The yurt is a nomadic dwelling that is popular among Kazakhs and Kyrgyz. In Central Asia, yurts have been a characteristic feature of life for at least three thousand years. Various nomadic groups inhabit the steppes of Central Asia with round, portable tents known as yurts (from the Turkic language) or gers (from the Mongolian language).
Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian who lived in the northern Black Sea and Central Asian region from 600BC to AD300, described a yurt as a dwelling place used by the Scythians. They were nomads who rode horses.
In traditional yurts, patterns are used to decorate the interiors. These patterns are generally not indicative of taste but instead are based on sacred ornaments with symbolic meanings. For example, symbols representing strength include the khas (swastika), the four powerful beasts (lion, tiger, garuda, and dragon).
The five elements (fire, water, earth, metal, and wood) are also used, which are considered the basic elements in the cosmos. Many people believe that such patterns bring strength and protection to the home.
A yurt is made with a wooden frame covered with felt and woven with ropes, easy to set up and can be easily disassembled. Women and men who make yurts and their decorations are the bearers of yurt-making knowledge.
Traditional yurts are made with natural and renewable raw materials. The wooden frames, leather, bone, and metal elements are all made by hand by men and their apprentices. Most Yurts are made by women who embellish them with traditional zoomorphic, vegetative, and geometric patterns. They are usually made in groups led by experienced women artisans, and employ weaving, spinning, braiding, felting, embroidering, sewing, and other methods.
Yurts are created by the whole community of craftspeople and foster a sense of community, constructive cooperation, and creativity. In the traditional Kazakh and Kyrgyz culture, knowledge and skills are passed from family members to apprentices. All ceremonies, such as birth, marriage, and funeral rituals, take place in a yurt, a symbol of traditional hospitality and family identity, which is fundamental to both cultures.
Today, many Central Asian groups see a yurt as a national symbol. Therefore, yurts are often used as cafés (especially those that serve traditional food), museums (especially those dedicated to local culture), and souvenir shops. And as part of the celebration of Mary's year as Cultural Capital of the Turkic World, the government of Turkmenistan constructed a concrete, granite, aluminum, and glass yurt-shaped structure, which was marketed as the world's largest yurt.
The yurt is a nomadic dwelling that is popular among Kazakhs and Kyrgyz.
In Central Asia, yurts have been a characteristic feature of life for at least three thousand years.
Various nomadic groups inhabit the steppes of Central Asia with round, portable tents known as yurts (from the Turkic language) or gers (from the Mongolian language). Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian who lived in the northern Black Sea and Central Asian region from 600BC to AD300, described the first time he saw a yurt as a dwelling place used by the Scythians. They were nomads who rode horses.
In traditional yurts, patterns are used to decorate the interiors. These patterns are generally not indicative of taste but instead are based on sacred ornaments with symbolic meanings. For example, symbols representing strength include the khas (swastika), the four powerful beasts (lion, tiger, garuda, and dragon), and five elements (fire, water, earth, metal, and wood), which are considered the basic elements in the cosmos. Many people believe that such patterns bring strength and protection to the home.
Yurt is made with a wooden frame covered with felt and woven with ropes, easy to set up and takedown, and can be easily disassembled. Women and men who make yurts and their interior decorations are the bearers of yurt-making knowledge.
Traditional yurts are made with natural and renewable raw materials. The wooden frames, leather, bone, and metal elements are all made by hand by men and their apprentices. Most Yurts are made by women who embellish them with traditional zoomorphic, vegetative, and geometric patterns. They are usually made in groups led by experienced women artisans, and they employ weaving, spinning, braiding, felting, embroidering, sewing, and other traditional methods.
Yurts are created by the whole community of craftspeople and foster a sense of community, constructive cooperation, and creativity. In the traditional Kazakh and Kyrgyz culture, knowledge and skills are passed from family members to apprentices. All ceremonies, such as birth, marriage, and funeral rituals, take place in a yurt, a symbol of traditional hospitality and family identity, which is fundamental to both cultures.
Today, many Central Asian groups see a yurt as a national symbol. Therefore, yurts are often used as cafés (especially those that serve traditional food), museums (especially those dedicated to local culture), and souvenir shops. And as part of the celebration of Mary's year as Cultural Capital of the Turkic World, the government of Turkmenistan constructed a concrete, granite, aluminum, and glass yurt-shaped structure, which was marketed as the world's largest yurt.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/traditional-knowledge-and-skills-in-making-kyrgyz-and-kazakh-yurts-turkic-nomadic-dwellings-00998) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yurt) |Subject=Art, Craftsmanship and Practices |Country=Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan |SDG=(05) Gender Equality, (08) Decent Work and Economic Growth, (09) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, (12) Responsible Consumption and Production, (16) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions }}