Beliefs and Funeral Rituals of the Kyrgyz from the Tien Shan in the Medieval Written Sources
Problems of Archaeology Ethnography Anthropology of Siberia and Neighboring Territories January 1, 2025 Z. Orozbekova
A review of medieval to modern written sources on Kyrgyz religious beliefs and funeral rituals in the Tien Shan region shows that at the turn of the first and second millennia, the Kyrgyz practiced shamanism, Manichaeism, and ancient beliefs centered on the cult of Tengri and ancestor worship. From the 10th to the 16th centuries, beliefs were complex and combined shamanism, nature worship, and ancient traditions. Despite the spread of Islam, traditional beliefs persisted; 17th-century sources describe the Kyrgyz as opponents of Muslims, indicating the endurance of pre-Islamic practices. The adoption of Islam was a long process, and pre-Islamic beliefs continued for centuries.