Culture of Kyrgyzstan
Encyclopedia
Kyrgyzstan
has a wide mix of ethnic groups and cultures, with the Kyrgyz being the majority group. It is generally considered that there are 40 Kyrgyz clan
s, symbolized by the 40-rayed yellow sun in the center of the flag
. The lines inside the sun are said to represent a yurt
. The dominant religion of Kyrgyzstan is Sunni Islam
(91%). The Russian population is Russian Orthodox
.
s, in this case Russian
and Kyrgyz
. An aggressive post-Soviet campaign was established to make the latter the official national language in all commercial and government uses by 1997; Russian is still used extensively, and the non-Kyrgyz population, most not Kyrgyz speakers, are hostile to forcible Kyrgyzification.
Kyrgyzstan has a high literacy rate (99%), and a strong tradition of educating all citizens. However, its ambitious program to restructure the Soviet educational system is hampered by low funding and loss of teachers. School attendance is mandatory through grade nine. Kyrgyz is increasingly used for instruction; the transition from Russian to Kyrgyz has been hampered by lack of textbooks. It remains to be seen whether Russian will continue as the second language of choice, or whether English
will supersede it as a lingua franca
.
, 14.5% Uzbek
, 1.9% Tatar, 0.5% Ukrainian
, a population of Chinese Muslims known as the Dungan (1%), and small community of Germans. Of some potential political significance are the Uyghurs
. That group numbered only about 36,000 in Kyrgyzstan, but about 185,000 lived in neighboring Kazakhstan. The Uyghurs are also the majority population in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China
, whose population is about 24 million, located to the northeast of Kyrgyzstan.
's Odyssey
and one of the longest epics in the world. It is a patriotic work recounting the exploits of Manas and his descendants and followers, who fought against the Chinese and Kalmyks in the ninth century to preserve Kyrgyz independence.
of their sheep. Ancient patterns are nowadays adapted to the tourist and export market, but it is still a living tradition, in that all yurt
s and most houses contain hand-made carpet
s or rugs called shirdaks (for examples see images)
Tush kyiz
are large, elaborately embroidered wall hangings, traditionally made in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan by elder women to commemorate the marriage of a son or daughter.
Colors and designs are chosen to symbolize Kyrgyz traditions and rural life. Flowers, plants, animals, stylized horns, national designs and emblems of Kyrgyz life are often found in these ornate and colorful embroideries. Designs are sometimes dated and signed by the artist upon completion of the work, which may take years to finish. The tush kyiz is hung in the yurt over the marriage bed of the couple, and symbolize their pride in their Kyrgyz tradition.
Flat cushions called xxx are usually made in shadow-pairs. These are seen on every chair, padding the seat.
Rugby
Tennis
Buzkashi
This article contains some text originally adapted from the public domain Library of Congress Country Study for Kyrgyzstan at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/kgtoc.html
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
has a wide mix of ethnic groups and cultures, with the Kyrgyz being the majority group. It is generally considered that there are 40 Kyrgyz clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
s, symbolized by the 40-rayed yellow sun in the center of the flag
Flag of Kyrgyzstan
The flag of Kyrgyzstan was adopted on 3 March 1992 by the Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan. It consists of a red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 uniformly spaced rays...
. The lines inside the sun are said to represent a yurt
Yurt
A yurt is a portable, bent wood-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by Turkic nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. The structure comprises a crown or compression wheel usually steam bent, supported by roof ribs which are bent down at the end where they meet the lattice wall...
. The dominant religion of Kyrgyzstan is Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites....
(91%). The Russian population is Russian Orthodox
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
.
Languages
Kyrgyzstan is the only former Soviet Central Asian republic to start out with two official languageOfficial language
An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction. Typically a nation's official language will be the one used in that nation's courts, parliament and administration. However, official status can also be used to give a...
s, in this case Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
and Kyrgyz
Kyrgyz language
Kyrgyz or Kirgiz, also Kirghiz, Kyrghiz, Qyrghiz is a Turkic language and, together with Russian, an official language of Kyrgyzstan...
