Silk Road Fusion of Cultures
What native and foreign roots influence the present day culture of a place?
Miles and miles of trade routes bridged the eastern Chinese empire with the western Roman kingdom for hundreds of years. Weaving through Kyrgyzstan’s snow capped mountains and lush green highlands; the steppes in Kazakhstan dotted by wandering sheep, surreal lakes and winding canyons; the fertile valleys in Tajikistan with sparkling turquoise, glacier-fed lakes; and the desert plains in Uzbekistan with architecturally stunning oases. This was once the heart of the ancient Silk Road.
Against a backdrop of this region’s undeniably breathtaking landscapes is now a unique mesh of cultures, beautifully layering the rise and fall of many past civilizations. The nomadic empires, the bygone Chinese, Mongol and Persian empires, the Soviet era of the twentieth century – each yielding a thread of influence to Central Asia’s present-day fabric of languages, foods, buildings, faiths, customs and even legends..
Through it all, the descendants of the various local ethnic communities in this region have found a way to honour some of their past, while embracing the richness of their multifaceted cultures.
THE NOMADIC FOUNDATION
Going back millennia, nomadic people roamed the vast steppes of the region, moving from place to place. Although much smaller in population now, the remnants of their practices are still an integral part of Central Asian identity.
Beautifully encapsulating this mobile nature of nomadic communities is the powerful image of a ‘yurt’ – a dwelling that is said to have originated among the nomadic Mongolian community in Siberia. Representing the origin of life in the area and people’s sense of ‘home’, these portable structures have been an indispensable part of nomadic lifestyle. This connection to nomadic history is important enough that the yurt now even features on national symbols like the Kyrgyzstan flag.
However, the yurt was not the only enabler of a nomadic lifestyle. Relying on fermented food and beverages was a way for communities to have their meals last a bit longer during lengthy journeys. By fermenting grains and milk, there emerged another jewel from the nomadic communities that has crowned the national drinks list of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Building on this foundational culinary history from nomadic times, the fermented drinks have become staple household beverages and are sold in plenty at food carts along modern-day streets of Central Asia.
Often deep rooted in such nomadic cultures and values is also traditional clothing. It’s not uncommon to see Kyrgyz men walking around adorning a distinctive and a much revered felt hat – the Al-Kalpak.
Worn by generations of nomadic peoples, the Al-Kalpak provides protection from harsh elements of the Central Asian weather. Taking on a unique shape, the hat symbolizes the snow peaks of the Tian Shan mountains of the country. The tassel that hangs off from the top is thoughtfully placed in memory of the ancestors and offers a sort of a family tree. Still very much in use, particularly during special occasions, the felt hat continues to serve as a reminder of the important relationship with nature and the past in Kyrgyz heritage.
A similar skullcap originating in Central Asia among Muslim communities, often referred to as ‘doppa’. is worn by the Tajik and Uzbek people. Coming in shapes that even represent the yurt, these skullcaps have beautiful designs and symbolisms that are sewn with silk threads.
But it’s not just the hat’s shape and design that holds deep cultural significance. The very fabric it is made of is believed to be a testament to a nomadic craft tracing back thousands of years ago. Taking the wool from sheep they herded, the nomadic families in Central Asia had transformed that raw material into something that was creatively woven into almost every aspect of their life – clothes, carpets, yurts, blankets and even footwear. That age-old craft of felting continues to be practised all across the region, and now has its reach well beyond.
While the sheep help provide for some of the essentials for daily life, there is no other animal that seems to grace the Central Asian landscapes as beautiful as its horses. Native to the region, the nomads in the steppes were among the first to have domesticated and bred horses. And these four-legged creatures soon found a way into the heart of the local life. Along with the two-humped camels also native to Central Asia, the horse became the vehicle for exploration and paved the way for the future of the Silk Road successes. This partnership between man and horse still continues to this day and was beautifully summarized by a Kyrgyz local as – “Horses are the wings of humans”.
Capturing the soulful tones of mountain life and nature in this beautiful region is komuz, the ancient nomadic three-stringed instrument. According to a legend in Kyrgyzstan, the idea of the komuz first took shape when a heartbroken hunter was pining for his love under an apricot tree. He was supposedly taken by surprise by the sound made by dried animal intestines strung on the branches of the tree as it danced with the wind. Inspired by this scene, he is said to have carved the instrument from the tree, playing to the sounds of his pain and eventually capturing the heart of his love. Today these instruments are played to songs recounting stories of love, war, and even the region’s nomadic heritage.
The Persian Pillars
Over time many of the nomadic families migrated west, and their descendants began to establish a powerful dynasty that spread across the region to become the flourishing Persian kingdom. And in the path of their empire, they left behind a cultural legacy that is still tied to the present day Central Asia.
At the centre of this Persian culture is its deliciously aromatic food. Walking through the streets and markets of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, a whiff of the afternoon air stirs one’s senses. This is from none other than the traditional Persian-influenced rice and meat–based ‘plov’ that is getting cooked in large cauldrons for lunch. Tossed around with oil, herbs and dried fruits, this blend of flavours yield a gastronomic richness that one can’t wait to dig into.
As important as the rice is, it is often the bread that is seen as a divine blessing among the Persians. And this is no different in the Central Asian communities as well, where Persian-inspired bread or ‘naan’ has become nothing short of a revered lifeblood. But adding their own unique flair to it using traditional bread pins, what comes out of the Uzbek and Tajik brick ovens are warm, fresh-smelling loaves with beautifully designed, golden top layers.
