{"history":[],"article":{"id":"646718d3-7ec2-4df3-a763-9c708da0e5ff","title":"Kyrgyz people","slug":"kyrgyz-people","content":":::summary\n![Kyrgyz people](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/2013-09-07///Falconer///with///his///eagle///in///Barskoon///valley%2C///Kyrgyzstan///01.jpg)\n**Group:** Kyrgyz people \n**Native Name:** кыргыздар · qyrğyzdar · قىرغىزدار \n**Image Caption:** Kyrgyz [falconer](https://bliptext.com/articles/falconry) in the [Barskoon valley](https://bliptext.com/articles/barskoon) \n**Total:** c. 5.7 million \n**Region 1:** 🇰🇬 [Kyrgyzstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/kyrgyzstan) \n**Pop 1:** 4.9 million \n**Region 2:** 🇺🇿 [Uzbekistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/uzbekistan) \n**Pop 2:** 450,000 \n**Region 3:** 🇨🇳 [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china) \n**Pop 3:** 202,500 \n**Region 4:** 🇷🇺 [Russia](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia) \n**Pop 4:** 137,780 \n**Region 5:** 🇹🇯 [Tajikistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/tajikistan) \n**Pop 5:** 65,000 \n**Region 6:** 🇰🇿 [Kazakhstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/kazakhstan) \n**Pop 6:** 38,606 \n**Region 8:** 🇹🇷 [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) \n**Pop 8:** 4,000 \n**Region 9:** 🇦🇫 [Afghanistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/afghanistan) \n**Pop 9:** 1,130 \n**Region 1 0:** 🇺🇦 [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine) \n**Pop 1 0:** 1,128 \n**Region 1 1:** 🇨🇦 [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada) \n**Pop 1 1:** 1,055 \n**Region 1 2:** 🇺🇸 [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states) \n**Pop 1 2:** 6,607 \n**Languages:** [Kyrgyz](https://bliptext.com/articles/kyrgyz-language) \n**Religions:** Predominantly [IslamMinority](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) Tibetan Buddhism, Christianity, [Tengrist](https://bliptext.com/articles/tengrism)-[Islamic](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) [syncretism](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-syncretism) \n**Footnotes:** At the 2009 census, ethnic Kyrgyz constituted roughly 71% of population of Kyrgyzstan (5.36 million). \n**Related Groups:** [Teleuts](https://bliptext.com/articles/teleuts), [Telengits](https://bliptext.com/articles/telengits), [Altai-Kizhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/altai-people), [Kazakh](https://bliptext.com/articles/kazakhs), and other [Turkic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkic-peoples) \n:::\n\n# \nThe **Kyrgyz people** (also spelled **Kyrghyz**, **Kirgiz**, and **Kirghiz**; or ) are a [Turkic](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkic-peoples) [ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-group) native to [Central Asia](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-asia).\nThey primarily reside in [Kyrgyzstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/kyrgyzstan), [Uzbekistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/uzbekistan), and [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china).\nA Kyrgyz diaspora is also found in [Russia](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia), [Tajikistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/tajikistan), and [Kazakhstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/kazakhstan).\nThey speak the [Kyrgyz language](https://bliptext.com/articles/kyrgyz-language), which is the official language of Kyrgyzstan.\nThe earliest people known as \"Kyrgyz\" were the descendants of several Central Asian tribes, first emerging in western [Mongolia](https://bliptext.com/articles/mongolia) around 201 BC. Modern Kyrgyz people are descended in part from the [Yenisei Kyrgyz](https://bliptext.com/articles/yenisei-kyrgyz) that lived in the [Yenisey](https://bliptext.com/articles/yenisey) river valley in [Siberia](https://bliptext.com/articles/siberia).\nThe Kyrgyz people were constituents of the [Tiele people](https://bliptext.com/articles/tiele-people), the [Göktürks](https://bliptext.com/articles/g-kt-rks), and the [Uyghur Khaganate](https://bliptext.com/articles/uyghur-khaganate) before establishing the [Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate](https://bliptext.com/articles/yenisei-kyrgyz-khaganate) in the 9th century, and later a Kyrgyz khanate in the 15th century.\n\n# Etymology\nThere are several theories on the origin of [ethnonym](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnonym) Kyrgyz.\nIt is often said to be derived from the [Turkic word](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkic-languages) kyrk (\"forty\"), with -iz being an old plural suffix, so Kyrgyz literally means \"a collection of forty tribes\".\nIt also means \"imperishable\", \"inextinguishable\", \"immortal\", \"unconquerable\" or \"unbeatable\", as well as its association with the epic hero [Manas](https://bliptext.com/articles/epic-of-manas), who – according to a [founding myth](https://bliptext.com/articles/founding-myth) – unified the 40 tribes against the [Khitans](https://bliptext.com/articles/khitan-people).\nA rival myth, recorded in 1370 in the [History of Yuan](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-yuan), concerns 40 women born on a [steppe](https://bliptext.com/articles/steppe) motherland.\nThe earliest records of the ethnonym appear to have been the Chinese transcriptions Gekun (鬲昆, [LH](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-han-chinese) *kek-kuən < [Old Chinese](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-chinese): *krêk-kûn) and Jiankun (堅昆, [LH](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-han-chinese) *ken-kuən < [OC](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-chinese): *kên-kûn).\nThose suggest that the original ethnonym was *kirkur ~ kirgur and/or *kirkün, and another transcription Jiegu (結骨, [EMC](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-chinese): *kέt-kwət) suggests *kirkut / kirgut.\n[Yury Zuev](https://bliptext.com/articles/yury-zuev) proposed that the ethnonym possibly means 'field people, field [Huns](https://bliptext.com/articles/huns)' (cf. [Tiele](https://bliptext.com/articles/tiele-people) tribal name 渾 Hún < [MC](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-chinese) *ɣuən).\n[Peter Golden](https://bliptext.com/articles/peter-benjamin-golden) reconstructs *Qïrğïz < *Qïrqïz< *Qïrqïŕ and suggests a derivation from [Old Turkic](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-turkic) qır 'gray' (horse color) plus suffix -q(X)r/ğ(X)r ~ k(X)z/g(X)z.\nBesides, Chinese scholars later used a number of different transcriptions for the Kyrgyz people: these include Gegu (紇骨), Jiegu (結骨), Hegu (紇骨), Hegusi (紇扢斯), Hejiasi (紇戛斯), Hugu (護骨), Qigu (契骨), or Juwu (居勿), and then, during the reign of [Tang](https://bliptext.com/articles/tang-dynasty) [Emperor Wuzong](https://bliptext.com/articles/emperor-wuzong-of-tang), Xiajiasi (黠戛斯), said to mean \"red face\".\n[Edwin G. Pulleyblank](https://bliptext.com/articles/edwin-g-pulleyblank) surmises that \"red face\" was possibly a [folk etymology](https://bliptext.com/articles/folk-etymology) provided by an interpreter who explained the ethnonym based on [Turkic](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkic-languages) qïzïl ~ qizqil, meaning 'red'.\nBy the time of the [Mongol Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/mongol-empire), the ethnonym's original meaning had apparently been forgotten – as was shown by variations in readings of it across different reductions of the History of Yuan.\nThis may have led to the adoption of Kyrgyz and its mythical explanation.