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Yurt is a portable dwelling type, indispensable to the family (hearth) life of Turkic nomadic communities and regarded as sacred. Once a settlement area is selected, a yurt can be quickly assembled to meet immediate needs. Families may own more than one yurt depending on their means. The yurt was not used solely for shelter; it also served as the central space for ceremonies such as birth, marriage, and funeral rites, as well as for daily life. In this sense, it is a structure that embodies family organization and community identity. The yurt was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2014 in the context of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and in 2025 with an expanded scope including the Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Karakalpak communities by Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Nomenclature

The yurt, the most common type of tent among Turkic peoples, is defined as a dwelling with a circular base and a low dome-shaped roof, made of felt. Due to the materials used in its construction, it is also known as “kiyiz üy,” meaning “felt house.” In Kâşgarlı Mahmud’s work Dîvânu Lugâti’t-Türk, the term “keregü” is used for yurt and is associated with the meaning “winter house.”^【1】 These terms are historical designations that reflect both the physical characteristics and functional purposes of the yurt.

Structure, Materials and Assembly

The yurt is described as a mobile dwelling with a collapsible wooden circular frame, covered with felt and secured with ropes. Its most essential feature is its ability to be assembled and disassembled quickly. Yurts are constructed using natural and renewable raw materials.

There is a clear division of labor in the yurt-making process. Men and their apprentices produce the wooden frame by hand, during which structural elements made of leather, bone and metal are also prepared. Women create the interior decorations and exterior coverings, which are adorned with organic or geometric patterns. Women typically work in community-based groups under the supervision of experienced masters. Traditional craft techniques such as weaving, spinning, knitting, felt-making, embroidery and sewing are employed together in this process. Yurt construction is not merely an individual production activity; it is conveyed as a process encompassing the entire community, based on collective work and solidarity.

Yurt Construction Today (Anadolu Agency)

Interior Layout and Use

The interior layout of the yurt has developed according to a specific order that reflects the social structure, family relationships and daily life practices of Turkic nomadic communities. According to Wilhelm Radloff’s accounts, the interior arrangements of yurts generally exhibit similar features everywhere. At the exact center of the yurt is the “korluk”, the hearth. Above the hearth is a large tripod, upon which rests a large cauldron. The hearth is not merely a place for cooking; it is regarded as the most sacred point of the yurt. Great care is taken to ensure the fire burns continuously throughout the day, as it symbolizes the continuity of the lineage, a concept preserved in the modern expression “to let the hearth go out.”^【2】 The absence of smoke from a yurt’s chimney was considered evidence that no one was living inside. When a son marries, he takes fire from his father’s hearth to light his own yurt’s hearth, linking the hearth’s sanctity with the continuity of the lineage. It is stated that for ancient Turks, fire was considered sacred due to its purifying properties.

Immediately on either side of the hearth are two upright posts known as “sırguk”. These posts support the central crown ring (tüynük) and help maintain the structural integrity of the yurt. It is reported that the sırguk posts are associated with the Turkic cosmological belief in the “pillar of the sky,” which holds up the heavens. In this context, an expression such as “the pillar of my house has fallen” carries a symbolic meaning linked to the collapse of the yurt.

Upon entering the yurt, directly opposite the entrance and extending along the wall, is an area called the “tör”, where chests, saddlebags, bundles and sacks are arranged. This space is typically reserved for the eldest, most respected and most esteemed male guests. A felt or carpet is laid on the floor in front of these items to create a seating area, which is covered with special carpets called “ocakçı” or embroidered felt coverings known as “koşma.” The area to the left of the entrance is designated for ordinary male guests.

Interior View of a Yurt (Anadolu Agency)

The area to the right of the entrance, separated by a partition made of embroidered reed matting, is designated for female guests. Cooking utensils and household items are stored in this section. Beyond this area, in the rear right section of the yurt, lies the family’s private living space. Beds are placed here, and a curtain is stretched in front of them to ensure privacy. On the right side of the bed is a metal or silver peg used for hanging clothing and weapons. On the left side of the bed, along the wall, chests, saddlebags, bundles and sacks are arranged in two rows, also referred to as “yük.”

On the left side of the yurt’s entrance, saddles and horse tack are hung. The area near the entrance is used by servants. This arrangement reveals the spatial manifestation of social status, gender roles and notions of privacy within the yurt. The interior layout of the yurt is functionally unified, shaped by family life, hospitality traditions and daily use.

Social and Cultural Functions

The yurt serves as the fundamental space for family life and community organization among Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Karakalpak communities. UNESCO decisions highlight that the making and use of yurts support shared human values, cooperation and production skills.^【3】 Yurts are preserved within families, passed from parents to children, and safeguarded as sacred family heritage. In this sense, the yurt is a tangible part of family history. It is also regarded as a factor that strengthens social harmony among communities and contributes to the preservation of cultural diversity.

Yurt (Anadolu Agency)

Transmission of Traditional Knowledge Related to Yurt Construction

Knowledge and skills related to yurt construction are primarily transmitted within families from parents to children. In addition, the master-apprentice relationship is identified as a fundamental method of transmission. Community elders also play a significant role in this process.

Yurt Construction (Anadolu Agency)

The 2025 UNESCO decision notes that this transmission also occurs through exhibitions, festivals, workshops and media.^【4】 Thus, knowledge of yurt construction is sustained not only through traditional means but also through community-based cultural activities.

UNESCO Representative List Process

2014 – Paris

At the ninth session of the Intergovernmental Committee held in Paris from 24 to 28 November 2014, Decision 9.COM 10.24 accepted the nomination dossier submitted by Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan under the title "Traditional knowledge and skills in making Kyrgyz and Kazakh yurts (Turkic nomadic dwellings) [Traditional knowledge and skills in making Kyrgyz and Kazakh yurts (Turkic nomadic dwellings)]." As a result, the traditional knowledge and skills related to yurt construction were inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage as an element passed from generation to generation and inseparable from daily life and rituals. The decision text explicitly emphasized the importance of yurts in relation to family structure, community identity and the relationship between humans and nature. It also noted that yurt construction is a cultural practice that fosters cooperation and collective production among community members.^【5】

2025 – New Delhi

In 2025, at the twentieth session of the Intergovernmental Committee held in New Delhi, India, from 8 to 12 December, Decision 20.COM extended the scope of the inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage under the title "Traditional knowledge and skills in making Kyrgyz, Kazakh and Karakalpak yurts (Turkic nomadic dwellings) - [Traditional knowledge and skills used in making Kyrgyz, Kazakh and Karakalpak yurts (Turkic nomadic dwellings)]." This expanded inscription now includes the Karakalpak communities of Uzbekistan in addition to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The decision text states that yurts are preserved within families as sacred heritage, transmitted across generations, and thus constitute one of the fundamental elements of the identity of these communities.^【6】