. N. Aristov "Notes on the ethnic composition of the Turkic tribes." M., 1867
2. Composition of the monk Iakinf; part I.
3. N. Aristov "Living antiquity". M., 1866 issue 3-4.
4. Collection of information about the peoples who lived in Central Asia Composition of the monk Iakinf; part I.
5. G. Karpov "Tribal and tribal composition of the Turkmens." Ashgabat 1925
6. Collection of information about the peoples who lived in Central Asia.
7. Notes of the Emperor. Russ.Geographer.Society. 1861 book I.
8. V.V. Grigoriev “About the Scythian people Saks” M. , 1889
9. Materials on Kyrgyz land use, Fergana region Namangan district. Tashkent. 1913
10. Collection of information about the peoples who lived in Central Asia. Composition of the monk Iakinf; part III.