How did oral epics shape early Kazakh literature?

Oral epics were the primary literary genre in Kazakhstan until the 19th century, serving as the foundation for the country's early literary tradition. These works, known as jyr, were performed by professional bards called jyrau, who held high social status and often served as advisers to khans and sultans.12

The oral tradition was characterized by a complex interdependency between the human and natural realms, often utilizing metaphors related to animal life and nature. Beyond epics, the oral tradition included didactic tolgau (elegiac poems) and terme (didactic songs), which explored themes such as heroism, greed, and the responsibilities of different social classes.2

While these works were often attributed to specific bards of the past, they were rarely documented until the mid-19th century, when members of the tribal aristocracy began collecting them. This preservation effort, alongside the influence of Western and Russian literary models, eventually facilitated the transition toward modern written Kazakh literature, famously pioneered by figures like Abai İbrahim Qūnanbayūly.21