CULTURE
All life of a Kazakh was related to yurt . Dome ( Shanyrak ) was family relic and passed on from generation to generation . Black dome of father ’ s yurt was honored by sons as shrine . If a Kazakh vowed in all seriousness , he would look up at the dome . The great attention was given to the wedding yurt ( Ak otau ). Its quality and beauty of decoration would have to ensure happiness to a new family . This could be the reason , as Margulan puts it : “... for the artistic work inside the yurt . Therefore , Kazakhs of average prosperity wouldn ’ t spare all means or materials . Everyone would strive to make the wedding yurt more decorated and elegant . They would often spend all their wealth just for the wedding ”.
Kazakh yurt is not only an element of the people ’ s material culture . It contains symbolism and variety of information about religious and mythological picture of the world . The model for Khazakh nation ’ s and their ancestors ’ world picture were signs from external environment and human society .
The yurt structure . How to make it ?
There is a tight connection and parallel that can be traced between conceptual model of the world and yurt in its construction . Kazakh yurt is made of wooden frame ( carcas ) and felt cover . Wooden frame contains grid , rim ( hoop ), poles connecting grid with rim , and door frame . The reachest Kazakh yurt is a a ten-rope yurt . It is also called ‘ A Khan yurt ’ since only wealthy people could afford such type . The most widespread yurt is a six-rope yurt . This means the yurt is put together ( assembled ) from six grids – Kerege in Kazakh . The size of the yurt is determined ( defined ) by the number of ropes . A number of grids depends on a number of ropes . The number of concave elements of the construction ( Uuks ) is relevant to the number of grids . These concave elements compose the yurt ’ s dome .
Resting place for hosts
TOR ( Honorable place )
Resting place for children
Elements for cylindrical wall in the yurt were compiled of 20 crossed Saganaks fastened with straps made of camel leather . Binding is very mobile , therefore grids could be easily shifted and moved apart . Size of the elements ( units ) wasn ’ t standard , but the length for aligned unit wouldn ’ t exceed 2 meters at 1.2-1.5 meters of overall height .
The size of Kazakh yurt depends on the size of diamond-shaped wholes in the grid . These diamond-shaped holes are called – Top koz kerege ( where you can place one fist ) and Zhel koz kerege ( where you can place two fists ). Top koz kerege ( smaller diamond-shaped hole ) were made of massive bars ( or planks ). That is why they were smaller . Zhel koz kerege were made of thin and light bars . Therefore , the holes were larger . Large-hole bars were less firm and were used to make the yurt for people of average wealth .
Shanyrak – is a circle that forms the ceiling in the yurt . Shanyrak is made of birch or black willow . In the middle of Shanyrak , Kuldireush is set that stops felt from falling off . There is a thik round plank up there . 5-6 concave layout
Shelter
ASSEMBLY
Storage place for horse harness
Male space
AKBOSSAGA ( sacred doorstep )
Female space
Storage place for utensils
Kuldireush binds this plank with the circle of Shanyrak . Elements that bind Kerege and Shanyrak togehter and cunstructing dome shape of the yurt ’ s ceiling are called Uuks – long bended sticks . Round the rim through-holes were made to put in the poles ’ edges that were up to 2.5 meters long . On the top they were finished with four-facets bevel ( sharpening ).
Yurt manufacturers ( producers ) make Uuks ( long bended sticks ) from willow branches that grow on the riversides . There are wipping willow , blue , black and light willow , and other types that grow in different regions of Kazakhstan . According to ageold experience , willow is the best tree to produce frame for Kazakh yurt . The tree has one other name among the people . Uuks and Kerege made of dried willow branches are light-weighted , but firm . Ripped off and dried willow was steamed in the lamb ’ s dung , then was shaped into a curve . The prepared planks were cut sharp from one side and rounded from the other ( in the cross-section ). To make planks resilient they had fore-and-aft furrows cut on the top . In the past wealthy people made frames for kazakh yurt out of birch . Such frame is always super firm .
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