\nDuring the 18th and 19th centuries, European writers used the early Romanized form Kirghiz – from the contemporary Russian киргизы – to refer not only to the modern Kyrgyz, but also to their more numerous northern relatives, the [Kazakhs](https://bliptext.com/articles/kazakhs).\nWhen distinction had to be made, more specific terms were used:\nthe Kyrgyz proper were known as the [Kara-Kirghiz](https://bliptext.com/articles/kara-kirghiz-autonomous-oblast) (\"Black Kirghiz\", from the colour of their tents),\nand the Kazakhs were named the or \"Kirghiz-Kazak\".\n# [Nomads in Kyrgyzstan | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Ala-Bel///pass%2C///Kyrgyzstan///%2829561433347%29.jpg]\n\n# Origins\nThe Kyrgyz are a [Turkic ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkic-peoples).\nRecent linguistic, genetic and archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest Turkic peoples descended from agricultural communities in [Northeast China](https://bliptext.com/articles/northeast-china) who moved westwards into [Mongolia](https://bliptext.com/articles/mongolia) in the late 3rd millennium BC, where they adopted a pastoral lifestyle.\nBy the early 1st millennium BC, these peoples had become [equestrian nomads](https://bliptext.com/articles/equestrian-nomads).\nIn subsequent centuries, the steppe populations of [Central Asia](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-asia) appear to have been progressively [Turkified](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkification) by an [East Asian](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-asian-people) [dominant minority](https://bliptext.com/articles/dominant-minority) moving out of Mongolia.\nThe [Yenisei Kyrgyz](https://bliptext.com/articles/yenisei-kyrgyz), whose 9–10th century migration to the [Tienshan area](https://bliptext.com/articles/tian-shan) was of \"particularly great importance for the formative process\" of the Kyrgyz, have their origins in the western parts of modern-day [Mongolia](https://bliptext.com/articles/mongolia) and first appear in written records in the Chinese annals of the [Sima Qian](https://bliptext.com/articles/sima-qian)'s [Records of the Grand Historian](https://bliptext.com/articles/records-of-the-grand-historian) (compiled 109-91 BCE) as Gekun (鬲昆, 隔昆) or Jiankun (堅昆).\nThe Middle Age Chinese composition [Tang Huiyao](https://bliptext.com/articles/tang-huiyao) of the 8–10th century transcribed the name \"Kyrgyz\" as Jiegu (Kirgut), and their [tamga](https://bliptext.com/articles/tamga) was depicted as identical to the [tamga](https://bliptext.com/articles/tamga) of the present-day Kyrgyz tribes Azyk, Bugu, Cherik, Sary Bagysh and a few others.\nThe 11th-century [New Book of Tang](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-book-of-tang) described the Kyrgyz (結骨) with red hair, white skin, and green eyes.\nContemporary Persian writer [Gardizi](https://bliptext.com/articles/gardizi) recounted a legend that ascribed these traits to [Saqaliba](https://bliptext.com/articles/saqaliba) ancestry in the tribe.\nThe Yenisei Kyrgyz lived in the upper [Yenisey River](https://bliptext.com/articles/yenisey-river) valley, central [Siberia](https://bliptext.com/articles/siberia).\nIn [late antiquity](https://bliptext.com/articles/late-antiquity), the Yenisei Kyrgyz were a part of the [Tiele people](https://bliptext.com/articles/tiele-people).\nLater, in the [Early Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/early-middle-ages), the Yenisei Kyrgyz were a part of the confederation of the [Göktürks](https://bliptext.com/articles/g-kt-rks) and the [Uyghur Khaganate](https://bliptext.com/articles/uyghur-khaganate).\nIn 840, a revolt led by the Yenisei Kyrgyz brought down the Uyghur Khaganate, and brought the Yenisei Kyrgyz to a dominating position in the former [Second Turkic Khaganate](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-turkic-khaganate).\nWith the rise to power, the center of the Kyrgyz Khaganate moved to [Jeti-su](https://bliptext.com/articles/jetisu), and brought about a spread south of the Kyrgyz to [Tian Shan](https://bliptext.com/articles/tian-shan) and [Xinjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/xinjiang), bringing them into contact with the existing peoples of what is now [Western China](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-china), especially the [Tibetan Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/tibetan-empire).\nThe [khagans](https://bliptext.com/articles/khagan) of the Yenisei Kirghiz Khaganate claimed descent from the Han Chinese general [Li Ling](https://bliptext.com/articles/li-ling), which was mentioned in the diplomatic correspondence between the Kirghiz khagan and the [Tang dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/tang-dynasty) emperor, since the Tang imperial Li family claimed descent from [Li Ling](https://bliptext.com/articles/li-ling)'s grandfather, [Li Guang](https://bliptext.com/articles/li-guang).\nThe Kirghiz qaghan assisted the Tang dynasty in destroying the Uyghur Khaganate and rescuing the [Princess Taihe](https://bliptext.com/articles/princess-taihe) from the [Uyghurs](https://bliptext.com/articles/uyghurs).\nThey also killed a Uyghur khagan in the process.\nThen Kyrgyz quickly moved as far as the [Tian Shan](https://bliptext.com/articles/tian-shan) range and maintained their dominance over this territory for about 200 years.\nIn the 12th century, however, Kyrgyz domination had shrunk to the [Altai](https://bliptext.com/articles/altay-mountains) and [Sayan Mountains](https://bliptext.com/articles/sayan-mountains) as a result of [Mongol](https://bliptext.com/articles/mongol) expansion.\nWith the rise of the [Mongol Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/mongol-empire) in the 13th century, the Kyrgyz migrated south.\nIn 1207, after the establishment of Yekhe Mongol Ulus (Mongol empire), Genghis Khan's oldest son [Jochi](https://bliptext.com/articles/jochi) occupied Kyrgyzstan without resistance.\nThe state remained a Mongol vassal until the late 14th century.\nVarious [Turkic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkic-peoples) ruled them until 1685, when they came under the control of the [Oirats](https://bliptext.com/articles/oirats) ([Dzungars](https://bliptext.com/articles/dzungars)), which lasted until [1757](https://bliptext.com/articles/dzungar-genocide).\nMany Kyrgyz tribes that had fled the Dzungars returned to modern Kyrgyzstan at this time.\nBy the 16th century, the carriers of the ethnonym Kirgiz lived in South [Siberia](https://bliptext.com/articles/siberia), Xinjiang, Tian Shan, [Pamir-Alay](https://bliptext.com/articles/pamir-alay), [Middle Asia](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-asia), [Urals](https://bliptext.com/articles/urals) (among [Bashkirs](https://bliptext.com/articles/bashkirs)), and in [Kazakhstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/kazakhstan).\nIn the Tian Shan and Xinjiang area, the term Kyrgyz retained its unifying political designation, and became a general ethnonym for the Yenisei Kirgiz and aboriginal Turkic tribes that presently constitute the Kyrgyz population.\nThough it is impossible to directly identify the [Yenisei](https://bliptext.com/articles/yenisei) and [Tien Shan](https://bliptext.com/articles/tien-shan) Kyrgyz, a trace of their ethnogenetical connections is apparent in archaeology, history, language and ethnography.\nA majority of modern researchers came to the conclusion that the ancestors of Kyrgyz tribes had their origin in the most ancient tribal unions of [Sakas](https://bliptext.com/articles/sakas)/[Scythians](https://bliptext.com/articles/scythians), [Wusun](https://bliptext.com/articles/wusun)/[Issedones](https://bliptext.com/articles/issedones), [Dingling](https://bliptext.com/articles/dingling), [Mongols](https://bliptext.com/articles/mongols), and [Huns](https://bliptext.com/articles/huns).