The Kyrgyz folk Tengrian calendar is a system for calculating large periods of time, based on the periodicity of the movement of celestial bodies - the sun, moon and the constellation Pleiades (Үрkөр). The beginning of the year (Zhily Bashy) begins on the day of the vernal equinox .
Content
Twelve-year animal cycle (Zhyl sүrүү, Mүchөl )
- Chychkan Zhyly - year of the Mouse,
- Wow, the year of the Cow,
- Zhars leopard - year of the Tiger,
- Koyeon Zhyly - the year of the Hare or the Rabbit,
- Balyk zhyly - year of the Dragon,
- Zhylaan (Uluu) zhyly - year of the Snake,
- Zhyly zyly - year of the Horse,
- Coy zhely - year of the Sheep,
- Maimyl Zhyly - Year of the Monkey,
- Zory Zar - Year of the Rooster,
- It zhyly - year of the Dog,
- Dauz zhyly is the year of the Boar.
Legends and legends are associated with the name of the years. Each of these animals is characterized by physical properties and color, which change every 12 years. For example: the year of the black dragon, the year of the water dragon, etc. Each animal and its cyclic color (or property) have a certain characteristic that affects the events of the coming or current year. The names of the years of this calendar are found in the ancient Kyrgyz and Orkhon-Yenisei runic texts (grave epitaphs). Medieval Chinese Written Sources (Book of Tang, Liu Xu). The historian academician V.V. Bartold noted that in the Chinese history of the Tang Shu dynasty (618–907) “... it is about the Kirghiz that they have a twelve-year cycle and are designated by the names of animals. This cycle, as the Kirghiz’s own invention, may be the only phenomenon mentioned by history, deserves special attention. ”
Months (Aylar)
- Zhalgan Kuran - March
- Chun Kuran - April
- Bugu - May
- Kulzha - June
- Teke - July
- Bash Oona - August
- Ayak Oona - September
- Toguzdun Aiy - October
- Gethinin ayy - November
- Beshinin Aiy - December
- Үchtүn ayy - January
- Birdine Ayy - February.
In addition, the Kyrgyz have a Togol system, with more than 40 names of periods and individual days in a year, which are determined by the state of celestial bodies (Moon, Pleiades ), seasonal and natural changes, the behavior of wild and domestic animals. This system (periods and days) was of great importance for the economy (cattle breeding, hunting, fishing, gathering) and the conduct of rituals (holiday, religious, wedding).
Days of the week (Apta kүndөrү)
- Dүishөmbү-Birinchi kүn - monday
- Sheishembi-Ekinchi kүn - tuesday
- Sharshembi-Үchүnchү kүn - wednesday
- Beishembi-Tөrtүnchү kүn - thursday
- Juma-Besinchi kүn - friday
- Ishemby-Altynchy kүn - saturday
- Jekshembi Bazaar kүnү - sunday
Modernity
The Kyrgyz used the folk calendar before the Great October Socialist Revolution. According to the Decree on the time of January 26, 1918 - adopted by the Council of People's Commissars (SNK) of Russia, the Kirghiz, like all the peoples of Soviet Russia, switched to the Gregorian calendar. Nowadays, only the names of the months from the national calendar are officially used in Kyrgyzstan. And the folk reckoning (Zhyl sүrүү, Mүchөl) and the Togol system in Kyrgyzstan are of folk-religious significance. They are used by the older generation in the countryside, as well as Kyrgyz professing Tengrianism .
The similarity of the Kyrgyz and Khakass calendars
The similarity of the Kyrgyz and Khakass calendars is due to the close relationship of the Kyrgyz and Khakass peoples, and their origin from common ancestors - the Yenisei Kyrgyz .
See also
- Khakass calendar
- Tuvan calendar
Literature
- National Encyclopedia “Kyrgyzstan” / Editor-in-Chief Y. A. Asanov. - Bishkek: State and Center, 2012. - T. 4. - 832 p. - ISBN 978 9967-14-104 -9.