Culture of Uzbekistan: traditions and customs, writers and poets, holidays and folk crafts

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

Each nation of the world has its own unique traditions and customs, literature and music. All this forms the culture of the country. Worthy of attention is the original and vibrant culture of Uzbekistan, which has been formed over thousands of years. It absorbed all the customs and traditions of all the peoples that once inhabited the territory of the modern country.

Cultural Diversity

For many centuries, the ancient Greeks, Iranians, Turkic tribes of nomads, Russians, Chinese and Arabs have contributed to the culture of Uzbekistan. The country can safely be called multinational, which is reflected in music, painting, dance, applied arts, clothing, cuisine and language. The people of Uzbekistan are very respectful of traditions, especially for rural residents.

The Great Silk Road had a huge impact on the culture of Uzbekistan. The trade route ran from China in several directions:

• first - to the Kazakh steppes and Fergana,
• second - to the Middle East, to India and to the Mediterranean Sea.

Thanks to the Silk Road, there was noonly active trade, but also technologies, ideas, languages and religions were transferred. It was in this way that Buddhism spread throughout the lands of Central Asia. Monuments of Buddhist culture are still preserved along the route of the path: Fayaz-Tepe in Uzbekistan, the Kuve temple in the Ferghana Valley, Ajina-Tepa in the lands of Tajikistan.

Uzbek music was also formed under the influence of foreign cultures. Musicians and their instruments traveled with the caravans. Gradually spread the knowledge of paper making and chasing all kinds of iron products from one country to another. Gaining independence in 1991 contributed to a surge in the revival of customs and traditions, the further development of folk crafts.

Fine arts

The culture of Uzbekistan is unthinkable without fine arts. Eastern craftsmen have long been famous for their artistic talent, which is reflected in the decoration and decoration of magnificent palaces, mausoleums and other places of worship.

The main motifs of Uzbek creativity are calligraphy, patterns and ornaments. Since the traditions of Islam forbid depicting people and animals, the masters began to develop more abstract areas, bringing them to perfection. Subsequently, such a direction of fine art as the Uzbek miniature appeared. Artists created small but very bright pictures that were covered with varnish. They were used to decorate the interiors of palaces or houses of we althy people.

In the era of Timurid rule (14-15th centuries)there was an unprecedented cultural upsurge. The painting of Uzbek artists reached an unprecedented flourishing. Elements of stunning landscape paintings are still preserved in Samarkand museums. The palaces of Amir Temur at one time were decorated with picturesque panels depicting the wives of the ruler, himself, his sons and associates. It was during this period that the work of Kamoliddin Behzod, the great medieval artist, who is considered an unsurpassed master of oriental miniature, was born.

A new rise in art took place already at the beginning of the nineteenth century. At this time, the highest flowering of miniature art was observed, which is associated with the names of such masters as Abdulkhalik-Mahmum, Ahmad Donish (1827-1897) and others.

But Russian Wanderers had a significant influence on the Uzbek painting of the twentieth century. Their amazing works became the basis for the further development of the Eastern school of landscapes and portraits, the development of the direction of realism in painting.

The works of modern masters can be seen in the Fine Arts Gallery, which is the most modern exhibition hall in Tashkent, as well as in the Museum of Arts, the basis of the collection, which formed the basis of numerous works of European painting by the Grand Duke N. K. Romanov himself. Pictures of contemporaries are also presented in other museums and art galleries of the country.

True connoisseurs of painting should definitely visit the Museum. Savitsky I. V. Within its walls there are more than 90,000 exhibits, among which there are works of the Russian avant-garde, objects of fine Uzbekart, folk-applied works of Karakalpakstan and Ancient Khorezm.

Museums of the country

Currently, there are 110 museums in Uzbekistan, 98 of them are under the Ministry of Culture and Sports. Most of the establishments are located in Tashkent. Some very interesting museums are located in the tourist centers of the country, among which it is worth highlighting Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. They can learn a lot about the traditions and customs of Uzbekistan.

One of the most famous museums in Asia is the Savitsky Art Museum, which is located in Nukus, the capital of Karakalpakstan. In recent decades, craft centers and art galleries that promote classical and modern national art, as well as crafts, have become increasingly popular in Uzbekistan. In Tashkent alone, there are about ten large art galleries, which regularly host exhibitions of fine art, folk art, antiques and other things that can be called the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan. Similar institutions are opening in other large cities of the country: Samarkand, Khiva, Bukhara. They are popular not only with tourists, but also with locals.

Craft centers of folk crafts represent the work of real, hereditary craftsmen and artisans who manually produce silk carpets, ceramics, suzani, accessories, jewelry, forged products, national clothes and more using ancient technologies.

Literature

Basicfor modern Uzbek literature has become a rich folklore. From time immemorial, people have been inventing and passing from mouth to mouth epics of heroic content, the main characters of which were heroes who fought against enslavers and oppressors, portrayed as dark forces. This is how epic works appeared: "Alpamysh" and "Ker-Ogly". The poem "Alpamysh" tells about the heroism and courage of the Uzbek heroes. The work has passed through the centuries and has become a monument of Eastern literature.

No less famous is another folk work, represented by a cycle of tales and tales about Hajja Nasreddin, a witty and clever cunning who taught many lessons to rich people. In the eleventh century, many works were created, which were based on Islamic religious norms of morality. It is worth recalling the instructive poem "Kugadu Bilig" by Yusuf Khas Hajib Balasaguni, "The Gift of Truths" (Ahmad Yugnaki), "The Dictionary of Turkic Dialects" (Mahmud Kashgari).