\n18th-century Qing administrators referred to the Kyrgyz by the name Bulute.\nThe oldest notes about a definite mention of the Kyrgyz ethnonym originate from the 6th century.\nThere is a certain probability that there was relations between Kyrgyz and Gegunese already in the 2nd century BC and between Kyrgyz and Khakas since the 6th century AD, but there is a missing unique mention.\nThe Kyrgyz as an ethnic group are mentioned quite unambiguously during the time of [Genghis Khan](https://bliptext.com/articles/genghis-khan)'s rule (1162–1227), when their name replaces the former name Khakas.\n# [A Kyrgyz woman | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/A///Kyrgyz///woman.JPG]\n# [A Kyrgyz family | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/YurtIssykFamily.jpg]\n# [Kyrgyz women offering butter and salt | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Kyrgyz///women///offering///butter///and///salt.jpg]\n\n## Genetics\nThe genetic makeup of the Kyrgyz is consistent with their origin as a mix of tribes.\nFor instance, 63% of modern Kyrgyz men of [Jumgal District](https://bliptext.com/articles/jumgal-district) are [Haplogroup R1a1](https://bliptext.com/articles/haplogroup-r1a1).\nLow diversity of Kyrgyz R1a1 indicates a [founder effect](https://bliptext.com/articles/founder-effect) within the historical period.\nOther groups of Kyrgyz especially Southwest Kyrgyz show considerably lower [haplogroup R](https://bliptext.com/articles/haplogroup-r-y-dna) frequencies and almost lack [haplogroup N](https://bliptext.com/articles/haplogroup-n-y-dna) (except for the Kyrgyz from [Pamir](https://bliptext.com/articles/pamir-mountains) ).\nDepending on the geographical location of samples, West Eurasian [mtDNA haplogroup](https://bliptext.com/articles/mtdna-haplogroup) lineages make up 27% to 42.6% in the Kyrgyz, with haplogroup [mtDNA H](https://bliptext.com/articles/haplogroup-h-mtdna) being the most predominant West Eurasian [mtDNA haplogroup](https://bliptext.com/articles/mtdna-haplogroup) at about 14.2% (range 8.3% Talas to 21.3% Sary-Tash) among the Kyrgyz.\nHowever, the majority of Kyrgyz belong to East Eurasian mtDNA haplogroups, with mtDNA [haplogroup D](https://bliptext.com/articles/haplogroup-d-mtdna) (approx. 20.2%, range 14.6% Talas to 25.5% Sary-Tash ) and D4 in particular (approx. 18.5% ) being the most frequent Eastern Eurasian lineage among them.\nA 2011 study of autosomal ancestry found that East Eurasian ancestry is predominant in most Kyrgyz living in Kyrgyzstan.\nEast Eurasian ancestry makes up roughly two-thirds with exceptions of Kyrgyz living in Tajikistan and the western areas of Kyrgyzstan, where it forms only half.\nA 2022 study and report found that Kyrgyz people from China were found to have more West Eurasian ancestry than the Kyrgyz from Kyrgyzstan.\nKyrgyz people from China clustered more closely with Europeans and South Asians.\n# [Kyrgyz eagle hunter | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/KyrgyzEagleHuntsman.jpg]\n# [An Eurasian-wide Principal Component Analysis of the modern and ancient Eurasians. A total of 1,372 ancient individuals are projected onto the first two principal components defined by modern Eurasian populations. (A) Mesolithic to Eneolithic Age, (B) Pre-Bronze to Bronze Age, (C) Iron Age and (D) Historical Era individuals were shown. Kyrgyz people are shown in the center between East and West-Eurasian clusters. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Eurasian///genetic///PCA///centered///on///Central///Asians.jpg]\n\n# Religion\nKyrgyz are predominantly [Muslims](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslim) of the [Hanafi school](https://bliptext.com/articles/hanafi-school) of [Sunni Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunni-islam).\n[Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam-in-kyrgyzstan) was first introduced by Arab traders who travelled along the [Silk Road](https://bliptext.com/articles/silk-road) in the 7th and 8th centuries.\nIn the 8th century, orthodox Islam reached the [Fergana Valley](https://bliptext.com/articles/fergana-valley) with the [Uzbeks](https://bliptext.com/articles/uzbeks).\nHowever, in the 10th-century Persian text [Hudud al-'Alam](https://bliptext.com/articles/hudud-al-alam), the Kyrgyz were still described as a people who \"venerate the Fire and burn the dead\".\nThe Kyrgyz began to convert to Islam in the mid-17th century.\nSufi missionaries played an important role in the conversion.\nBy the 19th century, the Kyrgyz were considered devout Muslims and some performed the [Hajj](https://bliptext.com/articles/hajj).\n[Atheism](https://bliptext.com/articles/atheism) has some following in the northern regions under Russian communist influence.\nA few cultural rituals of [Shamanism](https://bliptext.com/articles/shamanism) are practiced to this day, particularly in Central Kyrgyzstan.\nDuring a July 2007 interview, [Bermet Akayeva](https://bliptext.com/articles/bermet-akayeva), the daughter of [Askar Akayev](https://bliptext.com/articles/askar-akayev), the former President of Kyrgyzstan, stated that Islam was increasingly taking root, even in the northern regions which had been under communist influence.\nShe emphasized that many [mosques](https://bliptext.com/articles/mosque) have been built and that the Kyrgyz are \"increasingly devoting themselves to Islam\".\nMany ancient indigenous beliefs and practices, including shamanism and [totemism](https://bliptext.com/articles/totemism), coexisted syncretically with Islam.\nShamans, most of whom are women, still play a prominent role at funerals, memorials, and other ceremonies and rituals.\nThis split between the northern and southern Kyrgyz in their religious adherence to Muslim practices can still be seen today.\nLikewise, the Sufi order of Islam has been one of the most active Muslim groups in Kyrgyzstan for more than a century.\n# [A mosque in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Me%C5%A1ita///v///Tokmoku.jpg]\n\n# Outside Kyrgyzstan\n\n## Afghanistan\nThe Kyrgyz population of [Afghanistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/afghanistan) was 1,130 in 2003, all from eastern [Wakhan District](https://bliptext.com/articles/wakhan-district) in the [Badakhshan Province](https://bliptext.com/articles/badakhshan-province) of northeastern [Afghanistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/afghanistan).\nThey still lead a nomadic lifestyle and are led by a [khan](https://bliptext.com/articles/khan-title) or [tekin](https://bliptext.com/articles/tegin).\nThe suppression of the [1916 rebellion](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-asian-revolt) against [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) rule in Central Asia caused many Kyrgyz later to migrate to [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china) and Afghanistan.\nMost of the Kyrgyz refugees in Afghanistan settled in the [Wakhan](https://bliptext.com/articles/wakhan) region.\nUntil 1978, the northeastern portion of Wakhan was home to about 3–5 thousand ethnic Kyrgyz.\nIn 1978, most Kyrgyz inhabitants [fled to Pakistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/kyrgyz-in-pakistan) in the aftermath of the [Saur Revolution](https://bliptext.com/articles/saur-revolution).\nThey requested 5,000 visas from the United States consulate in [Peshawar](https://bliptext.com/articles/peshawar) for resettlement in [Alaska](https://bliptext.com/articles/alaska), a state of the United States which they thought might have a similar climate and temperature with the [Wakhan Corridor](https://bliptext.com/articles/wakhan-corridor).