Kazakhstan culture, private life things

Kazakhstan culture overview

Russian travelers had a considerable influence on the cultural development of Kazakhstan. Thus, the noted Russian geographer Petr Semyonov-Tienshansky (1827-1914) played an important role in the career of Chokan Valikhanov (1835-65), the first Kazakh scholar and educator, who stood for the enlightenment of Kazakh people and their familiarization with Russian culture.

Valikhanov’s work in the field of education was carried on by the prominent Kazakh educator Ibrai Altynsarin (1841-1889). He organized public education in Kazakhstan, developed Kazakh alphabet based on Russian script and wrote the first textbooks for Kazakh schools.

Great was the role played by Kazakhstan national poet and enlightener Abai Kunanbayev (1845-1904) in the cultural history of Kazakh people. He was the creator of Kazakh literary language. A talented poet, he was also an excellent translator of works by Russian classics.

Kazakh people private life things views

The entrance to Kazakh yurta

Kazakh people private life things - The entrance to Kazakh yurta

The chest with bedclothes

Kazakh people private life things - The chest with bedclothes

Various chests and boxes

Kazakh people private life things - Various chests and boxes

Harness on the chest

Kazakh people private life things - harness on the chest

Dresser

Kazakh people private life things - dresser

Bags for plates and dishes

Kazakh people private life things - bag for plates and dishes

Kazakh people private life things - bag for plates and dishes

Pots and pans

Kazakh people private life things - pots and pans

Kazakh people private life things - pots and pans

Kazakh people private life things - pots and pans

Kazan (cauldron)

Kazakh people private life things - kazan (cauldron)

Yurta design elements

Kazakh people private life things - yurta design elements

Kazakh people private life things - yurta design elements

Beds

Kazakh people private life things - beds

Kazakh people private life things - beds

Chest and box

Kazakh people private life things - chest and box

Saddles

Kazakh people private life things - saddles

Kazakh people private life things - saddles

The questions of our visitors

Edyta asks: Good afternoon, I'd like to ask you why silver is so important to Kazakhs? I heard about few traditions whenever one person hand silver as a gift to the other, but I cannot find any kind of information about cause. I'd appreciate your help regarding to my question. Respectfully, Edyta Konca.
Expert's answer:
Historically, it so happened that the favorite material of Kazakh jewelers was not gold, but silver, which, in the view of the Kazakhs, had a cleansing, protective and magical property, as well as useful properties from a medical point of view. With the advent of Islam in the Kazakh steppes, the importance of silver also increased. The Kazakhs have a saying: gold is for beauty, and silver is for purity.

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