DISCUSSION ON “AYKOL MANAS” IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SHAMANISM AND STORYTELLING AMONG THE KYRGYZ PEOPLE
Folklore: structure, typology, semiotics 2020 DOI: 10.28995/2658-5294-2020-3-4-12-34 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Shamanism |
| Key points | Argues that Kyrgyz shamanism (bakshylyk) and epic storytelling (zhomokchuluk) are connected through shared cultural and social conditions and pre-Islamic traces in the epic world. The public discussion around the post-folklore dastan "Aykol Manas" is presented as reflecting both understandings of the Kyrgyz epic tradition and features of modern transformations of Kyrgyz shamanism. |
Abstract
The article dwells upon connection between the two most important Kyrgyz traditions: shamanism ( bakshylyk ) and storytelling ( zhomokchuluk ). It considers the general cultural and social field that forms some features that are characteristic of both shamans and storytellers, as well as the traces of pre-Islamic culture that can be found in the world of the Kyrgyz epic. Special attention is paid to the post-folklor version of the epic “Manas” – the dastan “Aykol Manas” and the public discussion around that literary work. The discussion reflects, on the one hand, specific aspects of the understanding of the Kyrgyz epic tradition, and on the other hand, a number of characteristic features that accompany modern transformations of Kyrgyz shamanism.