. An aggressive post-Soviet campaign was established to make the latter the official national language in all commercial and government uses by 1997; Russian is still used extensively, and the non-Kyrgyz population, most not Kyrgyz speakers, are hostile to forcible Kyrgyzification.
Kyrgyzstan has a high literacy rate (99%), and a strong tradition of educating all citizens. However, its ambitious program to restructure the Soviet educational system is hampered by low funding and loss of teachers. School attendance is mandatory through grade nine. Kyrgyz is increasingly used for instruction; the transition from Russian to Kyrgyz has been hampered by lack of textbooks. It remains to be seen whether Russian will continue as the second language of choice, or whether English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
will supersede it as a lingua franca
Lingua franca
A lingua franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both mother tongues.-Characteristics:"Lingua franca" is a functionally defined term, independent of the linguistic...
.
Demographics
In 1992, the population of Kyrgyzstan was estimated as being 52% ethnic Kyrgyz, 22% RussiansRussians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
, 14.5% Uzbek
Uzbeks
The Uzbeks are a Turkic ethnic group in Central Asia. They comprise the majority population of Uzbekistan, and large populations can also be found in Afghanistan, Tajikstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Pakistan, Mongolia and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China...
, 1.9% Tatar, 0.5% Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
, a population of Chinese Muslims known as the Dungan (1%), and small community of Germans. Of some potential political significance are the Uyghurs
Uyghur people
The Uyghur are a Turkic ethnic group living in Eastern and Central Asia. Today, Uyghurs live primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China...
. That group numbered only about 36,000 in Kyrgyzstan, but about 185,000 lived in neighboring Kazakhstan. The Uyghurs are also the majority population in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, whose population is about 24 million, located to the northeast of Kyrgyzstan.
Literary works
Manas is a traditional epic poem of the Kyrgyz people and the name of the epic's eponymous hero. The poem, with close to half a million lines, is twenty times longer than HomerHomer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
's Odyssey
Odyssey
The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature...
and one of the longest epics in the world. It is a patriotic work recounting the exploits of Manas and his descendants and followers, who fought against the Chinese and Kalmyks in the ninth century to preserve Kyrgyz independence.
Textiles
Kyrgyz women produce a wide range of textiles, mostly from the feltFelt
Felt is a non-woven cloth that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing woollen fibres. While some types of felt are very soft, some are tough enough to form construction materials. Felt can be of any colour, and made into any shape or size....
of their sheep. Ancient patterns are nowadays adapted to the tourist and export market, but it is still a living tradition, in that all yurt
Yurt
A yurt is a portable, bent wood-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by Turkic nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. The structure comprises a crown or compression wheel usually steam bent, supported by roof ribs which are bent down at the end where they meet the lattice wall...
s and most houses contain hand-made carpet
Carpet
A carpet is a textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached to a backing. The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fibre such as polypropylene,nylon or polyester and usually consists of twisted tufts which are often heat-treated to maintain their...
s or rugs called shirdaks (for examples see images)
Tush kyiz
Tush kyiz
Tush kyiz are large, elaborately embroidered wall hangings, traditionally made in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan by elder women to commemorate the marriage of a son or daughter.Colors and designs are chosen to symbolize Kyrgyz traditions and rural life...
are large, elaborately embroidered wall hangings, traditionally made in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan by elder women to commemorate the marriage of a son or daughter.
Colors and designs are chosen to symbolize Kyrgyz traditions and rural life. Flowers, plants, animals, stylized horns, national designs and emblems of Kyrgyz life are often found in these ornate and colorful embroideries. Designs are sometimes dated and signed by the artist upon completion of the work, which may take years to finish. The tush kyiz is hung in the yurt over the marriage bed of the couple, and symbolize their pride in their Kyrgyz tradition.
Flat cushions called xxx are usually made in shadow-pairs. These are seen on every chair, padding the seat.
Sports
Football- Kyrgyzstan national football teamKyrgyzstan national football teamThe Kyrgyzstan national football team is the national team of Kyrgyzstan and is controlled by the Football Federation of Kyrgyz Republic.-History:...
