ETHNOCULTURAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE KAZAKH AND KYRGYZ PEOPLES

Abstract

Abstract. This article examines the cultural and historical commonalities between the Kazakh and Kyrgyz peoples, which developed over centuries of coexistence and ethnocultural interaction. Particular attention is paid to the similarities in traditional rituals, customs, oral folklore, literary traditions, and other elements of the spiritual and material culture of these two closely related peoples. Over a long historical period, favorable conditions for interethnic contacts developed in the Kazakh-Kyrgyz ethnocontact zone, including areas of mixed settlement, which contributed to the development of unique historical and cultural processes and the formation of stable cultural ties.

The intensity of cultural and linguistic interactions between the Kazakhs and Kyrgyz was determined by the specific socioeconomic developments, historical conditions of different eras, state national policies, and a number of other factors. At the same time, their shared origins, linguistic similarities, and similar ideological perspectives allowed the two peoples to maintain historical and cultural unity and continue to develop shared traditions in modern times.

The study is based on comparative and typological methods, the analysis of historical and cultural artifacts, and ethnographic fieldwork. Its primary goal is to study, preserve, and promote the cultural heritage of the Kazakh and Kyrgyz peoples. The scientific and practical significance of this work lies in its contribution to expanding humanities knowledge about the history and culture of the two peoples, as well as to updating the values ​​of the shared Turkic cultural heritage. The results obtained contribute to a deeper understanding of intercultural interaction and the preservation of the historical memory of the peoples of Central Asia.