The Genre Nature and Historical Destiny of the Kyrgyz Lament Songs (Koshok)

The article explores the genre nature and artistic-functional features of mourning and dream songs (koşok and dream-related lyrical forms) within Kyrgyz oral folklore and the epic “Manas.” Drawing on the research of Z. Bektenov, T. Baizhiev, Z. Kydyrbaeva, S. Musaeva, Zh. Tashtemirov, and other folklorists, the study examines the historical origins of the koşok genre, its semantic content, compositional structure, and its role in the traditional worldview of the Kyrgyz people. Mourning songs are identified as one of the oldest and most enduring genres of folklore, reflecting the people’s understanding of life, death, fate, and moral values. The article pays special attention to artistic devices used to shape the image of the deceased: hyperbole, symbolism, comparisons with totemic and mythological figures (tiger, hawk, tulpar), as well as the specific rhythm and melody inherent to mourning. It is shown that the koşok performs both expressive-emotional and educational functions, addressing descendants, relatives, and society as a whole. The study also analyzes the poetics of dream songs — the dream of the wealthy Yakub and the dream of the hero Almambet — as independent epic motifs that reveal the inner world of the characters, their personal tragedy, and the connection between individual fate and the fate of the nation. It is emphasized that songs of sorrow and dreams deepen the semantic structure of the “Manas” epic, strengthen psychological expressiveness, and broaden its artistic space. The article concludes that mourning and dream songs occupy a key place in the system of Kyrgyz folklore, preserving their genre traditions from the ancient Orkhon-Enisei inscriptions to the present day.