Brief Encyclopedia Signs and symbols of Kazakh culture
Signs and symbols of Kazakh art
The yurt as a semiotic space
The language of Kazakh ornamentation
- "Döngelek" (solar circle)
- "Kün közi" (eye of the sun)
- "Törtqulaq" (cross)
- "Shimai" (spiral)
- "Aishyk gül" (crescent)
- "Zhuldyz" (star)
- "Kempirqosaq" (rainbow)
- "Sharshy" (square)
- "Tumarsha" (amulet, often triangular)
- "Baldaq" (support, crutch)
- "Irek" (zigzag)
- "Törtüshkül" (four sharp corners)
- "Qarmaq" (fishing hook)
- "Shynzhyra" (chain)
- "Syñar müiiz" (single horn)
- "Qarga tuiaq" (crow's foot)
- "Asha tuiaq" (cloven hoof)
- "Qaz moiyn" (goose / swan neck)
- "It quiryq" (dog's tail)
- "Botaköz" (camel calf's eye)
- "Böri qulaq" (wolf's ears)
- "Alaqurt" (speckled spider)
- "Zhylan" (snake)
- "Agash gül" (tree-flower)
- "Örken" (stem)
- "Raikhangül" (rose)
- "Arpabas" (barley head)
Traditional costume in the context of semiotics
The symbolic artistry of Kazakh jewelry
Color as a semiotic code
The symbolic content of materials (handicrafts, applied arts)
The symbolic nature of Kazakh music
“Törtüshkül” (four sharp corners)
An interesting geometric figure representing four lozenges joined at a point by their vertices. The image is reminiscent of a star. The traditional name of the ornament is composed of the two words «tört» and «üshkül». The two-component name of the ornament most likely encoded its original meaning. The symbolism of the number four in the Turkic culture manifests itself in such concepts as four cardinal points, four seasons, etc., and the word «üshkül» of the Kazakhs means fast/sharp (for example, the expression – üshkül oi – fast/sharp/flying thought). This pattern is characterized as a closed symmetrical system. It can be used both as an independent element and as an element of plot composition together with other patterns in carpet decoration, artistic woodworking, etc.
ШайгОзова Ж.Н., Наурзбаева А. Б.
Краткая энциклопедия знаков и символов казахской культуры.
Алматы: КазНИИК, 2023.