\nTheir request was denied.\nIn the meantime, the heat and the unsanitary conditions of the refugee camp were killing off the Kyrgyz refugees at an alarming rate.\n[Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey), which was under the military coup rule of General [Kenan Evren](https://bliptext.com/articles/kenan-evren), stepped in, and resettled the entire group in the [Lake Van](https://bliptext.com/articles/lake-van) region of [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) in 1982.\nThe village of [Ulupamir](https://bliptext.com/articles/ulupamir) (or \"Great Pamir\" in Kyrgyz) in [Erciş](https://bliptext.com/articles/erci) in [Van Province](https://bliptext.com/articles/van-province) was given to these, where more than 5,000 of them still reside today.\nThe documentary film 37 Uses for a Dead Sheep – the Story of the Pamir Kirghiz was based on the life of these Kyrgyz in their new home.\nSome Kyrgyz returned to Wakhan in October 1979, following the [Soviet occupation of Afghanistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-occupation-of-afghanistan).\nThey are found around the [Little Pamir](https://bliptext.com/articles/little-pamir).\n\n## China\nThe Kyrgyz form one of the [56 ethnic groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/nationalities-of-china) officially recognized by the [People's Republic of China](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-republic-of-china).\nThere are more than 145,000 Kyrgyz in [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china).\nThey are known in Mandarin Chinese as Kē'ěrkèzī zú.\nIn the 19th century, Russian settlers on traditional Kirghiz land drove a lot of the Kirghiz over the border to China, causing their population to increase in China.\nCompared to Russian controlled areas, more benefits were given to the Muslim Kirghiz on the Chinese controlled areas.\nRussian settlers fought against the Muslim nomadic Kirghiz, which led the Russians to believe that the Kirghiz would be a liability in any conflict against China.\nThe Muslim Kirghiz were sure that in an upcoming war, that China would defeat Russia.\nThe Kirghiz of [Xinjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/xinjiang) revolted in the 1932 [Kirghiz rebellion](https://bliptext.com/articles/kirghiz-rebellion), and also participated in the [Battle of Kashgar (1933)](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-kashgar-1933) and again [in 1934](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-kashgar-1934).\nThey are found mainly in the [Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/kizilsu-kirghiz-autonomous-prefecture) in the southwestern part of the [Xinjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/xinjiang) Uygur Autonomous Region, with a smaller remainder found in the neighboring [Wushi (Uqturpan)](https://bliptext.com/articles/uqturpan-county), [Aksu](https://bliptext.com/articles/aksu-xinjiang), [Shache](https://bliptext.com/articles/shache) ([Yarkand](https://bliptext.com/articles/yarkent-county)), Yingisar, [Taxkorgan](https://bliptext.com/articles/taxkorgan-tajik-autonomous-county) and [Pishan](https://bliptext.com/articles/pishan-county) ([Guma](https://bliptext.com/articles/guma-pishan-county)), and in [Tekes](https://bliptext.com/articles/tekes-county), [Zhaosu](https://bliptext.com/articles/zhaosu) (Monggolkure), [Emin](https://bliptext.com/articles/emin-county) (Dorbiljin), [Bole](https://bliptext.com/articles/bole-xinjiang) ([Bortala](https://bliptext.com/articles/bortala-mongol-autonomous-prefecture)), [Jinghev](https://bliptext.com/articles/jinghev) ([Jing](https://bliptext.com/articles/jinghe-county)) and [Gongliu County](https://bliptext.com/articles/gongliu-county) in northern [Xinjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/xinjiang).\nIn [Akto County](https://bliptext.com/articles/akto-county), the [Akto Turkmen](https://bliptext.com/articles/akto-turkmen), a former Kyrgyz tribe, now speaks [Uyghur](https://bliptext.com/articles/uyghur-language).\nA peculiar group, also included under the \"Kyrgyz nationality\" by the PRC official classification, are the so-called \"[Fuyu Kyrgyz](https://bliptext.com/articles/fuyu-kyrgyz-people)\".\nIt is a group of several hundred [Yenisei Kirghiz](https://bliptext.com/articles/yenisei-kirghiz) ([Khakas people](https://bliptext.com/articles/khakas-people)) people whose forefathers were relocated from the Yenisei river region to [Dzungaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dzungaria) by the [Dzungar Khanate](https://bliptext.com/articles/dzungar-khanate) in the 17th century, and upon defeat of the Dzungars by the [Qing dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/qing-dynasty), they were relocated from [Dzungaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dzungaria) to Manchuria in the 18th century, and who now live in Wujiazi Village in [Fuyu County](https://bliptext.com/articles/fuyu-county-heilongjiang), [Heilongjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/heilongjiang) Province.\nTheir language (the [Fuyü Gïrgïs dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/fuyu-kyrgyz-language)) is related to the [Khakas language](https://bliptext.com/articles/khakas-language).\nCertain segments of the Kyrgyz in China are followers of [Tibetan Buddhism](https://bliptext.com/articles/tibetan-buddhism).\n# [\"Kirgiz Tents\" or yurts. 1914 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Kirghiz///Tents.png]\n\n## Pakistan\nKyrgyz are the only [Turkic](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkic-peoples) people native to Pakistan.\nThe Kyrgyz in Pakistan live mostly in the north, primarily [Chitral](https://bliptext.com/articles/chitral), where Kyrgyz is the only Turkic language spoken in Pakistan.\nThere are only a few thousand left, and many have assimilated with [Pashtun](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashtun-people) or the [Kho](https://bliptext.com/articles/kho-people).\nThey used to dominate the region of [Gilgit-Baltistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/gilgit-baltistan).\nThere are also [Afghan refugees](https://bliptext.com/articles/afghan-refugees-in-pakistan) of Kyrgyz origin in Pakistan.\nSome also come from Kyrgyzstan from the [Soviet-Afghan War](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-afghan-war) where some defected and settled in Pakistan.\nThere are also Kyrgyz nationals who work in Pakistan.\n\n## United States\nThe Kyrgyz American Foundation (KAF) is a US registered non-profit organization with the mission to strengthen civil, humanitarian, cultural and business ties between Kyrgyzstan and the United States by advancing intercultural awareness and cooperation.\nWhile preserving the multicultural heritage of Kyrgyzstan, KAF strives to cultivate a strong sense of identity for Kyrgyz Americans living in the US through cultural and educational initiatives.\nKyrgyz-Washington Sister Region Organization was established in 2019.\nThe organization is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of business, government, and community leaders, as well as ordinary citizens, in [Wenatchee](https://bliptext.com/articles/wenatchee), Washington.\nThe mission of the Kyrgyz-Washington Sister Region Organization is to foster cross-cultural understanding and professional development between Kyrgyzstan and Washington State.\nOur mission is carried out through exchanges of delegations between the two regions and by undertaking professional analysis and advances in Kyrgyzstan and Washington State in the areas of agricultural development, outdoor recreational tourism, and water resource management.