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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