The Šabdan Baatir codex : epic and the writing of northern Kirghiz history : edition, translation and interpretations, with a facsimile of the unique manuscript

In The abdan Baat r Codex , Daniel Prior presents the first complete edition, translation, and interpretation of a unique manuscript of early twentieth-century Kirghiz poetry, which includes detailed accounts of nineteenth-century warfare. Dedicated to the chief abdan Baat r, the Codex occupies an illuminating position in a network of oral and written genres that encompassed epic poetry and genealogy, panegyric and steppe oral historiography; that echoed oral performance and aspired to print publishing. The Codex s fresh articulation of concepts of Kirghiz self-identification was incipiently national, yet remained couched in traditional forms. The Codex thus bridges the interval, often glossed over in cultural histories, between a supposedly archaic state of oral epic tradition and the afterlife of epics in modern ethno-nationalist projects." Contents Preface Acknowledgments A Note on Spelling INTRODUCTION General Introduction Oral Traditions and the Writing of History in Inner Asia Objectives and Plan of the Edition, Translation, and Interpretations The Kirghiz Past Writers, Singers, Patrons, and Genres The Raid on the Qalmaqs Historical Background of the Poem The Story of Kenesari Historical Background of the Poem The Inface and Postface The Poem of Saint Sanci The Manuscript and the Edition Description and Dating of the Codex Principles of the Text Edition Table of Equivalents in the Edition TEXT AND TRANSLATION [I.] The Raid on the Qalmaqs [II.] Inface [III.] Kenensarinin qissasi [IV.] Postface [V.] Sanci Oluyanin qazali COMMENTARY Notes on the Text I. The Raid on the Qalmaqs II. The Inface III. The Story of Kenesari IV. The Postface V. The Poem of Saint Sanci The Raid on the Qalmaqs Chronology of the Raid Who Was Being Praised? The Origin and Development of the Poem The Itinerary The Story of Kenesari The Poem of Saint Sanci The Esengul and Tinay Saribagis Saribagis Traditions and Sanjira General Commentary Some Matters of Form Arguments Implicit in the Codex Conclusion and Departure APPENDICES Appendix A. Authorship, Date, Patronage, and Copying of the Codex Appendix B. Qaligul Q on Kenesari's Incursion of 1846 "The Battle between Kene Khan, Descendant of Ablay Khan, and the Kirghiz in 1846 (the Year of the Horse)" Appendix C. Qaligul R on Kenesari's Incursion of 1846 Appendix D. Bala Ayilci on Kenesari's Incursion of 1846 Appendix E. Iakov Mikhailovskii on the Buddhist Monastery at Suembe "A Trip to Suembe" Appendix F. Nikolai Aristov on the Raid on the Qalmaqs in 1864 Appendix G. Belek Soltonoyev on the Raid on the Qalmaqs in 1864 Appendix H. Vsevolod Roborovskii on the Yulduz Valley Maps Genealogical Chart Bibliography Notes Abbreviations References Index FACSIMILE In The Šabdan Baatır Codex, Daniel Prior presents the first complete edition, translation, and interpretation of a unique manuscript of early twentieth-century Kirghiz poetry, which includes detailed accounts of nineteenth-century warfare. Dedicated to the chief Šabdan Baatır, the Codex occupies an illuminating position in a network of oral and written genres that encompassed epic poetry and genealogy, panegyric and steppe oral historiography; that echoed oral performance and aspired to print publishing. The Codex's fresh articulation of concepts of Kirghiz self-identification was incipiently national, yet remained couched in traditional forms. The Codex thus bridges the interval, often glossed over in cultural histories, between a supposedly archaic state of oral epic tradition and the “afterlife” of epics in modern ethno-nationalist projects. In The Šabdan Baatır Codex Daniel Prior presents the first complete edition, translation, and interpretation of a unique manuscript of early twentieth-century Kirghiz epic-like narrative and genealogical poems, analyzing their patronage and their context of oral and written historiography. In The Sabdan Baatir Codex Daniel Prior presents the first complete edition, translation, and interpretation of a unique manuscript of early twentieth-century Kirghiz epic-like narrative and genealogical poems, analyzing their patronage and their context of oral and written historiography. By Daniel Prior. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.