摘要: 5Cultural Landscape of Safid BulanKyrgyzstan, Djalal Abat oblast266,5Shakh Fazil mausoleum41" 27' 56 N71" 37' 08 OName of Silk Roads component:Cultural Landscape of Safid BulanBrief description of the component:The sites making these series, are

5

Cultural Landscape of Safid Bulan

Kyrgyzstan, Djalal Abat oblast

266,5

Shakh Fazil mausoleum 41" 27' 56 N 71" 37' 08 O

Name of Silk Roads component: Cultural Landscape of Safid Bulan

Brief description of the component:

The sites making these series, are located on the northeastern end of  Safid-Bulan village (Ak-Korgon administration of Ala-Buka district of Djalal-Abad oblast), on the border with the Namangan area of Uzbekistan, at the foot of Archa-Mazar mountain. These sites are connected with the branch of the Silk Road serving the northeast of Fergana in antiquity and the Middle Ages; includes sacral complex consisting of constructions of various chronological periods standing on a medieval Mazar site, natural sacral components and rich intangible heritage in the form of legends, rituals and practice of sacrifices. Historically these monuments are connected with the time of distribution of Islam to the northeast of Fergana valley where it entrenched in IX-X centuries.  Existing ancient sanctuary was adapted for new religion. The first mentioning of this Mazar was made by Djamal Karshi in the end of XIII century, who spoke about two tombs. The central complex is protected by a wall with a main entrance from village street. The mausoleum of Shah-Fazil occupies its southeastern corner. It is a dome centered building with the corners oriented to the cardinal points, with rich carved ganch interior, which includes wide strips of epigraphics. Adobe mausoleums of XVIII-XIX centuries AD with a traditional name of Safid-Bulan and Keldekhana (Kellahana) were erected on a place of earlier structures. In the northeastern corner of a court yard, near Shah-Fazil a phallic shaped stone so-called "fertility stone" or Tash-Mazar is located.  Gravestones - sagona, are connected by local people with characters of the legendary events which entailed emrgence of this complex, i.e. with Shah Fazil, son of the Arabian military leader who falled in batle here, girl-servant Bulan who collected, washed and buried heads of 2700 soldiers-martyrs. The collection of gravestones - kairaks from the medieval necropolis, containing valuable information on a composition and a religious status of the buried is presented here. To the north from this Mazar complex there are: new mosque constructed on a place of old, hauz and small constructions, making a service infrastructure for pilgrims. There is one more complex (closer to the floodplain terrace of Chanach-Sai river), which centre is ruins of the Kyrgyn-mosque standing at Mazar on a place of burial of 2700 soldiers. To the southeast, on a slope of Archa-Mazar, there is one more adobe construction attributed to a standard-bearer of Arabs. Natural components are : sacred trees, a stone plate, a path on Archa-Mazar slope, considered to provide longevity, the mountain, abovementioned "fertility stone". Intangible heritage makes a whole cycle of legends connected with occurrence of sacral functions of this place, rituals and practice of sacrifices which along with Islamic traditions of honouring Mazar, contain also elements of archaic cults. Preservation of Ethnic, language and cultural variety are remarkable in this district, with prevailing Turkic language component - Kyrgyz and Uzbek, the Tadjik community which has not lost ethnic identification lives here. Families - descendants of sheikhs who remember traditions of teaching of this profession and ethics of behaviour in similar places have remained too.

Shah Fazil - Safed Bulan

When you first go in search of Shah Fazil and Safed Bulan mausoleums, be sure that you will experience the same feelings as during your first visit to Tash-Rabat caravanserai, on the mountain section of the Silk Road in one of the numerous gorges of the At-Bashi ridge. The only difference in the location of these two objects of medieval architecture is that the caravanserai is on the edge of the unknown, and the mausoleum is located in the border village of Gulistan on the border with Uzbekistan in the foothills of the northern part of the Fergana Valley. You will still find this village named Gulistan on the map, but its official name is Safed Bulan. Located 100 kilometers from the nearest large Kyrgyz town of Shamalduu-Sai, the road to Gulistan goes along border engineering structures in the form of a moat and three rows of barbed wire fences, strictly guarded by the Uzbekistani border. Where there is no fence, you may spot Uzbek border guards. The hot summer day lengthens the journey to Gulistan. There are no places to stay in Gulistan, a few guesthouses can be found in the village of Kerben 36km northeast, with its relatively cool evenings uncharacteristic of the rest of the hot Fergana Valley.

"Shah Fazil" is a small complex of medieval mausoleums and later burials that includes two main landmarks, the largest structure being Shah Fazil Mausoleum and Safed Ak Bulan Mausoleum.

The time of the complex dates back to the Karakhanid era and the early period of the Mongolian era, the 11-13th centuries.

The architecture of the complex differs from other monuments of the region by its modest exterior decoration and rich interior ornamentation. Some of the elements of the wood and metal carving have parallels with the West Asian techniques, and some forms of stylization trace the influence of the early Mogul epoch. A small stone phallic cult sculpture is located on the territory of the complex, and the shape of the dome of the Shah Fazil mausoleum itself may tell us about the influence of the phallic cult heritage of the time when the mausoleum was built. The legends that have survived to our times tell us that the advanced detachments of Alexander the Great's army reached the relict walnut forests of Arslanbob in the foothills of the Fergana Valley. Perhaps such evidences serve as evidence confirming this hypothesis. Phallic cults were common among the Hellenic Greeks. The combination of such finds makes this historical site unique in its kind within Central Asia.

Several legends date back to the arrival of the Arabs, who brought Islam to the region. Nearby the Shah Fazil mausoleum complex is the burial site of 2,700 Arab warriors of the Prophet Muhammad's followers who were beheaded by locals. This event and place is mentioned in sources from the 13th century. And a girl named Bulen washed their heads and showered herself with holiness and reverence among Muslims. Her tomb marked the beginning of the formation of the mausoleum complex. And on that spot, a settlement was gradually formed which was named after the girl, Safed Bulan. The son of one of the surviving warriors by the name of Shah Fazil returned to this place, and in his memory the main tomb of the complex with a dome - Shah Fazil - was built.

In the surrounding area formed a historical and cultural reserve, including the mountain Archa Mazar, the hermit's cave, the burial place of the Hodja Aalam (father and son flag bearers 2700 of the group of Arab warriors).