Culture · Peoples · Turkic
Kyrgyz
柯尔克孜族. A high-altitude nomadic people of the Pamir and Tian Shan foothills whose Manas epic poem is one of the longest oral epics in the world.
About this people
The Kyrgyz people of China live primarily in the Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture in southwestern Xinjiang, concentrated around Artux (Atushi) and the grasslands between the Tian Shan and Pamir ranges. Their traditional territory straddled the mountain passes that connected the Tarim Basin with Central Asia, making them important intermediaries on the Silk Road's mountain routes.
The Kyrgyz language is closely related to Kazakh and belongs to the Kipchak branch of the Turkic family. The most celebrated cultural expression is the Manas epic, an oral cycle of heroic poetry centred on the legendary warrior Manas and his descendants. The full cycle can take several days to recite and is maintained by specialist performers called manaschi. UNESCO has recognised the Manas tradition as intangible cultural heritage.
Traditional Kyrgyz life revolves around the yurt and seasonal pastoralism. Felt crafts, embroidered wall panels, and woven horse gear are important material arts. The shyrdak (a mosaic felt rug made by stitching together two colours of pressed felt) is a signature Kyrgyz art form. Cuisine shares much with Kazakh cooking — beshbarmak, fermented drinks, and dairy products predominate — though kuurdak (fried meat with onions and potatoes) is distinctively Kyrgyz. Visitors to the high summer pastures (jailoo) during late summer can attend horse games including kok-boru (buzkashi) and er enish (horseback wrestling).
Key festivals
- Nauryz
- Manas Festival (oral epic celebration)
- Eid al-Fitr
Crafts and cuisine
Shyrdak felt rugs, embroidered wall panels, horse gear; beshbarmak, kuurdak, fermented ayran, kurt.
Where to encounter this culture
Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture grasslands near Artux; Karakul Lake, Xinjiang (near the Pamir Highway); Torugart Pass area summer pastures.