Warrior Saints of the Silk Road
Subtitle: Legends of the Qarakhanids
Publisher: BRILL
Published: 2018
Language: eng; chg
Number of pages: 272
ISBN-13: 9789004384262
Subjects: Tales, asia; Sufi parables; Turkic peoples; Folklore, asia
Description: For generations, Central Asian Muslims have told legends of medieval rulers who waged war, died in battle, and achieved sainthood. Among the Uyghurs of East Turkistan (present-day Xinjiang, China), some of the most beloved legends tell of the warrior-saint Satuq Bughra Khan and his descendants, the rulers of the Qarakhanid dynasty. To this day, these tales are recited at the saints' shrines and retold on any occasion.0Warrior Saints of the Silk Road introduces this rich literary tradition, presenting the first complete English translation of the Qarakhanid narrative cycle along with an accessible commentary. At once mesmerizing, moving, and disturbing, these legends are essential texts in Central Asia's religious heritage as well as fine, enduring works of mystical literature.