Book of Dede Korkut
Short summary
Medieval Oghuz Turkish lands. The Book of Dede Korkut contained twelve heroic legends about the Oghuz people, introduced by the wise man Dede Korkut who prophesied and advised the tribes. The first legend told of Bugach Khan, son of Dirse Khan, who killed a fierce bull at age fifteen and earned his name. His father's treacherous warriors turned Dirse Khan against his son, and the father shot Bugach with an arrow during a hunt. Bugach's mother found him wounded and nursed him back to health. When the warriors captured Dirse Khan and led him to infidel lands, Bugach rescued his father.
The second legend recounted how Bamsi Beyrek rescued merchants from infidels and was promised to Banu Chichek. He wrestled the girl, kissed her three times, and gave her his ring. On his wedding night, infidels captured Beyrek and held him for sixteen years. A rival claimed Beyrek was dead and planned to marry Banu Chichek. Beyrek escaped with help from an infidel princess, returned disguised as a minstrel, revealed himself to his bride through wrestling and archery, and married her after rescuing his imprisoned warriors.
The third legend told of Delu Dumrul who challenged Azrail, the angel of death, after boasting he could prevent deaths. When Azrail came for his life, Dumrul's parents refused to die in his place, but his wife volunteered. Allah was pleased by their devotion and granted them both 140 more years of life together.
What shall I do with the black mountains yonder when you are no longer here? Should I take my flock there, let my grave be there, too. Should I sip your cool springs, let my blood run like water.
The remaining legends described Yigenek rescuing his imprisoned father Kazilik Khoja, young Emren defeating infidels to save his injured father Begil, and Seghrek finding his brother Eghrek held captive for sixteen years and freeing him from Alinja Castle.
Detailed summary by legends
Prologue
Shortly after the time of the Prophet Mohammed, a wise man appeared among the Bayat tribe of the Oghuz people. His name was Dede Korkut, and he possessed the gift of prophecy and divine inspiration. He served as adviser to the Oghuz in all vital matters, and nothing was undertaken without his counsel. Among his many predictions, he foretold that sovereignty would ultimately rest with the Kayi tribe until the day of doom, referring to the Ottoman dynasty.
The wise man shared many sayings that reflected his understanding of life and divine will. He taught that nothing prospered without mentioning Allah's name, that no one could escape their appointed hour of death, and that the departed soul never returned. He spoke of worldly matters too, noting that an adopted son could never replace a true son, that old enemies could not become friends, and that fame required generosity. He emphasized the importance of good breeding, stating that a girl could not become a lady without her mother's guidance, nor could a son be generous without seeing generosity in his father.
Nothing goes well without mentioning the name of Allah. No one can prosper without the will of Almighty Allah. Nothing happens if it was not already written down in the beginning.
The sage also spoke of wives, dividing them into four kinds. The best was the support of her family, who fed and entertained guests in her husband's absence, like Ayesha and Fatima. The worst were those who complained constantly, gossiped with neighbors, or refused hospitality to guests. He praised those worthy of honor: Allah above all, the Prophet Mohammed, his companions, the Quran, the holy places, and the faithful who served them.
Legend 1. The Story of Bugach Khan, Son of Dirse Khan
One year, the khan of khans held his annual feast and ordered three tents erected: white for those with sons, red for those with daughters, and black for the childless. He declared that those without children were cursed by Allah and should eat in the black tent. Among the princes who attended was one named Dirse Khan, who had neither son nor daughter. When he was directed to the black tent and served the stew of black sheep, he felt deeply shamed and returned home to confront his wife about which of them was barren.
His wife wisely counseled him to give a great feast, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and pray to Allah for a son. He followed her advice, and in due time she bore a male child. The boy grew quickly, and by fifteen years he had become strong and brave. One day at the khan's court, the prince's fighting bull was released. When the bull charged at the young man, he struck it on the forehead with his fist, wrestled it to the ground, and cut its throat. The assembled princes called for the wise man to name him.
The sage came and gave the youth the name Bugach Khan, granting him a principality and throne. However, the young man soon grew arrogant and despised his father's forty warriors. These treacherous men plotted against him, telling his father false tales that Bugach had attacked the Oghuz people, kidnapped girls, and insulted elders. They convinced the father that his son planned to kill him and urged him to strike first during a hunt.
During the hunt, while Bugach drove deer past his father to display his skill, the treacherous warriors told the father that his son meant to shoot him. The father drew his bow and shot his son between the shoulder blades. The arrow pierced through his chest, and Bugach fell from his horse. The father returned home, where his wife had prepared a feast to celebrate their son's first hunt. When she saw her husband return alone, her heart filled with dread. She questioned him about their son's fate, but he would not answer. The forty treacherous men told her the boy was safe and would return soon.
Unable to rest, the mother rode out with her forty maidens to search for her son. She found him lying by a river, his body covered in blood, with two dogs protecting him from crows. The gray-horsed Hizir had appeared to him and stroked his wounds, promising he would not die and that mountain flowers mixed with his mother's milk would heal him. The mother gathered the flowers and squeezed milk from her breasts, mixing them to make a balm. They carried him home and concealed him from his father while he healed.
After forty days, Bugach recovered completely. When the treacherous warriors learned he lived, they feared for their lives. They captured the father, bound his hands, put a rope around his neck, and led him toward infidel territory to sell him. The mother discovered this and told her son to rescue his father. Bugach mounted his horse, took his forty warriors, and pursued them. He found his father with the traitors, who were drinking wine. Not recognizing his son, the father sang to him, offering to restore anything that was lost if the young man would turn back. Bugach revealed his identity, and together with his men, he fought the traitors, killed some, captured others, and freed his father. The khan gave Bugach a principality and throne, and the wise man sang songs celebrating his deeds.