Literature reached an unprecedented flourishing in the era of the Temurids during the reign of Amir Temur. Literature became popular because it became secular, freed from excessive religiosity. At that time, the great representative of Uzbek writers and poets Alisher Navoi lived and worked, who is considered not only a classic of national literature, but also the founder of the Uzbek language. His great works "Khamsa" and "Chordevon" entered the treasury of world literature. They were later translated into hundreds of languages.

It is also worth remembering the last ruler of the Timurids, who was the founder of the Mughal state inIndia, which lasted two hundred years - Zahhiriddin Muhammad Babur. The great ruler was also a brilliant poet of those times. In the poem "Baburname", describing his own biography, he outlined the history of the development of the peoples of Asia, India, Afghanistan. The work is a masterpiece of Uzbek literature.

In the 13th-19th centuries, literary creations had a lyrical character and were devoted mainly to love topics. Uvaisi, Nadira, Mashrab, Khorezmi and others became prominent representatives of those years.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, after the annexation of Turkestan to the Russian Empire, a new era of modern Uzbek literature began. Among the representatives of this period, it is worth highlighting the writer, satirist and poet Furkat and the poet Mukimi.

In the Soviet era, such talents as Khamza Khakimadze Niyazi, Sadriaddin Ayni, the first novelist Abdul Kadiri, the philosopher and writer Fitrat, whose literary traditions were continued by Gafur Ghulam, Oybek, Abdul Kahkharom, Uigun and Hamid Alimdzhan, flourished.

Throughout history, the wisdom of people has been reflected in Uzbek folk proverbs. In the 19th-20th century, Russian culture influenced their subject matter. Hence the expression that Russian and Uzbek proverbs shared their wisdom.

Music

Traditional Uzbek music has a long history. Its folklore direction is represented by numerous genres. Among them there are children's songs, lullabies, everyday songs, labor dance, lyrical lingering.

The classics of Uzbek music are maqoms. A special genre, which is characterized by a touching drawlexecution. Such songs are performed by lyric singers to the words of the poets of the East - Navoi, Jami, Mukimi, Nadir, Ogakhi and others.

The traditional music of Uzbekistan has been included in the list of intangible masterpieces by UNESCO. The richness of national traditions is evidenced by a large selection of musical instruments:

• string-plucked - dutar, dombra, oud, tanbur, rubab;
• string-bowed – kobuz, gijak, sato and setor;
• wind flutes – hajir-nai and nai;
• brass - karnay.

Modern music is no less interesting. Its diversity can be judged by the famous Sharq Taronalari music festival, which has been held every two years since 1997. The festival was established by President Karimov to develop and preserve the best achievements of national music.

National costume

Speaking about the culture of the country, I would like to recall the Uzbek folk costume. Men's and women's outfits are distinguished by the brightness of colors. They are a reflection of the way of life and traditions of the people. In cities, of course, you will no longer meet people in such costumes. They are worn only on holidays. However, in rural areas, they are still everyday wear.

Men's suit includes a quilted robe (chapan), which is bound with a scarf (kiyikcha). The traditional headdress is the skullcap. On the body, it is customary to wear a white shirt (kuylak) with a straight cut and wide trousers (ishton). Men put on boots made of thin leather on their feet.skin. As a festive option in the old days, belts embroidered with silver and decorated with plaques were used.

Juma Mosque

Speaking about the culture of the country, it is impossible not to mention its architecture. A striking monument of Uzbek architecture is the Juma Mosque, located in the old district of Tashkent. The main ancient architectural structures that have survived to this day are concentrated here. They surprisingly coexist with modern buildings.

The foundation of the Juma Mosque was laid in the ninth century. The temple is the oldest Friday mosque in Tashkent. Unfortunately, it is not possible to evaluate its original appearance. Over the period of its long history, the mosque was repeatedly destroyed and restored. The entire architectural ensemble that surrounded it has not survived to this day.

Theatres

Art is unthinkable without theater. In Uzbekistan, the most famous and oldest theater is the State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Opera and Ballet. Alisher Navoi. The first steps towards its creation were taken as early as 1926 when creating an ethnographic ensemble. But 1939 can be considered the birth year of the Opera House, when the premiere of the national opera Buran took place.

It is worth noting that the Uzbek theatrical art was formed under the influence of the cultures of many peoples since the days of the Silk Road. And the last century and a half has had a significant influence of the Russian school of acting.

Holidays

Ulocal residents, like any nation, have their own holidays. Among them is the most beloved. Navruz holiday in Uzbekistan occupies a special place. He is very loved by the natives. Its history is rooted in the mists of time, even in the pre-literate history of mankind. The holiday originated in Khorsan (eastern part of Iran) more than 4 thousand years ago. Later it spread to other regions of Central Asia.

He appeared at the behest of nature. The holiday is celebrated on March 21, when night and day are equal. Navruz for the Iranian and Turkic peoples is like the New Year for us. This is the time of renewal of nature. The holiday has a state status. Currently Navruz is one of the main Uzbek traditions. As in ancient times, colorful ceremonies and original rituals are performed on this day.

Arts and Crafts

Speaking about the culture of the country, it is impossible not to mention the arts and crafts. The original creativity of artisans, folk craftsmen, who pass on traditions from generation to generation, is worthy of admiration.

The masters put a piece of their soul into each of their products, creating unique masterpieces: jewelry, household utensils, vessels, clothes, fabrics and more. The creations of Samarkand, Bukhara, Fergana and Khiva masters have long been famous far beyond the borders of the country. Different schools of embroidery, ceramics, knives, woolen and silk carpets, and chasing have been preserved in Uzbekistan.