| Description |
Wailing-songs ‘koshok’ are part of the funeral rites. It is one of the most ancient genres of popular lyrics, traces of which are found in the Orkhon-Enisei writing system. ‘Tiruunun korku syi bolot, olgondun korku yi bolot’, say the Kyrgyz. It implies the necessity to show respect to someone while he is alive and to demonstrate respect by wailing and lamenting when he passes away. Lamentations glorify the best human qualities of a deceased person. In the past, the wailing song performers were often invited to funeral ceremonies. At present, koshok is performed not only by the invited people, but by the members of the family as well. Lamentations are also performed during wedding ceremonies. In this case, they take the form of farewell to the bride and are performed by her mother or sister-in-law. |
| Social and cultural significance |
Koshok developed along with other genres of oral folk art in the Kyrgyz people’s spiritual life, and at the same time, initially had its own independent development, as a result of which it grew to the level of an epic. The koshok is a phenomenon of the centuries-old history of Kyrgyz people, reflecting their culture and spiritual wealth. The koshok had a colossal historical and cultural significance and a prominent influence in the life of the Kyrgyz people.
From the koshok it was possible to find out who the glorified person was for relatives, to determine his social position in society, his life activity, his character, his spiritual values, his deeds for relatives and society, the interests of tribal groups. Koshok filled in for the psychological needs of the Kyrgyz people in moments of loss, sadness and when going through personal sorrows. It carried a "strong psychotherapeutic effect". Therefore, koshoks were performed in honour of the deceased, regardless of their status during the life. It is in the light of its stress-relieving property that the koshok, as a tradition, is conserved by the Kyrgyz people. Many creations have been preserved in people's memory to this day.
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| Transmission method |
The specific features and knowledge concerning the element has been mainly transmitted in a natural way orally through demonstration. The koshok distributors were creative personalities who came from the masses, who were endowed with a special gift, had great creative abilities in eloquence, improvisation, poetry, music. |
| Community |
Koshok performers are called koshokchu. They are known to be endowed with a special poetic gift. Koshokchu are mostly women. For instance, in the past the mother of Toktogul Satylganov - Burma, gained a wide recognition, while in modern times - Urpeim Baizakova, Byubyukan Bolotkan kyzy, Toktokan Chancharova, Nasyat Shamshieva and others were highly admired. The koshok is gradually becoming obsolete in some southern regions, but it still persists in the north.
Great contribution to preservation of the element is made also by researches organisations: Cultural Research Center "Aigine", Rural Development Fund (RDF).
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