Artistic and Literary Traditions of Central Asia

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Artistic and Literary Traditions of Central Asia
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Afrasiab
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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.

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

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• Scythian (Saki)
• 5th Century BC
• Gold warriors burial costume from Issyk Kurgan
  (near Almaty in Kazakstan)
• Replica in UN
• (New York)

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• Sythian warriors burial costume
• Gold detail of rams heads from headress

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• Runic inscription on ancient silver chalice
  (Almaty, Kazakstan)
• Indicates existence of indigenous alphabet of
  Turkic peoples residing in Central Asia before
  advent of Islam

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• Karakhanid mausoleum (10th-11th Centuries)
• Near Osh, Kirgizstan

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• Left doors to Karakhanid mausoleum near Osh

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• Turkestan, Kazakstan Mausoleum of Khodja Akhmet
  Yasavi
• XIV Century
• Gates in Fortified Walls

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• Turkestan,Kazakstan Mausoleum of Khadji Akhmet
  Yasavi
• 1405
• Pilgrimage site of Muslim cult

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• Mikhrab 10th-11th Century Asht
  (Tadjikistan)
• Mausoleum of Abrulla ibn Bureida
  11th Century Grand Bazar (Turkmenistan)

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• Turbat
• Mausoleum of Ismail-ata
• 19th Century

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• Mausoleum of Babadnen-Khatun
• 10th-11th Centuries

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Gur Emir

• Tomb of Amir Timur
• (Tamerlane)

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• Samarkand Tillia Kari Medressa
• Constructed in 1647-1666 in reign of Ulug
  Beg, grandson on Timur
• Medressa is a seminary or college

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• Samarkand Tillia Kari Medressa
• Interior of gold-gilted dome

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Registan
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• Khiva Arzkhona aivan
• Carved and painted wooden structure and ornaments
• Aivan (or aywan) is an open summer terrace with
  canopy on a raised platform

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• Khiva Carved wooden doors
• Juma Masjid
• (masjid means mosque in Turkic)

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

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

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

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• Crafts shop
• Handcrafted brass ware and knives

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• Silk carpet
• Caucasian Kazak design
• Handmade in Samarkand

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Carpet Factory
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• The Battle
• Painting by contemporary artist Shamil Guliev
• Incorporates elements of traditional Central
  Asian art into modern view of the world

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• 66 Lions
• Contemporary artist Shamil Guliev

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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

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• 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

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• Kiu wordless melody played on dombira
• Kiu can tell a story or depict a scene

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• This kiu depicts horsemen galloping across the
  steppe.

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• Akyn or bard performs songs or tales accompanying
  himself on the
• dombira

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

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

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• 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 hunters arrow.

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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.

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• Manas
• Kirgiz national epic poem
• At least 1000 years old
• Blends mythology with tale of migration of Kirgiz
  people from Enisei basin

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

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• Alisher Navoi (1441-1501)
• Divan or Khamsa (a collection of five
  narrative poems)
• Illuminated manuscript in Beruni Institute of
  Oriental Studies (Tashkent)

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• Majlis or feast at home of Alisher Navoi
• Miniature from manuscript of Majnun and Laili
• 16th Century

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• Alisher Navoi
• Miniature from illuminated manuscript of
  narrative poem entitled Seven Planets

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• Abai Kunanbai (1845-1904)
• Poet and teacher
• Father of written literature in Kazak

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• Mukhtar Auezov
• (1897-1961)
• His novel The Path of Abai (1949)
  won the Lenin Prize
• for literature

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• Auezovs drama Enlik and Kebek (a Kazak Romeo
  and Juliet) first performed in this yourta in
  1917 marked the beginning of Kazak theater.

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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