\n\n## Sources","current_revision":null,"created_by":"kACnuQmH5k9Nr5VNVEpVeg7XpvUmMctD","created_at":"2025-01-25T17:56:08.175Z","updated_at":"2025-01-25T17:56:08.175Z","search_vector":"'kyrgyz':1 'peopl':2","search_content":" \n \n**Group:** Kyrgyz people \n**Native Name:** кыргыздар · qyrğyzdar · قىرغىزدار \n**Image Caption:** Kyrgyz [falconer](https://bliptext.com/articles/falconry) in the [Barskoon valley](https://bliptext.com/articles/barskoon) \n**Total:** c. 5.7 million \n**Region 1:** 🇰🇬 [Kyrgyzstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/kyrgyzstan) \n**Pop 1:** 4.9 million \n**Region 2:** 🇺🇿 [Uzbekistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/uzbekistan) \n**Pop 2:** 450,000 \n**Region 3:** 🇨🇳 [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china) \n**Pop 3:** 202,500 \n**Region 4:** 🇷🇺 [Russia](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia) \n**Pop 4:** 137,780 \n**Region 5:** 🇹🇯 [Tajikistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/tajikistan) \n**Pop 5:** 65,000 \n**Region 6:** 🇰🇿 [Kazakhstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/kazakhstan) \n**Pop 6:** 38,606 \n**Region 8:** 🇹🇷 [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) \n**Pop 8:** 4,000 \n**Region 9:** 🇦🇫 [Afghanistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/afghanistan) \n**Pop 9:** 1,130 \n**Region 1 0:** 🇺🇦 [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine) \n**Pop 1 0:** 1,128 \n**Region 1 1:** 🇨🇦 [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada) \n**Pop 1 1:** 1,055 \n**Region 1 2:** 🇺🇸 [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states) \n**Pop 1 2:** 6,607 \n**Languages:** [Kyrgyz](https://bliptext.com/articles/kyrgyz-language) \n**Religions:** Predominantly [IslamMinority](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) Tibetan Buddhism, Christianity, [Tengrist](https://bliptext.com/articles/tengrism)-[Islamic](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) [syncretism](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-syncretism) \n**Footnotes:** At the 2009 census, ethnic Kyrgyz constituted roughly 71% of population of Kyrgyzstan (5.36 million). \n**Related Groups:** [Teleuts](https://bliptext.com/articles/teleuts), [Telengits](https://bliptext.com/articles/telengits), [Altai-Kizhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/altai-people), [Kazakh](https://bliptext.com/articles/kazakhs), and other [Turkic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkic-peoples) \n \n\n# \nThe **Kyrgyz people** (also spelled **Kyrghyz**, **Kirgiz**, and **Kirghiz**; or ) are a [Turkic](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkic-peoples) [ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-group) native to [Central Asia](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-asia).\nThey primarily reside in [Kyrgyzstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/kyrgyzstan), [Uzbekistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/uzbekistan), and [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china).\nA Kyrgyz diaspora is also found in [Russia](https://bliptext.com/articles/russia), [Tajikistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/tajikistan), and [Kazakhstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/kazakhstan).\nThey speak the [Kyrgyz language](https://bliptext.com/articles/kyrgyz-language), which is the official language of Kyrgyzstan.\nThe earliest people known as \"Kyrgyz\" were the descendants of several Central Asian tribes, first emerging in western [Mongolia](https://bliptext.com/articles/mongolia) around 201 BC. Modern Kyrgyz people are descended in part from the [Yenisei Kyrgyz](https://bliptext.com/articles/yenisei-kyrgyz) that lived in the [Yenisey](https://bliptext.com/articles/yenisey) river valley in [Siberia](https://bliptext.com/articles/siberia).\nThe Kyrgyz people were constituents of the [Tiele people](https://bliptext.com/articles/tiele-people), the [Göktürks](https://bliptext.com/articles/g-kt-rks), and the [Uyghur Khaganate](https://bliptext.com/articles/uyghur-khaganate) before establishing the [Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate](https://bliptext.com/articles/yenisei-kyrgyz-khaganate) in the 9th century, and later a Kyrgyz khanate in the 15th century.\n\n# Etymology\nThere are several theories on the origin of [ethnonym](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnonym) Kyrgyz.\nIt is often said to be derived from the [Turkic word](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkic-languages) kyrk (\"forty\"), with -iz being an old plural suffix, so Kyrgyz literally means \"a collection of forty tribes\".\nIt also means \"imperishable\", \"inextinguishable\", \"immortal\", \"unconquerable\" or \"unbeatable\", as well as its association with the epic hero [Manas](https://bliptext.com/articles/epic-of-manas), who – according to a [founding myth](https://bliptext.com/articles/founding-myth) – unified the 40 tribes against the [Khitans](https://bliptext.com/articles/khitan-people).\nA rival myth, recorded in 1370 in the [History of Yuan](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-yuan), concerns 40 women born on a [steppe](https://bliptext.com/articles/steppe) motherland.\nThe earliest records of the ethnonym appear to have been the Chinese transcriptions Gekun (鬲昆, [[LH](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-han-chinese)](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-han-chinese) *kek-kuən < [Old Chinese](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-chinese): *krêk-kûn) and Jiankun (堅昆, [[LH](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-han-chinese)](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-han-chinese) *ken-kuən < [OC](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-chinese): *kên-kûn).\nThose suggest that the original ethnonym was *kirkur ~ kirgur and/or *kirkün, and another transcription Jiegu (結骨, [EMC](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-chinese): *kέt-kwət) suggests *kirkut / kirgut.\n[Yury Zuev](https://bliptext.com/articles/yury-zuev) proposed that the ethnonym possibly means 'field people, field [Huns](https://bliptext.com/articles/huns)' (cf. [Tiele](https://bliptext.com/articles/tiele-people) tribal name 渾 Hún < [MC](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-chinese) *ɣuən).\n[Peter Golden](https://bliptext.com/articles/peter-benjamin-golden) reconstructs *Qïrğïz < *Qïrqïz< *Qïrqïŕ and suggests a derivation from [Old Turkic](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-turkic) qır 'gray' (horse color) plus suffix -q(X)r/ğ(X)r ~ k(X)z/g(X)z.\nBesides, Chinese scholars later used a number of different transcriptions for the Kyrgyz people: these include Gegu (紇骨), Jiegu (結骨), Hegu (紇骨), Hegusi (紇扢斯), Hejiasi (紇戛斯), Hugu (護骨), Qigu (契骨), or Juwu (居勿), and then, during the reign of [Tang](https://bliptext.com/articles/tang-dynasty) [Emperor Wuzong](https://bliptext.com/articles/emperor-wuzong-of-tang), Xiajiasi (黠戛斯), said to mean \"red face\".\n[Edwin G. Pulleyblank](https://bliptext.com/articles/edwin-g-pulleyblank) surmises that \"red face\" was possibly a [folk etymology](https://bliptext.com/articles/folk-etymology) provided by an interpreter who explained the ethnonym based on [Turkic](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkic-languages) qïzïl ~ qizqil, meaning 'red'.\nBy the time of the [Mongol Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/mongol-empire), the ethnonym's original meaning had apparently been forgotten – as was shown by variations in readings of it across different reductions of the History of Yuan.\nThis may have led to the adoption of Kyrgyz and its mythical explanation.