Artistic and Literary Traditions of Central Asia

Afrasiab

Ornamental art is characteristic of Central Asia

• Forms derive from typical local features (desert vegetation, rams’ horns, shapes of nomadic yurta (tents), moon and sun.

• Forms are stylized and abstracted.

• Prohibition of representation of living organisms by Islam reinforced ornamental tendency.

• Issyk Kurgan (burial mound) near Almaty, Kazakstan where “Golden Warrior” was discovered

• Scythian (Saki)• 5th Century BC • Gold warrior’s burial

costume from Issyk Kurgan (near Almaty in Kazakstan)

• Replica in UN • (New York)

• Sythian warrior’s burial costume

• Gold detail of ram’s heads from headress

• Runic inscription on ancient silver chalice (Almaty, Kazakstan)

• Indicates existence of indigenous alphabet of Turkic peoples residing in Central Asia before advent of Islam

• Karakhanid mausoleum (10th-11th Centuries)

• Near Osh, Kirgizstan

Left doors to Karakhanid mausoleum near Osh

• Turkestan, Kazakstan: Mausoleum of Khodja Akhmet Yasavi

• XIV Century• Gates in

Fortified Walls

• Turkestan,Kazakstan: Mausoleum of Khadji Akhmet Yasavi

• 1405 • Pilgrimage site of

Muslim cult

• Mikhrab: 10th-11th

Century Asht (Tadjikistan)

• Mausoleum of Abrulla ibn Bureida:

11th Century Grand Bazar (Turkmenistan)

• Turbat• Mausoleum of

Ismail-ata• 19th Century

• Mausoleum of Babadnen-Khatun

• 10th-11th Centuries

Gur Emir

Tomb of Amir Timur

(Tamerlane)

• Samarkand: Tillia Kari Medressa

• Constructed in 1647-1666 in reign of Ulug Beg, grandson on Timur

• Medressa is a seminary or college

• Samarkand: Tillia Kari Medressa

• Interior of gold-gilted dome

Registan

• Khiva: Arzkhona aivan

• Carved and painted wooden structure and ornaments

• Aivan (or aywan) is an open summer terrace with canopy on a raised platform

• Khiva: Carved wooden doors

• Juma Masjid • (masjid means mosque

in Turkic)

• Ceramic tile work from Shakhrizabz (birthplace of Amir Timur)

• Seamstresses in Samarkand sewing gold thread embroidery onto camisole (kamzol) or vest

• Nauryz celebration (pan-Turkic New Year) in Almaty, Kazakstan

• Crafts shop• Handcrafted brass ware

and knives

• Silk carpet

• Caucasian Kazak design

• Handmade in Samarkand

Carpet Factory

• “The Battle” • Painting by

contemporary artist Shamil Guliev

• Incorporates elements of traditional Central Asian art into modern view of the world

• “66 Lions”• Contemporary artist

Shamil Guliev

Central Asian Music

• Characterized by improvisation

• It is the vehicle which preserved literature for centuries (all poetry was sung to musical accompaniment)

• The earliest musicians of Central Asia were the shamans who healed through magic

• The dombra or

dombira is a pear-shaped wooden instrument with three or more gut strings.

• The dombra or dombira is common to most of Central Asia

• Kiu = wordless melody played on dombira

• Kiu can tell a story or depict a scene

• This kiu depicts horsemen galloping across the steppe.

• Akyn or bard

performs songs or tales accompanying himself on the

dombira

• Rakmanqul Berdibai (Kazak Academy of Sciences, Folklore Department) plays kiu on dombra

• Folk Instrument Orchestra of Kurmangazy Conservatory (Almaty, Kazakstan)

• Kobyz is an ancient bowed instrument made of wood, camel skin and horsehair strings.

• The most famous composition for the kobyz depicts the death of a swan shot by a hunter’s arrow.

Central Asian literature was long preserved by oral tradition

• Until recently prejudice has endorsed written literature and devaluated oral literature.

• Oral tradition emphasizes improvisation.

• Akyn or bards with extraordinary memory chanted epic poetry and demonstrated skill at improvisation.

• Manas• Kirgiz national

epic poem• At least 1000 years old• Blends mythology with

tale of migration of Kirgiz people from Enisei basin

• Yusuf Khass Khadjib Balasaguni, “The Knowledge of Royal Happiness” (1069)

• Alisher Navoi (1441-1501)

• Divan or Khamsa (a collection of five narrative poems)

• Illuminated manuscript in Beruni Institute of Oriental Studies (Tashkent)

• Majlis or feast at home

of Alisher Navoi • Miniature from

manuscript of “Majnun and Laili”

• 16th Century

• Alisher Navoi• Miniature from

illuminated manuscript of narrative poem entitled “Seven Planets”

Abai Kunanbai

(1845-1904)

Poet and teacher

Father of written literature in Kazak

• Mukhtar Auezov• (1897-1961)• His novel

“The Path of Abai” (1949) won the Lenin Prize

for literature

• Auezov’s drama “Enlik and Kebek” (a Kazak Romeo and Juliet) first performed in this yourta in 1917 marked the beginning of Kazak theater.

SUMMARY

• Central Asian art is typically ornamental• Central Asian music is characterized by

improvisation.• Central Asian literature place a high priority on

oral tradition.• The epic poetry of Central Asia embodies the moral

aspirations and values of its people and constitutes a record of the history of Central Asia