Uyghur Folklore and Legends

The Uyghur people have origins that are as ancient as the Han Chinese, if not older. Originating in central China, they were slowly pushed further west until they settled in the Tarim Basin. But the Uyghurs are not just limited to East Turkestan and can also be found inhabiting the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Smaller communities can also be found in Mongolia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia. Because they have travelled so far and have encountered so many different cultures, it is therefore not surprising that Uyghur Folk-Lore is extensive, which when woven together in such a volume, results in a rich tapestry that can only be pleasing for the reader. We invite you to curl up with this volume and indulge yourself in the fifty-nine tales and stories that stretch back in time, almost to the great flood itself. Read about one-eyed, seven horned monsters that double as mothers-in-law, tricksters, illusionists, shape-shifters, ogres and even the origin of the meaning of fate itself. The Uyghurs are an ethnic minority, who like the Tibetans, have been fighting for their independence for generations. A percentage of the sales from this book will be donated for education scholarships for Uyghurs in East Turkestan.