Kyrgyz legends

The part "Legends" of the CD "Unknown Land Kyrgyzstan" presents nine Kyrgyz legends written down as narrated by people living in the rural areas of the Issyk-Kul area. People there retain an invaluable treasure of their forefathers-stories and legends which are still part of the culture. They are a combination of historical realities and folk fantasy. In many cases they explain the origin of topographic names and help to know more about a unique part of the world called Kyrgyzstan.

Texts of the legends are illustrated in pictures. One of the legends is given below.

The Old Man and the Grindstones

Long ago in one of the villages by the shore of the Lake Issyk-Kul, there lived an old man. He needed round stones for grinding corn and wheat. Flat round stones were used for making flour in those days. One day, the old man set off, on the back of his donkey, to the shore of the lake in search of proper stones.

Time went on, and finally he found what he wanted. One of the stones was very big, the other was small. The man put both stones into his sack and made for his village. It was a long way, and the man was tired. He stopped at the edge of an unknown village. While he was resting, he thought that his donkey could not carry the heavy load any further, so he left the big stone at that place. Since that time the village has had the name of Chong-Jargylchak (Large Grindstone). The old man went on and reached another village where he decided to settle down forever. He lived there and kept his house where people from all around came to grind corn and wheat. This village is called Kichi-Jargylchak (Small Grindstone).