\nDuring the 18th and 19th centuries, European writers used the early Romanized form Kirghiz – from the contemporary Russian киргизы – to refer not only to the modern Kyrgyz, but also to their more numerous northern relatives, the [Kazakhs](https://bliptext.com/articles/kazakhs).\nWhen distinction had to be made, more specific terms were used:\nthe Kyrgyz proper were known as the [Kara-Kirghiz](https://bliptext.com/articles/kara-kirghiz-autonomous-oblast) (\"Black Kirghiz\", from the colour of their tents),\nand the Kazakhs were named the or \"Kirghiz-Kazak\".\n# [Nomads in Kyrgyzstan | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Ala-Bel///pass%2C///Kyrgyzstan///%2829561433347%29.jpg]\n\n# Origins\nThe Kyrgyz are a [Turkic ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkic-peoples).\nRecent linguistic, genetic and archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest Turkic peoples descended from agricultural communities in [Northeast China](https://bliptext.com/articles/northeast-china) who moved westwards into [Mongolia](https://bliptext.com/articles/mongolia) in the late 3rd millennium BC, where they adopted a pastoral lifestyle.\nBy the early 1st millennium BC, these peoples had become [equestrian nomads](https://bliptext.com/articles/equestrian-nomads).\nIn subsequent centuries, the steppe populations of [Central Asia](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-asia) appear to have been progressively [Turkified](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkification) by an [East Asian](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-asian-people) [dominant minority](https://bliptext.com/articles/dominant-minority) moving out of Mongolia.\nThe [Yenisei Kyrgyz](https://bliptext.com/articles/yenisei-kyrgyz), whose 9–10th century migration to the [Tienshan area](https://bliptext.com/articles/tian-shan) was of \"particularly great importance for the formative process\" of the Kyrgyz, have their origins in the western parts of modern-day [Mongolia](https://bliptext.com/articles/mongolia) and first appear in written records in the Chinese annals of the [Sima Qian](https://bliptext.com/articles/sima-qian)'s [Records of the Grand Historian](https://bliptext.com/articles/records-of-the-grand-historian) (compiled 109-91 BCE) as Gekun (鬲昆, 隔昆) or Jiankun (堅昆).\nThe Middle Age Chinese composition [Tang Huiyao](https://bliptext.com/articles/tang-huiyao) of the 8–10th century transcribed the name \"Kyrgyz\" as Jiegu (Kirgut), and their [tamga](https://bliptext.com/articles/tamga) was depicted as identical to the [tamga](https://bliptext.com/articles/tamga) of the present-day Kyrgyz tribes Azyk, Bugu, Cherik, Sary Bagysh and a few others.\nThe 11th-century [New Book of Tang](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-book-of-tang) described the Kyrgyz (結骨) with red hair, white skin, and green eyes.\nContemporary Persian writer [Gardizi](https://bliptext.com/articles/gardizi) recounted a legend that ascribed these traits to [Saqaliba](https://bliptext.com/articles/saqaliba) ancestry in the tribe.\nThe Yenisei Kyrgyz lived in the upper [Yenisey River](https://bliptext.com/articles/yenisey-river) valley, central [Siberia](https://bliptext.com/articles/siberia).\nIn [late antiquity](https://bliptext.com/articles/late-antiquity), the Yenisei Kyrgyz were a part of the [Tiele people](https://bliptext.com/articles/tiele-people).\nLater, in the [Early Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/early-middle-ages), the Yenisei Kyrgyz were a part of the confederation of the [Göktürks](https://bliptext.com/articles/g-kt-rks) and the [Uyghur Khaganate](https://bliptext.com/articles/uyghur-khaganate).\nIn 840, a revolt led by the Yenisei Kyrgyz brought down the Uyghur Khaganate, and brought the Yenisei Kyrgyz to a dominating position in the former [Second Turkic Khaganate](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-turkic-khaganate).\nWith the rise to power, the center of the Kyrgyz Khaganate moved to [Jeti-su](https://bliptext.com/articles/jetisu), and brought about a spread south of the Kyrgyz to [Tian Shan](https://bliptext.com/articles/tian-shan) and [Xinjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/xinjiang), bringing them into contact with the existing peoples of what is now [Western China](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-china), especially the [Tibetan Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/tibetan-empire).\nThe [khagans](https://bliptext.com/articles/khagan) of the Yenisei Kirghiz Khaganate claimed descent from the Han Chinese general [Li Ling](https://bliptext.com/articles/li-ling), which was mentioned in the diplomatic correspondence between the Kirghiz khagan and the [Tang dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/tang-dynasty) emperor, since the Tang imperial Li family claimed descent from [Li Ling](https://bliptext.com/articles/li-ling)'s grandfather, [Li Guang](https://bliptext.com/articles/li-guang).\nThe Kirghiz qaghan assisted the Tang dynasty in destroying the Uyghur Khaganate and rescuing the [Princess Taihe](https://bliptext.com/articles/princess-taihe) from the [Uyghurs](https://bliptext.com/articles/uyghurs).\nThey also killed a Uyghur khagan in the process.\nThen Kyrgyz quickly moved as far as the [Tian Shan](https://bliptext.com/articles/tian-shan) range and maintained their dominance over this territory for about 200 years.\nIn the 12th century, however, Kyrgyz domination had shrunk to the [Altai](https://bliptext.com/articles/altay-mountains) and [Sayan Mountains](https://bliptext.com/articles/sayan-mountains) as a result of [Mongol](https://bliptext.com/articles/mongol) expansion.\nWith the rise of the [Mongol Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/mongol-empire) in the 13th century, the Kyrgyz migrated south.\nIn 1207, after the establishment of Yekhe Mongol Ulus (Mongol empire), Genghis Khan's oldest son [Jochi](https://bliptext.com/articles/jochi) occupied Kyrgyzstan without resistance.\nThe state remained a Mongol vassal until the late 14th century.\nVarious [Turkic peoples](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkic-peoples) ruled them until 1685, when they came under the control of the [Oirats](https://bliptext.com/articles/oirats) ([Dzungars](https://bliptext.com/articles/dzungars)), which lasted until [1757](https://bliptext.com/articles/dzungar-genocide).\nMany Kyrgyz tribes that had fled the Dzungars returned to modern Kyrgyzstan at this time.\nBy the 16th century, the carriers of the ethnonym Kirgiz lived in South [Siberia](https://bliptext.com/articles/siberia), Xinjiang, Tian Shan, [Pamir-Alay](https://bliptext.com/articles/pamir-alay), [Middle Asia](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-asia), [Urals](https://bliptext.com/articles/urals) (among [Bashkirs](https://bliptext.com/articles/bashkirs)), and in [Kazakhstan](https://bliptext.com/articles/kazakhstan).\nIn the Tian Shan and Xinjiang area, the term Kyrgyz retained its unifying political designation, and became a general ethnonym for the Yenisei Kirgiz and aboriginal Turkic tribes that presently constitute the Kyrgyz population.\nThough it is impossible to directly identify the [Yenisei](https://bliptext.com/articles/yenisei) and [Tien Shan](https://bliptext.com/articles/tien-shan) Kyrgyz, a trace of their ethnogenetical connections is apparent in archaeology, history, language and ethnography.\nA majority of modern researchers came to the conclusion that the ancestors of Kyrgyz tribes had their origin in the most ancient tribal unions of [Sakas](https://bliptext.com/articles/sakas)/[Scythians](https://bliptext.com/articles/scythians), [Wusun](https://bliptext.com/articles/wusun)/[Issedones](https://bliptext.com/articles/issedones), [Dingling](https://bliptext.com/articles/dingling), [Mongols](https://bliptext.com/articles/mongols), and [Huns](https://bliptext.com/articles/huns).