Hunting with eagles
Hunting with golden eagles is a traditional art of the Eurasian steppes, particularly in Central Asia. It is a type of falconry.
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[edit] Terminology
Professional hunters from Kazakhstan call the practice berkutchy or kusbeguy in Kazakh; it is also called berkutchi by the Kyrgyz people of the Bugu clan.[1]
Berkutchy is a life's profession, and in Kazakhstan is often a hereditary one. The relationship of the bird and its master is constant and all-consuming. In the training of a young eagle, the berkutchy must sacrifice his sleep for a long period. For weeks, the growing bird is rendered sightless under its hood until its dependence on its master becomes complete. Such intimacy must turn into a lifelong trust with the eagle - twenty years or more. It is said[citation needed] that as the man trains the eagle, so does the eagle train his man. There is a proverb in Kazakhstan: "There are three things a real man should have: a fast horse, a hound, and a golden eagle.[2]
[edit] History
[edit] Khitans
In 936-45 AD the Khitans, a nomadic people from Manchuria, conquered part of north China.[3] In 960 AD China was conquered by the Song dynasty.[4] From its beginnings, the Song dynasty was unable to completely control the Khitan who had already assimilated much of Chinese culture. Throughout its 300-year rule of China, the Song had to pay tribute to the Khitan to keep them from conquering additional Song territory.[5] Despite the fact that the Khitans assimilated Chinese culture, they retained many nomadic traditions, including eagle hunting[6] (see the unknown Chinese painting from Song dynasty).
[edit] Jurchen
The hai dong qing was an important breed of hunting eagle for Jurchen tribes. The Khitan extorted this kind of eagle from Jurchen but ended in revolt.
[edit] Kyrgyz
In 1207, the Kyrgyz nomads surrendered to Genghis Khan's son Jochi. Under Mongol rule, the Kyrgyz preserved their nomadic culture. It has been said[weasel words] that the Kyrgyz nomads have been hunting with golden eagles for 6,000 years.[7]
[edit] See also
- Ethnic groups in Chinese history
- Falconry
- Goryeo-Khitan Wars
- Kazakh Steppe
- Kyrgyzstan
- History of Mongolia
- Wolf hunting
[edit] Links
[edit] References
- ^ The Gyrfalcon by Eugene Potapov and Richard Sale (2005) p. 199
- ^ Kazakhstan in Pictures (Visual Geography Series) by Bella Waters (2007) p.54
- ^ The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Special Edition by Sun Tzu and Lionel Giles (2005) p.170
- ^ China: Its History and Culture (4th Edition) by W. Scott Morton, Charlton M. Lewis, and Charlton Lewis (2004) p.100
- ^ 5 Steps to a 5: AP World History (5 Steps to a 5) by Peggy Martin (2004) p.115
- ^ Eagle Dreams: Searching for Legends in Wild Mongolia by Stephen J. Bodio (2003) p. 26
- ^ Firefly Guide to Flags of the World (Firefly Pocket Reference) by Firefly Books (2003) p.109
