Turkish Literature Prior to the Adoption of Islam
Turkish
literature was the joint product of the Turkish clansand was mostly
oral.
The oldest known
examples of Turkish writings are on obelisksdating from the late 7th and
early 8th centuries. The Orhun monumentinscriptions written in 720 for
Tonyukuk, in 732 for Kultiginand in 735 for Bilge Kagan are masterpieces
of Turkish literaturewith their subject matter and perfect style.
Turkish epics datingfrom those times include the Yaratilis, Saka Oguz,
Kagan, Gokturk,Uygur and Manas.
The
"Book of Dede Korkut," put own in writing in the14th century, is an
extremely valuable work that preserves thememory of that epic era in
beautiful language.
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