Legend 2. The Story of Bamsi Beyrek, Son of Bay Bure
At another feast, a prince named Bay Bure wept when he saw other men's sons standing before the khan. The assembled princes prayed that Allah would grant him a son, and another prince prayed for a daughter. The two agreed that if Allah blessed them, their children would be betrothed in the cradle. In time, both prayers were answered. Bay Bure sent merchants to bring gifts for his son, including a gray stallion, a bow, and a six-part club.
When the son reached fifteen, he went hunting and came upon his father's horse range. Meanwhile, infidels attacked the merchants at Kara Dervent pass and captured their goods. The merchants fled and found the young prince in his tent. They begged for help, and he immediately mounted his horse and pursued the infidels. He defeated them, recovered the goods, and asked only for the gray horse, the bow, and the club as his reward. The merchants explained these were meant for the son of Bay Bure. The young man realized he had asked for his own gifts and rode away. When the merchants returned and told Bay Bure what had happened, he recognized his son's deed and called for the wise man to name him.
The sage named him Bamsi Beyrek with the Gray Horse and gave him a principality. During a hunt, Beyrek pursued a deer to a red tent where his betrothed lived. The girl, whose name was Banu Chichek, sent her nurse to ask for meat. Beyrek gave them the entire deer. The girl then challenged him to race horses, shoot arrows, and wrestle. Beyrek won all three contests. When he threw her in wrestling, he kissed her three times, bit her once, and placed his golden ring on her finger as a sign of their engagement.
The wise man went to ask for the girl's hand from her mad brother, who killed all suitors. The brother pursued him but was stopped by divine power when he tried to strike. He agreed to the marriage if they brought him impossible gifts: a thousand male camels that had never seen females, a thousand stallions never crossed with mares, a thousand rams that had never seen ewes, a thousand dogs without ears or tails, and a thousand fleas. Bay Bure provided the animals, and the sage found the dogs and fleas. He locked the brother in a sheepfold with the fleas until he begged for mercy and agreed to the wedding.
Beyrek shot an arrow to mark where his nuptial tent should stand. On his wedding night, while he and his forty warriors sat drinking, infidels attacked. His deputy died defending him, and Beyrek and his men were captured and imprisoned in a castle. His parents and betrothed mourned him for sixteen years. A false friend brought a bloody shirt and claimed Beyrek was dead. The girl was betrothed to this deceiver, and a wedding date was set.
In the castle, merchants arrived and told Beyrek through song that his betrothed was about to marry another. The infidel prince's daughter, who loved Beyrek, helped him escape by lowering him down the castle wall with a rope. He found his gray stallion and rode home. Disguised as a mad minstrel, he attended the wedding. He broke the groom's bow, then shot his own bow and hit the ring target. He played the kopuz and made the bride dance. When she showed her hands, he saw his ring on her finger and revealed his identity.
Oh, the owner of my red trousseau! Oh, the promise of my forehead! Oh, my fine young hero, my handsome man! My young khan, whose face I have not yet gazed upon enough.
The girl ran to tell Beyrek's parents the good news. His blind father rubbed his eyes with a cloth soaked in his son's blood, and his sight was restored. The false groom fled to the marshes, but Beyrek forgave him. Then Beyrek led the Oghuz warriors to attack the castle where his companions were imprisoned. They defeated the infidels, freed the prisoners, destroyed the church, and built a mosque. Beyrek married the infidel prince's daughter as he had promised, and his forty warriors also took brides. The wise man played the kopuz and told this legend of the Oghuz.
Legend 3. The Story of Delu Dumrul, Son of Duha Khoja
There was a man who built a bridge across a dry riverbed and charged travelers to cross it. Those who refused, he beat and charged even more. He did this to challenge anyone braver than himself. One day, a young man in a nomad camp died, and the people mourned. The bridge keeper asked who killed him, and they said it was Azrail, the angel of death. The man boasted that he would fight Azrail and prevent him from taking any more lives. Allah was displeased with this arrogance and sent Azrail to take the man's life.
While the man sat drinking with his companions, Azrail appeared. The man's eyes were blinded and his hands paralyzed. He drew his sword and tried to strike Azrail, but the angel became a pigeon and flew away. The man pursued him on horseback, but Azrail appeared before his horse, which threw him to the ground. Azrail pressed upon his chest and prepared to take his life. The man begged for mercy, claiming he had been drunk and did not know what he said. Azrail told him to beg Allah, not him. Allah agreed to spare his life if he could find someone willing to die in his place.
The man went to his father and mother, but both refused to give their lives for him, saying the world was too sweet and life too dear. His wife, however, agreed to die in his place. When Azrail came to take her life, the man could not bear to lose his companion. He prayed to Allah, offering to build homes for the poor and feed the hungry. He begged Allah to take both their lives or spare both. Allah was pleased with his words and granted them both 140 more years of life, taking instead the lives of his selfish parents. The wise man told this legend to teach the value of selfless love.
Legend 4. The Story of Yigenek, Son of Kazilik Khoja
Legend 5. The Story of Emren, Son of Begil
Legend 6. The Story of Seghrek, Son of Ushun Khoja
Even they passed away from this world. They stayed for a while and then moved along, just as the caravan does. Even they were removed by death while this mortal world remained behind.