The Cosmological Dimension of the Turkish Tent: Established Relationship With the Celestial Realm
Chapter from the book:
Tansü,
Y.
E.
&
Kara,
F.
(eds.)
2023.
Selected Articles on Afro-Eurasian Studies.
Synopsis
The tent, which provides the necessities of the nomadic lifestyle, is the most important argument of culture and reflected from culture to place.
The Turks who commutes between summer pasture - winter quarters, have used tents which can be built easily and quickly for a long time. The tent has been adapted to the active lifestyle of the nomads. Moving the tent from one place to another could be done on the back of the animal or by putting high wheels under it. Living conditions, weather conditions and some vital necessities have caused the tent to appear in different types and sizes.
The human mind is trying to perceive the secrets of life and the environment in which it lives with the material conditions and resources of its surroundings. Tents, which have an important place in Turkish culture, are a good example of this perception study. As a matter of fact, the Turks used their tents suitable for their lifestyle in both real life and spiritual life. The tent was used as an effective symbol on the religious area.
Heavens which is one of the layers of cosmic thought, and whose design was defined in the human mind, contained the only God, the creator, and the sacred beings, the good spirits and even the evil spirits that belonged to the underworld. According to thought of people, heavens has all means to meet their requirements and necessities which are crucial to survive on earth. Human curiosity has been dense for heavens which is believed to be God's residence. Besides, people's curiosity about heavens has increased since the visible heavens has harbored the Sun, Moon and stars. Light and heat of the sun and the moon's light are examples of these. Celestial bodies have their own function and these functions are used when describing the characteristics of heroes in the epics.
In this article, the relationship between the pre-Islamic Turkish tent and the heavenly world will be determined, and then the tent's value and function will be tried to be discussed through the cosmological meaning.