- Kyrgyzstan national futsal teamKyrgyzstan national futsal teamThe Kyrgyzstan national futsal team represents Kyrgyzstan in international futsal competitions and is controlled by Football Federation of Kyrgyz Republic.- AFC Futsal Championship :* 1999 - Group stage* 2000 - Group stage* 2001 - Group stage...
- Football Federation of Kyrgyz RepublicFootball Federation of Kyrgyz RepublicThe Football Federation of Kyrgyz Republic is the governing body of football in Kyrgyzstan . The organization controls the Kyrgyzstan national football team , Kyrgyzstan national futsal team and sponsors the top league of Kyrgyz football....
- Kyrgyzstan football recordsKyrgyzstan football records-Successful Teams:-Participations:QS : Qualifying Stage, G : Group Round, Q : Quarterfinals, S : Semifinal, R : Runner-up, W : Winner-Participations:...
- List of football clubs in Kyrgyzstan
- Abdygany Radzhapov Central StadiumAbdygany Radzhapov Central StadiumAbdygany Radzhapov Central Stadium is a football stadium in Kara-Suu, Kyrgyzstan. It is the home stadium of Jashtyk-Ak-Altyn of the Kyrgyzstan League. The stadium holds 5,000 spectators.-External links:*...
Rugby
- Kyrgyzstan national rugby union teamKyrgyzstan national rugby union teamThe Kyrgyzstan national rugby union team represents Kyrgyzstan in international rugby union. Although the nation is a member of the International Rugby Board it has not played in a Rugby World Cup tournament.-External links:* on IRB.com...
- Kyrgyzstan women's national rugby union teamKyrgyzstan women's national rugby union teamThe Kyrgyzstan women's national rugby union team are a national sporting side of Kyrgyzstan, representing them at rugby union. The side first played in 2008.-Results summary:-Results:...
Tennis
- Kyrgyzstan Davis Cup teamKyrgyzstan Davis Cup teamThe Kyrgyzstan Davis Cup team represents Kyrgyzstan in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Kyrgyzstan Tennis Federation. They have not competed since 2005.-History:...
- Kyrgyzstan Fed Cup teamKyrgyzstan Fed Cup teamThe Kyrgyzstan Fed Cup team represents Kyrgyzstan in Fed Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Kyrgyzstan Tennis Federation.Kyrgyzstan competed in Asia/Oceania Zone Group II in 2011.-History:Kyrgyzstan competed in its first Fed Cup in 2003...
Buzkashi
See also
- Kyrgyz music
- LGBT rights in KyrgyzstanLGBT rights in KyrgyzstanLesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons in Kyrgyzstan may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in Kyrgyzstan, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal...
(Gay rights) - Islam in KyrgyzstanIslam in KyrgyzstanThe vast majority of people in Kyrgyzstan are Muslims, as 86.3% of the country's population are followers of Islam. Muslims in Kyrgyzstan are of the Sunni branch, which entered the region during the 8th century. However, years of Soviet authority have suppressed long accustomed Islamic thinking to...
- Scouting in KyrgyzstanScouting in KyrgyzstanScouting in Kyrgyzstan was founded in November 1994 and is not yet a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, but is working toward WOSM recognition...
- BergtalBergtalBergtal is a settlement 60 km east of Bishkek in the Chuy Province of Kyrgyzstan, near the border of Kazakhstan. Originally settled by Germans, a significant minority remains.-History:...
- Cuisine of KyrgyzstanCuisine of KyrgyzstanKyrgyz cuisine, originating in Kyrgyzstan, is similar in many respects to that of its neighbors, particularly Kazakh cuisine.Traditional Kyrgyz food revolves around mutton and horse meat, as well as various milk products. The cooking techniques and major ingredients have been strongly influenced by...
External links
PBS Frontline/World documentary and related pages. The Kidnapped Bride March 2004This article contains some text originally adapted from the public domain Library of Congress Country Study for Kyrgyzstan at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/kgtoc.html