Death among the Old Turks

Death among the Old Turks was not merely seen as a biological end but also as a sacred transition and spiritual transformation. Death was expressed through various terms such as “flying”, “ceasing to exist”, and “kergek bolmak”; it was believed that with the separation of the person’s “kut”—that is, their life force—from the body, a new form of existence began.

Death and the Belief in the Soul

The Turks held a multi-layered understanding of the soul, encompassing concepts such as “tın” (breath/soul), “süne” (the soul unique to humans), “kut” (sacred life energy), and “yula” (the spiritual counterpart of a person). While tın existed in all living beings, süne was unique to humans. Kut applied to humans, animals, mountains, rivers, and other entities, imbuing them with sanctity. Death was conceived as the separation of these spiritual elements from the body.

Perception of Death and Belief in the Afterlife

For the Old Turks, death was not an end but a new beginning. Earthly life was transient, while life after death was eternal. The concepts of “uçmak” (heaven) and “tamuğ” (hell) formed the foundation of this belief. Uçmak was located in the sky, while tamuğ was situated beneath the earth. Consequently, life after death played a decisive role in shaping moral conduct and social order.

Death Rituals and Burial Practices

Funerary rituals among the Old Turks were multi-layered:

• Yug (mourning ceremony): Family and community observed mourning, wept, and chanted elegies in honor of the deceased.
• Graves and Kurgans: The dead were typically buried in kurgans—mound-shaped tombs. Alongside them, everyday objects, weapons, horses, and even sacrificed animals were placed.

Balbal Associated with the Göktürks (AA)

• Balbal and Temples: The Göktürks erected stone statues in the shape of balbals atop graves and constructed temple-like structures.
• Mummification: Among the Huns and Göktürks, especially when burial was delayed, the dead were mummified to preserve the body.

The Relationship Between Kut and Death

The departure of kut from the body was equated with death. The loss of kut was not viewed merely as an individual loss but as a communal omen of misfortune. Therefore, death rituals were performed not only to honor the deceased but also to restore harmony and healing to the community.

Death from a Mythological and Eschatological Perspective

In Turkic mythology, death is not merely an individual end but is understood as part of a universal transformation. Narratives of apocalypse and flood were depicted through elements such as celestial battles, earth-splitting, and fire rain. These mythological accounts helped shape the community’s understanding of cosmic order.

Among the Old Turks, death was a transitional phenomenon imbued with meaning at both individual and communal levels, surrounded by rituals and beliefs. The existence of the soul, the concept of kut, kurgans, and mourning ceremonies form the foundational pillars of this cultural structure. Death was also regarded as a sacred gateway to eternal life.