Religious motifs in the poetry of Kazakh zhyraus in the XVI-XVIII centuries

Abstract

The aesthetics of knightly, military poetry is pronounced in the works of Dospambet-zhyrau (XVI century). The poet, being a noble warrior who took part in the main battles between the Crimean Khanate and the Nogai Horde, devoted the contents of his poetry to the difficulties of military life, full of danger, anxiety, and adventure. The poet poetizes and romanticizes a similar way of life, close to his heart, and contrasts with the peaceful, philistine stagnation that he hates. The Dospambet-zhyrau’s poetry created the ideal of a man, a hero, whose days pass in continuous battles, moving along military roads, not regretting any injuries, losses, abandoned girl, or even sons waiting for their father, or their own life. Also, how the term shahid is used in the poetry of the zhyrau is mentioned. Furthermore, common features and inextricable links of poetry of all akyn-zhyraus (poets and story tellers) with philosophy, folk aesthetics, and spiritual and ethnocultural traditions are noted. The three-century struggle of the Kazakh people against the invasion of Dzungaria seems to have contributed to the growing relevance of religious themes in the poetry of akyn-zhyraus. The paper consists of three parts such as introduction, main part, and conclusion.