Myths in history of Kazakhstan

Analytical essay

Topic: “Myths in history of Kazakhstan”

Student: Rustambekova Aruzhan

Group: 24.221

Introduction

The history of Kazakhstan is rich with stories and myths that have shaped the cultural and national identity of the Kazakh people. One such legend is that of Alasha Khan, a mythical figure considered the ancestor of the Kazakh people and a symbol of unity. The legend of Alasha Khan is deeply rooted in the oral traditions of the Kazakh people. According to the myth, Alasha Khan was a great leader who united the disparate tribes of the region into a cohesive nation. The people's receipt of the self-name "alash" is erected to the time of Alash Khan (Artykbayev, 2001). While the story of Alasha Khan is widely regarded and celebrated, it remains one of the most contested subjects in the history of Kazakhstan with no concrete historical evidence to substantiate its existence. The main challenge in identifying the legendary founder of the Kazakh state lies in the absence of written records and the multitude of different versions of the legend, which leaves research on Alasha Khan based solely on folklore. The significance of this topic stems from Alasha Khan's legendary status as the founder of the Kazakh state, along with the "Alash" association and the three zhuzes. This essay endeavors to delve into the legend of Alasha Khan, examining its roots, importance, and the reasons it persists as a prominent yet unproven aspect of Kazakh history.

Main body

In Kazakh folklore, Alasha appears either in the role of a certain sovereign nomadic ruler-Genghisid, who challenged the powerful Bukhara Khan; or as a Pegi royal exile, who became the sovereign khan of the Kazakhs thanks to his outstanding personal qualities (Erofeeva, 2016) On this topic, many researchers, such as Chokan Valikhanov, Muhamedzhan Tynyshpaev, Zhaksylyk Sabitov, Irina Erofeeva, Radik Temirgaliyev have proposed various hypotheses. The hypotheses put forward can be divided into two parts: Valikhanov, Sabitov, Temirgaliyev believe that the legendary Alasha Khan is Urus Khan, and Tynyshpaev, Erofeeva argue that Alasha Khan is Haknazar Khan (Karatayev et al., 2023). The earliest work on this topic is "The Genealogy of the Kirghiz" authored by the prominent Kazakh scholar Valikhanov and published in 1857 (Valikhanov, 1985). Although there is no empirical evidence to support the myth of Alasha Khan, it holds significant cultural importance for the Kazakh people. The myth acts as a foundational narrative, explaining the origins of the Kazakh nation and highlighting the values of unity, leadership, and resilience. The story of Alasha Khan has been immortalized in various cultural expressions, such as literature, music, and art. Notably, Alasha Khan is prominently depicted in traditional Kazakh epic poetry, where he is portrayed as a wise and just ruler. These epics, known as "jyr," play a vital role in preserving the collective memory and reinforcing the cultural identity of the Kazakh people. Some historians, like Alexander Chuloshnikov argue that Alasha Khan is a symbolic figure rather than a historical one, representing the ideals and aspirations of the Kazakh people. He contend that the myth serves to provide a sense of continuity and legitimacy to the Kazakh nation, especially during times of political and social upheaval. Mushkur Zhusup Kopeev emphasizes the nominal meaning of the word “Alash”: “Before Alash Khan, the Kazakhs were not a single people and state, and other peoples did not recognize them in this capacity. Having chosen the pegogo boy as the ruler, they pronounced his name during the wars as uranium - a battle cry. They had a persuasion to throw themselves at the enemy with this uranium, and those who do not pronounce this name, even if he is the father, to kill like ardent enemies”. From those distant times the words remained: "When Alash became Alash, when Alash became Khan, when our house became a wooden yurt, when our uranium became the name Alash, then we became Kazakhs, children of three Zhuzs ..."(Sabitov, 2007).  Alasha Khan's myth endures due to its ability to resonate with the collective identity and historical consciousness of the Kazakh people. By embodying the ideals of unity and resilience, the myth continues to inspire national pride and cultural cohesion in contemporary Kazakhstan. Furthermore, the ongoing scholarly interest and debates surrounding Alasha Khan illustrate the dynamic nature of historical narratives and their role in shaping cultural heritage. As new discoveries and interpretations emerge, the legend of Alasha Khan will likely remain a subject of fascination and significance for future generations.