Lessons 7–8 · 2 lessons · S. Olim, S. Ahmedov, R. Qo‘chqorov. Literature, Grade 8: textbook-collection, Parts 1 and 2. G‘afur G‘ulom publishing-printing creative house, Tashkent, 2014 (revised third edition)
7
Yusuf Khass Hajib Balasaguni
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 42–45
GoalKnow Yusuf Khass Hajib’s life, how “Qutadg‘u bilig” was written, its manuscripts, meter and four main characters.
New words
masnavi (couplets each with its own rhyme) · masnaviymutaqorib (an aruz meter) · mutaqoribmanuscript copy · nusxasymbol, emblem · timsol
Explanation
Yusuf Khass Hajib was a poet of the 11th century who wrote in the Turkic language. Yusuf is his given name, while “khass hajib” (head of the door) was an official post granted for his dastan, which he took as his pen name; he is called Balasaguni because he was born in Balasagun. He finished “Qutadg‘u bilig” in Kashgar in AH 462 (AD 1069–1070) and offered it to the ruler Tavghachkhan Ulugh Bughra Qarakhan; the work has 6409 couplets and was written at about fifty years of age. It is a masnavi in the aruz meter mutaqorib. Three manuscripts survive: Vienna (copied in Herat in 1439), Cairo (found in 1896) and Namangan, which Abdurauf Fitrat obtained in 1924. The four heroes are symbols: the ruler Kuntug‘di – justice, the vizier Oyto‘ldi – fortune, the vizier’s son O‘gdulmish – intellect, the vizier’s relative O‘zg‘urmish – contentment and health.
Worked examples
Example: “qut” means fortune and “bilig” means knowledge, so the title can be translated “Knowledge that leads to happiness”; Fitrat rendered it as the “knowledge of becoming fortunate”.
Example: Kuntug‘di means “risen sun”, Oyto‘ldi “full moon”, O‘gdulmish “full of wisdom”, O‘zg‘urmish “awakened”. The names themselves carry symbolic meaning.
Class activity
Make a table: hero – position – what he symbolises. Fill it in for the four heroes without looking.
Practice
1
When and where was “Qutadg‘u bilig” finished?
In AH 462 (AD 1069–1070) in Kashgar.
2
Which three manuscripts of the dastan exist?
The Vienna, Cairo and Namangan manuscripts.
3
What do O‘gdulmish and Kuntug‘di stand for?
O‘gdulmish stands for intellect, Kuntug‘di for justice.
4
Why is this work, though an artistic dastan, called didactic?
Because it teaches education, manners, state governance and the conditions of perfection as lessons.