\n18th-century Qing administrators referred to the Kyrgyz by the name Bulute.\nThe oldest notes about a definite mention of the Kyrgyz ethnonym originate from the 6th century.\nThere is a certain probability that there was relations between Kyrgyz and Gegunese already in the 2nd century BC and between Kyrgyz and Khakas since the 6th century AD, but there is a missing unique mention.\nThe Kyrgyz as an ethnic group are mentioned quite unambiguously during the time of [Genghis Khan](https://bliptext.com/articles/genghis-khan)'s rule (1162–1227), when their name replaces the former name Khakas.\n# [A Kyrgyz woman | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/A///Kyrgyz///woman.JPG]\n# [A Kyrgyz family | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/YurtIssykFamily.jpg]\n# [Kyrgyz women offering butter and salt | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Kyrgyz///women///offering///butter///and///salt.jpg]\n\n## Genetics\nThe genetic makeup of the Kyrgyz is consistent with their origin as a mix of tribes.\nFor instance, 63% of modern Kyrgyz men of [Jumgal District](https://bliptext.com/articles/jumgal-district) are [Haplogroup R1a1](https://bliptext.com/articles/haplogroup-r1a1).\nLow diversity of Kyrgyz R1a1 indicates a [founder effect](https://bliptext.com/articles/founder-effect) within the historical period.\nOther groups of Kyrgyz especially Southwest Kyrgyz show considerably lower [haplogroup R](https://bliptext.com/articles/haplogroup-r-y-dna) frequencies and almost lack [haplogroup N](https://bliptext.com/articles/haplogroup-n-y-dna) (except for the Kyrgyz from [Pamir](https://bliptext.com/articles/pamir-mountains) ).\nDepending on the geographical location of samples, West Eurasian [mtDNA haplogroup](https://bliptext.com/articles/mtdna-haplogroup) lineages make up 27% to 42.6% in the Kyrgyz, with haplogroup [mtDNA H](https://bliptext.com/articles/haplogroup-h-mtdna) being the most predominant West Eurasian [mtDNA haplogroup](https://bliptext.com/articles/mtdna-haplogroup) at about 14.2% (range 8.3% Talas to 21.3% Sary-Tash) among the Kyrgyz.\nHowever, the majority of Kyrgyz belong to East Eurasian mtDNA haplogroups, with mtDNA [haplogroup D](https://bliptext.com/articles/haplogroup-d-mtdna) (approx. 20.2%, range 14.6% Talas to 25.5% Sary-Tash ) and D4 in particular (approx. 18.5% ) being the most frequent Eastern Eurasian lineage among them.\nA 2011 study of autosomal ancestry found that East Eurasian ancestry is predominant in most Kyrgyz living in Kyrgyzstan.\nEast Eurasian ancestry makes up roughly two-thirds with exceptions of Kyrgyz living in Tajikistan and the western areas of Kyrgyzstan, where it forms only half.\nA 2022 study and report found that Kyrgyz people from China were found to have more West Eurasian ancestry than the Kyrgyz from Kyrgyzstan.\nKyrgyz people from China clustered more closely with Europeans and South Asians.\n# [Kyrgyz eagle hunter | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/KyrgyzEagleHuntsman.jpg]\n# [An Eurasian-wide Principal Component Analysis of the modern and ancient Eurasians. A total of 1,372 ancient individuals are projected onto the first two principal components defined by modern Eurasian populations. (A) Mesolithic to Eneolithic Age, (B) Pre-Bronze to Bronze Age, (C) Iron Age and (D) Historical Era individuals were shown. Kyrgyz people are shown in the center between East and West-Eurasian clusters. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Eurasian///genetic///PCA///centered///on///Central///Asians.jpg]\n\n# Religion\nKyrgyz are predominantly [Muslims](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslim) of the [Hanafi school](https://bliptext.com/articles/hanafi-school) of [Sunni Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunni-islam).\n[Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam-in-kyrgyzstan) was first introduced by Arab traders who travelled along the [Silk Road](https://bliptext.com/articles/silk-road) in the 7th and 8th centuries.\nIn the 8th century, orthodox Islam reached the [Fergana Valley](https://bliptext.com/articles/fergana-valley) with the [Uzbeks](https://bliptext.com/articles/uzbeks).\nHowever, in the 10th-century Persian text [Hudud al-'Alam](https://bliptext.com/articles/hudud-al-alam), the Kyrgyz were still described as a people who \"venerate the Fire and burn the dead\".\nThe Kyrgyz began to convert to Islam in the mid-17th century.\nSufi missionaries played an important role in the conversion.\nBy the 19th century, the Kyrgyz were considered devout Muslims and some performed the [Hajj](https://bliptext.com/articles/hajj).\n[Atheism](https://bliptext.com/articles/atheism) has some following in the northern regions under Russian communist influence.\nA few cultural rituals of [Shamanism](https://bliptext.com/articles/shamanism) are practiced to this day, particularly in Central Kyrgyzstan.\nDuring a July 2007 interview, [Bermet Akayeva](https://bliptext.com/articles/bermet-akayeva), the daughter of [Askar Akayev](https://bliptext.com/articles/askar-akayev), the former President of Kyrgyzstan, stated that Islam was increasingly taking root, even in the northern regions which had been under communist influence.\nShe emphasized that many [mosques](https://bliptext.com/articles/mosque) have been built and that the Kyrgyz are \"increasingly devoting themselves to Islam\".\nMany ancient indigenous beliefs and practices, including shamanism and [totemism](https://bliptext.com/articles/totemism), coexisted syncretically with Islam.\nShamans, most of whom are women, still play a prominent role at funerals, memorials, and other ceremonies and rituals.\nThis split between the northern and southern Kyrgyz in their religious adherence to Muslim practices can still be seen today.\nLikewise, the Sufi order of Islam has been one of the most active Muslim groups in Kyrgyzstan for more than a century.\n# [A mosque in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Me%C5%A1ita///v///Tokmoku.jpg]\n\n# Outside Kyrgyzstan\n\n## Afghanistan\nThe Kyrgyz population of [Afghanistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/afghanistan) was 1,130 in 2003, all from eastern [Wakhan District](https://bliptext.com/articles/wakhan-district) in the [Badakhshan Province](https://bliptext.com/articles/badakhshan-province) of northeastern [Afghanistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/afghanistan).\nThey still lead a nomadic lifestyle and are led by a [khan](https://bliptext.com/articles/khan-title) or [tekin](https://bliptext.com/articles/tegin).\nThe suppression of the [1916 rebellion](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-asian-revolt) against [Russian](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) rule in Central Asia caused many Kyrgyz later to migrate to [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china) and Afghanistan.\nMost of the Kyrgyz refugees in Afghanistan settled in the [Wakhan](https://bliptext.com/articles/wakhan) region.\nUntil 1978, the northeastern portion of Wakhan was home to about 3–5 thousand ethnic Kyrgyz.\nIn 1978, most Kyrgyz inhabitants [fled to Pakistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/kyrgyz-in-pakistan) in the aftermath of the [Saur Revolution](https://bliptext.com/articles/saur-revolution).\nThey requested 5,000 visas from the United States consulate in [Peshawar](https://bliptext.com/articles/peshawar) for resettlement in [Alaska](https://bliptext.com/articles/alaska), a state of the United States which they thought might have a similar climate and temperature with the [Wakhan Corridor](https://bliptext.com/articles/wakhan-corridor).