Kutadgu Bilig, a literary masterpiece of Turkic origin, is revered in ancient Turkic literature. It shares this distinction with Diwan lughat al-Turk, both emerging as profoundly influential works originating in the Qarakhanid Kashgar region. The journey of scholarly exploration into Kutadgu Bilig began with Julius Heinrich Klaproth, a German linguist who, in 1820, authored the first known article about this monumental work. Since that seminal moment, the fascination with Kutadgu Bilig has continued to captivate scholars and enthusiasts for nearly two centuries. The Turkish Language Association made a significant contribution by publishing all three extant copies of Kutadgu Bilig between 1942 and 1943, followed by its translation in 1947 by Reshit Rahmeti Arat, with a critical text appended, which was subsequently published in 1959. In 1979, an index of Kutadgu Bilig in Turkish was made available to scholars and researchers. Furthermore, in 1984, the Beijing Publishing House for Nationalities published a Modern Uyghur version of Qutadghu Bilig, further expanding the reach and accessibility of this remarkable literary work.
The Index of Qutadghu Bilig (2012) in Uyghur, published by Uyghur Language Studies, is a critical component of this scholarly landscape among Uyghur people and warrants special attention. It is a comprehensive and invaluable resource for studying Kutadgu Bilig, offering multifaceted insights into the text. This index is an indispensable tool for anyone seeking to delve into the nuances and intricacies of the work, providing a structured and organized guide to the textual elements. In this introduction, we will elucidate the significant contributions of the Index of Qutadghu Bilig to the study of this literary masterpiece.
A Comprehensive Reference Guide: The Index of Qutadghu Bilig is a comprehensive compilation that catalogues virtually all words mentioned within the text. This includes proper names and place names, meticulously arranged in alphabetical order. Each entry is cross-referenced with the number of verses in which the word appears, enabling scholars to quickly locate and analyze specific elements within the text.
A Comparative Lexicon: The index transcends the boundaries of a simple reference guide; it serves as a comparative lexicon. By juxtaposing the vocabularies of both Kutadgu Bilig and Diwan lughat al-Turk it provides an invaluable resource for linguistic scholars. Over 1,500 definitions are offered, establishing connections and providing insights into the meanings of words in Kutadgu Bilig. Notably, this represents a quarter of the total vocabulary contained in Diwan lughat al-Turk and one-sixth of the vocabulary in Kutadgu Bilig.
A Historical Thesaurus: Beyond its utility as a reference guide and comparative lexicon, the Index of Qutadghu Bilig emerges as a unique historical thesaurus. Cross-referencing the words from Diwan lughat al-Turk with page numbers serves as a historical dictionary of 11th-century Turkish, offering an unprecedented insight into the semantic development of that era's vast and diverse Turkish (Uyghur) vocabulary. This resource serves as an invaluable reference point for scholars seeking to explore the intricacies of the language during this time.
In summary, the Index of Qutadghu Bilig is not just a reference tool but a gateway to a deeper understanding of Kutadgu Bilig, shedding light on its linguistic nuances, historical context, and the relationship between Kutadgu Bilig and Diwan lughat al-Turk. This invaluable resource paves the way for further comparative analyses and explorations, opening up new avenues for scholarly research and contributing to the ongoing appreciation and study of this monumental work within Turkic literature.
References
Zunun, M.T. (2012). Index of Kutdagu Bilik. Uyghur Language Studies. London.
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