The legend of Kozy Korpesh and Bayan Sulu is a love story that even death could not destroy
Kazakh folklore -
Ethnic ties of the Kazakhs -
The legend of Kozy Korpesh and Bayan Sulu is one of the most poignant love stories in the vast expanses of the Kazakh land. They were promised to each other from birth, but fate played its game. Betrayal, death, loyalty and self–sacrifice are all combined in one story. Their souls could not be together in life, but were united forever in death. And today, the mausoleum of Kozy Korpesh and Bayan Sulu is not just a monument, but a symbol of love that even eternity could not overcome.
The epic "Kozy Korpesh and Bayan Sulu" was first published in print in 1812 in Kazan, where it was published in Russian. But the true antiquity of this legend was unexpectedly confirmed when archaeologists discovered a unique gold belt of the XVIII century in the eastern foothills of the Altai Mountains, in the steppes near the Irtysh. This exquisite piece by the masters of the past captures a scene exactly corresponding to the climax of the legend: against the background of slender poplars, a female figure bent over the body of a murdered horseman.
This priceless artifact, now kept in the Hermitage collection, has become a tangible evidence of the centuries-old history of the epic. Interestingly, Alexander Pushkin, during his Orenburg exile, personally recorded one of the versions of this poem, which he heard in Kazakh villages.
A new milestone in the history of the epic came in 1927, when the first complete poetic translation into Russian was carried out in the then capital of Kazakhstan, Kzyl-Orda. A 3,000-copy edition entitled "The Song of Kozy-Korpech and Bayan-Slu" was released by the People's Commissariat of Education of Kazakhstan, and each copy of this precious book could be purchased for just 60 kopecks. This is how the ancient steppe saga, passed from mouth to mouth for centuries, found a new life in the printed word.
The golden belt from the Hermitage continues to tacitly testify that the tragic love story of Koza and Bayan goes back centuries, and for centuries her images have stirred the hearts of jewelers as much as simple steppe storytellers.
Kozy Korpesh and Bayan Sulu
Between the great mountains of Tarbagatai and Alatau, near the lakes of Balkhash and Ala-Kul, there roamed two powerful sultans - Karabay and Sarybay. Their friendship was stronger than the rocks, their wealth was incalculable, and their fame thundered throughout the steppe. Not a single day passed without the friends seeing each other, hunting together, or organizing common celebrations.
One spring, having traveled half a day from the villages, they saw a female maral on an island. Karabay had already drawn his bow when Sarybay stopped him: "Don't shoot, brother! This is a female, she is about to give birth. Shouldn't we leave our wives in the same situation? Let's spare her - and good will return to our families."
At night by the fire, Sarybay, overcome by a strange melancholy, said: "My friend, let's swear: if our wives give birth to a son and a daughter - let them become husband and wife." They made a sacred oath in front of all their people. At that moment, a black starling swooped down from the sky and landed on Sarybai's head. "This is God's messenger!" Karabai exclaimed. "No," Sarybai answered gloomily, "this is the harbinger of my death."
On the way back, a messenger told them the good news: Karabai had a son, Sarybai a daughter. In his joyful haste, Sarybai's horse stumbled - and the powerful sultan crashed to his death. So, in one day, joy and sorrow mixed in the aul: Kozy Korpesh and Bayan were born, but Sarybai died.
Karabai, true to his oath, took his friend's family under his guardianship. But the soothsayers said: "The marriage of these children will bring misfortune." Over time, Karabai, tormented by doubts, led his family far into the steppes, breaking his word.
Bayan grew up an extraordinary beauty. She was nicknamed Bayan-Sulu ("beautiful Bayan"), and her village began to be called Bayan-aul. But her guardian Kodar (adopted son of the late Sarybai) desired her as his wife. In order to delay the wedding, the cunning Bayan gave him three impossible tasks: to count all the cattle (and there were thousands of them), to dig wells in the waterless steppe and to create an artificial lake by carrying water in wineskins from a distant river. Incredibly, the mighty Kodar did everything!
Meanwhile, Kozy Korpesh, having accidentally learned from his grandmother about his bride, set out to search, despite his mother's pleas. His path was full of trials: the sorceress blocked the road, turning into a stormy river, then into an impassable forest. But the young man overcame all obstacles. A meeting with a golden fox gilded his braid - a sign of fate. Having found old Apsebai (Bayan's uncle), Kozy Korpesh learned the way to her aul. Dressed as the poor shepherd Kotyr-Taz, he hired himself out to Bayan to tend goats. One day, while playing the dombra, he sang a song in which he encoded their entire history. Bayan, looking closely, noticed a golden braid - and recognized the groom.
When Kodar returned and learned the truth, a fierce fight broke out between the heroes. Kozy Korpesh won, but spared his opponent. However, the insidious Kodar, pretending to be resigned, waited for the right moment and meanly killed the young man with a poisoned arrow in the back.
Having learned of the death of her beloved, Bayan did not shed a tear. She lured Kodar into a deep well under the pretext of getting "healing water". When he came down, holding her braid, Bayan cut it with a knife: "As you killed my fiancé on the sly, so die like a jackal in a pit!" The stones buried the traitor alive.
Then Bayan ordered a rich caravanbashi to build a magnificent mausoleum for Kozy Korpesh. When the work was finished, she announced: "I will marry the one who jumps from the top and stays alive." Many died trying to do the impossible. Having given away all her wealth, Bayan entered the mausoleum and joined her lover in eternal sleep.
Their mausoleum stands to this day as a symbol of love stronger than death and revenge worthy of a steppe queen. And a gold belt with an image of a grieving girl over the body of a warrior, found by archaeologists, confirms: this legend is not fiction, but an echo of an ancient truth.