\nTheir request was denied.\nIn the meantime, the heat and the unsanitary conditions of the refugee camp were killing off the Kyrgyz refugees at an alarming rate.\n[Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey), which was under the military coup rule of General [Kenan Evren](https://bliptext.com/articles/kenan-evren), stepped in, and resettled the entire group in the [Lake Van](https://bliptext.com/articles/lake-van) region of [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) in 1982.\nThe village of [Ulupamir](https://bliptext.com/articles/ulupamir) (or \"Great Pamir\" in Kyrgyz) in [Erciş](https://bliptext.com/articles/erci) in [Van Province](https://bliptext.com/articles/van-province) was given to these, where more than 5,000 of them still reside today.\nThe documentary film 37 Uses for a Dead Sheep – the Story of the Pamir Kirghiz was based on the life of these Kyrgyz in their new home.\nSome Kyrgyz returned to Wakhan in October 1979, following the [Soviet occupation of Afghanistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-occupation-of-afghanistan).\nThey are found around the [Little Pamir](https://bliptext.com/articles/little-pamir).\n\n## China\nThe Kyrgyz form one of the [56 ethnic groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/nationalities-of-china) officially recognized by the [People's Republic of China](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-republic-of-china).\nThere are more than 145,000 Kyrgyz in [China](https://bliptext.com/articles/china).\nThey are known in Mandarin Chinese as Kē'ěrkèzī zú.\nIn the 19th century, Russian settlers on traditional Kirghiz land drove a lot of the Kirghiz over the border to China, causing their population to increase in China.\nCompared to Russian controlled areas, more benefits were given to the Muslim Kirghiz on the Chinese controlled areas.\nRussian settlers fought against the Muslim nomadic Kirghiz, which led the Russians to believe that the Kirghiz would be a liability in any conflict against China.\nThe Muslim Kirghiz were sure that in an upcoming war, that China would defeat Russia.\nThe Kirghiz of [Xinjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/xinjiang) revolted in the 1932 [Kirghiz rebellion](https://bliptext.com/articles/kirghiz-rebellion), and also participated in the [Battle of Kashgar (1933)](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-kashgar-1933) and again [in 1934](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-kashgar-1934).\nThey are found mainly in the [Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture](https://bliptext.com/articles/kizilsu-kirghiz-autonomous-prefecture) in the southwestern part of the [Xinjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/xinjiang) Uygur Autonomous Region, with a smaller remainder found in the neighboring [Wushi (Uqturpan)](https://bliptext.com/articles/uqturpan-county), [Aksu](https://bliptext.com/articles/aksu-xinjiang), [Shache](https://bliptext.com/articles/shache) ([Yarkand](https://bliptext.com/articles/yarkent-county)), Yingisar, [Taxkorgan](https://bliptext.com/articles/taxkorgan-tajik-autonomous-county) and [Pishan](https://bliptext.com/articles/pishan-county) ([Guma](https://bliptext.com/articles/guma-pishan-county)), and in [Tekes](https://bliptext.com/articles/tekes-county), [Zhaosu](https://bliptext.com/articles/zhaosu) (Monggolkure), [Emin](https://bliptext.com/articles/emin-county) (Dorbiljin), [Bole](https://bliptext.com/articles/bole-xinjiang) ([Bortala](https://bliptext.com/articles/bortala-mongol-autonomous-prefecture)), [[Jing](https://bliptext.com/articles/jinghe-county)hev](https://bliptext.com/articles/jinghev) ([Jing](https://bliptext.com/articles/jinghe-county)) and [Gongliu County](https://bliptext.com/articles/gongliu-county) in northern [Xinjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/xinjiang).\nIn [Akto County](https://bliptext.com/articles/akto-county), the [Akto Turkmen](https://bliptext.com/articles/akto-turkmen), a former Kyrgyz tribe, now speaks [Uyghur](https://bliptext.com/articles/uyghur-language).\nA peculiar group, also included under the \"Kyrgyz nationality\" by the PRC official classification, are the so-called \"[Fuyu Kyrgyz](https://bliptext.com/articles/fuyu-kyrgyz-people)\".\nIt is a group of several hundred [Yenisei Kirghiz](https://bliptext.com/articles/yenisei-kirghiz) ([Khakas people](https://bliptext.com/articles/khakas-people)) people whose forefathers were relocated from the Yenisei river region to [Dzungaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dzungaria) by the [Dzungar Khanate](https://bliptext.com/articles/dzungar-khanate) in the 17th century, and upon defeat of the Dzungars by the [Qing dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/qing-dynasty), they were relocated from [Dzungaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dzungaria) to Manchuria in the 18th century, and who now live in Wujiazi Village in [Fuyu County](https://bliptext.com/articles/fuyu-county-heilongjiang), [Heilongjiang](https://bliptext.com/articles/heilongjiang) Province.\nTheir language (the [Fuyü Gïrgïs dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/fuyu-kyrgyz-language)) is related to the [Khakas language](https://bliptext.com/articles/khakas-language).\nCertain segments of the Kyrgyz in China are followers of [Tibetan Buddhism](https://bliptext.com/articles/tibetan-buddhism).\n# [\"Kirgiz Tents\" or yurts. 1914 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Kirghiz///Tents.png]\n\n## Pakistan\nKyrgyz are the only [Turkic](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkic-peoples) people native to Pakistan.\nThe Kyrgyz in Pakistan live mostly in the north, primarily [Chitral](https://bliptext.com/articles/chitral), where Kyrgyz is the only Turkic language spoken in Pakistan.\nThere are only a few thousand left, and many have assimilated with [Pashtun](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashtun-people) or the [Kho](https://bliptext.com/articles/kho-people).\nThey used to dominate the region of [Gilgit-Baltistan](https://bliptext.com/articles/gilgit-baltistan).\nThere are also [Afghan refugees](https://bliptext.com/articles/afghan-refugees-in-pakistan) of Kyrgyz origin in Pakistan.\nSome also come from Kyrgyzstan from the [Soviet-Afghan War](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-afghan-war) where some defected and settled in Pakistan.\nThere are also Kyrgyz nationals who work in Pakistan.\n\n## United States\nThe Kyrgyz American Foundation (KAF) is a US registered non-profit organization with the mission to strengthen civil, humanitarian, cultural and business ties between Kyrgyzstan and the United States by advancing intercultural awareness and cooperation.\nWhile preserving the multicultural heritage of Kyrgyzstan, KAF strives to cultivate a strong sense of identity for Kyrgyz Americans living in the US through cultural and educational initiatives.\nKyrgyz-Washington Sister Region Organization was established in 2019.\nThe organization is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of business, government, and community leaders, as well as ordinary citizens, in [Wenatchee](https://bliptext.com/articles/wenatchee), Washington.\nThe mission of the Kyrgyz-Washington Sister Region Organization is to foster cross-cultural understanding and professional development between Kyrgyzstan and Washington State.\nOur mission is carried out through exchanges of delegations between the two regions and by undertaking professional analysis and advances in Kyrgyzstan and Washington State in the areas of agricultural development, outdoor recreational tourism, and water resource management.\n\n## Sources","revisionCount":0},"hasMore":false,"nextCursor":null}