Chuvash literature

Modern people have learned about ancient Turkic literature mainly by studying the monuments of ancient Turkic runic writing, Manichean writing and ancient Uyghur writing.

Literature created in the Chuvash language dates back to medieval Oghur language. This is the principal value of the culture of the Chuvash Volga Bulgars in the literature. Aside from the aforementioned epitaphs, there are no surviving texts in the Oghur language. Medieval translations of Oghur literature were completed, however, often based directly on the Oghur sources. Yaqub ibn Numan, who lived in the 11th century, authored the pseudo-historical work "History of Bulgar", but this work has not survived. Abu Hámid al-Garnáti met with the ibn Numan and wrote a work based on "History of Bulgar". This work alludes to the animosity between the Bulgars and the Khazars, another ethnic group in Central Asia and features a narrative about how the Bulgars converted to Islam. Much of these historical events are presented by al-Garnáti in a mythologized form. He includes characters that are similar to characters in modern Chuvash folklore such as Ulyp, a giant and a legendary hero.

Aside from the epitaphs of gravestones during the Golden Horde period (13th-14th centuries), more artistic texts in the Chuvash languages began to appear in the 18th century, with the emergence of the Chuvash alphabet. For example, one poem by an anonymous writer in 1767 praised Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia:

Translation: We do not know what to give / You, beautiful queen, universal mother, for the love of us. Did not know until now / Goddess, which is in heaven. It turns out she is very elegant. / We have nothing significant except our souls - / May they be a gift to you!

More than 10 similar Chuvash poems, mostly with unknown authors, have been identified. One of them, witten in 1795 and dedicated to archbishop Ambrose, is usually attributed to Nikita Bichurin (1777-1853).[2] E.I. Rozhanski (1741-1801), one of the founders of the original Chuvash alphabet, also wrote literature in Chuvash. For example, he translated "Short Catechezis" into the Chuvash language in 1800. This was the first book published in the Chuvash language.[3] Another piece of Chuvash literature called "Chvash Aber Boldymyr", perhaps authored by V.I. Lebedev, dates to the same period (1852).[4][5]

The current Chuvash alphabet (based on the Russian alphabet) was created in the early 1870s by IY Yakovlev, a great educator and social activist. During these years, there were works in the Chuvash language using this new alphabet. The highest achievement of the Chuvash literature of this period may be a poem by Mikhail Fedorov "Arzuri" (1848-1904). It was written in 1884, spread among the population in the lists. It was published much later, in 1908. During these years, Ignatius Ivanov (1848-1885) also wrote works of literature. He is best known as the author of a cycle of short stories entitled "How to Live Chuvash"[6] Some of his creations have been published in the primer by I. Ya. Yakovlev, alongside many other works of Chuvash literature.[7]

The formal starting point of this period can be considered 1886, when Ivan Yurkin (1863-1943) began his literary career by writing his first short story. He became a large figure in the Chuvash culture and, in particular, in the realm of literature. Yurkin's major works of literature include "Wealth" and "The Man is Full, But His Eyes Were Hungry". He was also known as a journalist and an active defender of the traditional religion of the Chuvash.

See also Category:Chuvash writers