Legends of Kyrgyzstan

The legends and myths of Kyrgyzstan provide explanations for things that may seem hard to explain: the weather or the landscape, or even history. These legends were passed down from generation to generation, changing bit by bit until they reached us today. Since the history of the Kyrgyz stretches so far back, there are plenty of myths and legends.

Some legends tell a bit of the history of Kyrgyzstan, like the Epic of Manas, or how Burana Tower was built. The Epic of Manas tells the formation of the Kyrgyz state, and how the great warrior Manas was able to unite the warring tribes and bring peace to the region. Manas was not only a historical figure, but also an example of who the Kyrgyz are, and who they want to be. Though some parts of the poem are legend, some parts are based in history. Even the Kyrgyz legend of how the Bugu tribe came to be is a story of the group’s close connection with nature.

Many legends in Kyrgyzstan tell about natural sites and how they were created. Issyk-Kul and Sary Chelek both have creation legends that tell about how the valleys came to be filled with water, and the legend about Jeti Oguz tells about the unique red rock formations. Since the nature in Kyrgyzstan is so striking, it is not unexpected that there are legends about their formation, told to explain how these places came to be.