Complementing the savoury is the sweetness of the various ‘halva’ treats. Regardless of the contested origins of halvas (although many pointing to Persian roots), these desserts are said to have travelled with the Silk Road traders from the Middle East to the far ends of Central Asia and China. Today the halva (or ‘sweet’ in Arabic) is a national delicacy in Uzbekistan. Made of either full cream or milk powder and topped with nuts, their smooth sweetness melts in one’s mouth.
Just as Persian cuisine has been a key inspiration for Central Asian cooking, many of the region’s artistically intricate buildings also reveal rich Persian notes. From symbols deep-seated in the religion of Zoroastrianism that originated in Persia to elements borrowed from Islamic principles after the Muslim conquest of Persia. Now dominating the visual streetscapes of Central Asia, the pre-and and post-Islamic Persian architecture cannot go unnoticed, particularly in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Integrating colourful tilework, aesthetically pleasing geometric patterns and deep symbolisms, the buildings from the prime of the Silk Road era showcase a perfect marriage of architectural craftsmanship with cultural and spiritual harmony.
THE ORIENTAL BEARINGS
While the Persian influence mounted from the west, equally rich cultural traditions from China and Mongolia slowly began to get embedded into Central Asia’s character.
For starters, the delicious, meat-filled steamed dumplings or ‘manti’ are said to have originated among Mongols and possibly even inspired from northern China. Today, this classic dish has found itself playing a significant part of Central Asia’s culinary heritage, oozing the rich flavours of ground meat, herbs and spices.
Thanks to the Silk Road, the manti has spread beyond Central Asia to the eastern European regions, becoming one of their well-savoured dishes. But one of the most sought after goods introduced to the world through the Silk Road trades was the infamous silk from China.
So valuable and lucrative was this textile, foreign empires used any means possible to unravel the secrets of silk production that were closely guarded by the Chinese. In fact, behind the Uzbek Samarkand silk paper is a story of tragic survival. In 751 AD, when the Arab regime stopped short the Chinese invasion into West-Central Asia, it was said that a deal was struck with the captured Chinese prisoners. The secret of making silk paper in exchange for life! And thus was born the now 1000-year old Samarkand silk making process.
The exchange of goods and ideas along the Silk Road also brought about the spread of Islam to the east. These Chinese Muslims emerged as minority ethnic groups in China, such as the Hui. However, centuries later, fleeing religious persecution by the Qing dynasty, the Hui peoples of northwest China fled and settled in Central Asia. And there, they integrated their unique styles and symbols into their surroundings, which still stand as architectural beauties even today.
THE RUSSIAN CONNECTION
Following the other empires, the Russians made their move into Central Asia, integrating the region under Soviet rule by the early 1900’s. So evidently, along with the other cultural influences, the Soviet rule has also left its mark in Central Asia’s society, particularly seen in its infrastructure.
Most visible of these signs are in the post-war Soviet era buildings. With its geometric line shapes, latticed facades, mono-coloured concretes and block-type appearances, the Soviet architecture still stands imposing and intimidating. Yet the connection to the communist era and Soviet past is something that the cities are trying to erase, making such structures rare these days.
Weaving between these buildings and peppered with other vehicles on the road are the Soviet-era cars. Popular both in the cities and the rural areas, these vehicles really look like they have been teleported from decades ago. While other automakers have been slowly gaining ground in Central Asia, these Russian-manufactured cars are still plenty in sight.
In the russification of Central Asia, one can also see the emergence of Russian Orthodox religion as well as Russia’s Cyrillic alphabets in the region’s national languages. So it’s no surprise that while walking the streets, one can hear conversations laced with Russian words. However, Central Asian countries have been gradually making efforts to revert back their scripts to other root languages.
The Soviet architectural and infrastructural impressions go beyond what one can see above ground to all the way below to its underground metro stations. Having built them while Central Asia was still part of the USSR, the Soviet feel is not lost here. Yet, these daily used spaces boast a unique type of Russian extravagance and artistic expression.
But as the Central Asian societies gradually regain control of their native cultural elements, the Russian nostalgic grip is slowly fading away.
SILK ROAD FUSION
The cultural scenes and practices that unfold in the Central Asian countries is like a journey to the past. A glimpse of its roots, spanning the early nomadic families to the prosperous Oriental and Persian kingdoms dominating the Silk Road and the expansion of Soviet rule during its prime. Central Asia has come to be at the crossroads of a unique cultural integration that has been in making for centuries. A kaleidoscope of cultural heritages – that’s Central Asia for you!
Travel Tips
Tip for the Open-Minded Traveler
Take note of any strong cultural similarities you see between the place you are visiting and other global regions as well as any elements that are culturally unique. (e.g. foods, local language, architectural styles, clothing, etc.).
Tip for the Curious Traveler
Trace the origins of key cultural elements in the place you are visiting, exploring whether the attributes have native roots or foreign influences. Dig deeper to understand what significance these cultural elements hold in the present day culture of the place? Do they evoke a sense of national pride and shared sentiment among the local residents?
Tip for the Reflective Traveler
Taking into account the native cultural elements of the place you are visiting or currently live in, determine which of them have thrived over the years and which have been replaced or altered by foreign cultural influences. Think about how this has impacted the native peoples of the place? Reflect on how the cultural origins are presently acknowledged and how it can be improved.