Beliefs and Funeral Rituals of the Kyrgyz from the Tien Shan in the Medieval Written Sources

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article overviews the written sources on religious beliefs and funeral rituals of the Kyrgyz people of the Tien Shan from the Middle Ages to the Modern Period. The study draws on the works of historians, poets, travelers, and anonymous authors, written in various languages and translated by V.V. Bartold, Z.N. Vorozheykina, O. Karaev, and other scholars. Analysis of these sources provides valuable insights into the culture, beliefs, and worldview of the Kyrgyz people during that period. According to the Medieval authors, at the turn of the first and second millennia, the Kyrgyz professed shamanism, Manichaeism, and various ancient beliefs where the cult of Tengri (Tengir) and ancestor worship played a special role. The sources indicate that religious beliefs of the Kyrgyz people from the 10th to the 16th centuries were complex and multifaceted, combining elements of shamanism, worship of nature, and ancient beliefs. Despite the spread of Islam during that period, traditional beliefs were not completely abandoned. Moreover, some 17th century sources report that the Kyrgyz were perceived as opponents of Muslims, which testifies to persistence of their old religious beliefs. The sources reveal the transformation of religious beliefs and funerary rituals among the Kyrgyz people under the influence of both internal factors and external contacts with other cultures and religions. The adoption of Islam by the Kyrgyz was a long and sophisticated process, and pre-Islamic beliefs persisted for many centuries.