Zheti Ata

Posted by KZBlog on 10/06/10 • Categorized as Culture • Tagged as:Chinghis Khan, Genghis Khan, Genghizide, Mongol Empire, Turkic peoples

Another good post by a Peace Corps volunteer on Kazakh Family Trees. Summarizes a lot like how Kazakhs traditionally didn’t have surnames which means that most surnames are actually the name of an ancestor with the Russian ending for “son of” or “daughter of” tacked on. Also a really nice picture of what a Kazakh family tree can look like.

If you want an idea of how seriously some Kazakhs take their lineage, take a look at this article about a new book, Genghizides which basically lists every Kazakh who is related to Genghis Khan (or Chinghis Khan as they call him round these parts) and their lineage. Apparently in the last 3 years, 300 requests have been made to a DNA lab in the US from Kazakhs trying to prove that they are related to Genghis Khan.

Interesting that Kazakhs are trying to claim Genghis Khan (c.f. a forum post to show Genghis Khan was Turkic). In any case, it’s pretty clear that for some the tribal past is still vitally important.

batermj

View 7 October 10

Actually, Family tree is the most important thing in Kazakh Usual Life and History, Every two Kazakh meets some where in the world, after some talk maybe they will ask each other’s “Sueykh”, that means Where he/she belong to on the Kazakh Pedegree or Family Tree or “Qezhere”.
With this Kazakh Pedegree, one kazakh boy will know why should not marry with a kazakh girl if they have the same seven ancestor, “Zheti Ata”, Which keep the DNA clear and safe.
For the usual life, Each Kazakh Should remember his/her seven Ata( father-grandfather-…).

For Example, I am Bater, and my seven ata is Bater.Makhabel.Janabel.Alep.Baysal.Kulqikh.Kuaykelde.Matay

It is Interesting but powerful, A Kazakh Pedegree published at Kazakhstan tens years ago, you can find more there.

Nice Article, I would Like to comment more, but there is a Kazakh Toy to go;),
- KZBlogreplied:
  
  View 7 October 10
  
  Interesting. Yes the seven fathers thing is very important, although as a Westerner I would say your seven mothers are also important! But I see its use as a way of preventing incest.
  
  Enjoy your toi.
  - batermjreplied:
    
    View 8 October 10
    
    Of course, both male and female are important, it is a balance, it is a system for taging,
Arman

View 9 October 10

It is not ethically correct to state that Ghengis Khan was kazakh – though neither calling him mongol is, since there simply were no such things as nations of kazakhs and mongols up until 15th century. However, Ghengis Khan’s mother was from the tribe called Konirat, which currently falls under the Middle Juz of Kazakh nation, and his father was from the Bordjigin tribe, that is described as rather turkic than mongol. Ghengis Khan’s army consisted of such tribes as Jalair, Kerei, Naiman, Tatar, Konirat. Many of these are parts of Kazakh nation. Looking at Karakalpaks and Nogais from the cultural and linguistic perspectives eventually leads one to question whether we should treat them as separate nations or whether they are just peripheral elements of Kazakh nation.

Confusing 🙂
- batermjreplied:
  
  View 10 October 10
  
  History is like a dark night, and current people live in the sunshine day time, more confusing, I just setup a a kazakh original culture site, (BULAKH , search in google, it is on the top of the result), and please have a visit and leave a comment there, I really appreciate critics visit my site!
Danclads Lins de Andrade (Brazil)

View 19 November 10

The Kazakhs, as the Mongols, they keep the tradition of preserving the lineage from Genghis Khan. It is a colossal attempt, I would say, to preserve the history of secular ancestors.

Apparently the “mists of time” can not turn them away from this goal.

Interesting article.
batermj

View 20 November 10

continue on this topic please