First Chapter: Sacred Birth and First Breath – The Child from Heaven 1. The Prayer of Kara Khan and the Miraculous Pregnancy Kara Khan is a powerful and wise ruler; however, his greatest sorrow is the lack of an heir to whom he can entrust his throne. For years, he prays to the Sky God; offers sacrifices to the spirits of his ancestors; and prays for days, hungry and naked, on the peaks of sacred mountains. The Sky God does not leave this sincere plea unanswered. One night, on the fourteenth of the moon, Kara Khan's wife has an extraordinary dream: a bright beam of light descends from the sky, pierces her belly like a lightning bolt, and fills her entire body with an indescribable warmth. When she awakens, she realizes that a life is sprouting within her. Nine months and nine days later (a number that signifies completion and sanctity in Turkish mythology), lightning strikes above the tent, the sky thunders, and the rain clouds disperse to reveal the sun. It is at that very moment that the hero of the epic is born. 2. The Birth of Oghuz and His Extraordinary Qualities As soon as the child is born, he makes it clear with every fiber of his being that he is not an ordinary baby. He suckles from his mother only once; this is the first sign that he is not dependent on earthly needs. Even while still in the cradle, when he opens his eyes, everyone in the room falls silent; for these eyes are sharp and shining like those of a jackal. The Uighur-scripted text describes him with these unforgettable lines: "His face was sky-colored (blue), His mouth was fire red, His eyes were red, His hair and eyebrows were jet black." This description is proof that he is a cosmic being: His blue face represents the Sky God, his red mouth represents the sun and fire, and his black hair represents the depths and darkness of the earth. He begins to speak when he is only forty days old; he runs before he reaches the age to walk, and he rides a horse. His body is described in the epic as follows: "His feet were like the feet of a bull, his waist like that of a wolf, his shoulders like those of a sable, and his chest was like that of a bear." This shows that he embodies the characteristics of all the powerful animals of nature. He is the fist of God on earth. 3. The Horror of the Forest: The Rhinoceros and the First Heroism In the region where Oğuz grew up, there lives a terrifying creature that spreads horror to herds and people. This is a gigantic rhinoceros (referred to as "kök yelek" or "kıand" in the Uighur text); its horn is as sharp as a spear, and its skin is as thick as armor. Every night it attacks the herds, swallowing large horses and oxen in one gulp. The people are helpless; even the best hunters of Kara Khan cannot defeat this monster. Young Oğuz cannot remain silent about this situation. He sets out towards the forest, taking his sword, spear, bow, and shield with him. He tracks for days. Finally, at the foot of a mountain, he encounters the monster that is advancing by uprooting trees. As soon as the rhinoceros sees Oğuz, it charges with a terrifying roar. Oğuz swiftly jumps to the side; he thrusts his spear into the monster's flank, but the spear cannot penetrate the thick skin. Thereupon, he runs towards the trees, leading the monster after him. The rhinoceros, unable to stop, gets its horns stuck in a large oak tree and remains stuck. At that moment, Oğuz throws his shield aside and grips his sword with both hands; with a single blow, he severs the monster's head from its body. He removes its intestines, skins it, and returns to his tribe with the spoils. The people greet him with enthusiasm. This victory proclaims to all tribes that he is not only a warrior but also a savior. Second Chapter: Divine Partners and Celestial Lineage – The Children of Light and the Tree 4. The Partner Who Comes with Celestial Light: Cosmic Union Now a hero, Oğuz Kağan is praying in gratitude to the Sky God under the stars in the middle of the steppe one day. At that moment, a light appears in the dark sky. This light is brighter than the sun and more silvery than the fullest moon. It slowly descends to the earth and lands before Oğuz. In the midst of the light sits a girl of unparalleled beauty. At the very top of her head is a gem-green spot resembling the pole star. Her hair shines like the night sky; her skin is as white as freshly fallen snow. She is so beautiful that it is believed that when she smiles, the Sky God smiles too, and when she cries, the Sky God cries as well. Oğuz is captivated by this divine being at first sight. He approaches her and asks her name. The girl smiles as if to say, "I am a gift from God." Oğuz marries her. This union is the sacred marriage of heaven and earth, spirit and body. The wedding lasts for forty days and forty nights; all tribes participate in this celebration. From this marriage, Oğuz's first three sons are born. He names them Kün (Sun), Ay (Moon), and Yulduz (Star) in order. These names represent the bright face of the sky, the celestial, and the light. They are the ancestors of the three great tribes that will later form the Bozok branch of the Turkish nation. 5. The Fairy in the Tree Hollow: The Second Union with the Spirit of Nature After his first marriage, Oğuz goes hunting one day. He crosses mountains and streams; he wanders for days. Finally, he reaches a small island in the middle of a lake. In the exact center of the island stands a magnificent plane tree, its branches reaching to the sky and its roots going deep into the ground. In the hollow of the tree sits another girl of extraordinary beauty. Her eyes sparkle between sky blue and sea green; her hair is as abundant and lively as the rushing waters of a river; her teeth are like strung pearls. She is the spirit of life that springs from the tree, of the earth, and of nature. This girl is not celestial like a heavenly spouse coming from the sky, but is entirely earthly and fertile; she is the very essence of abundance. Oghuz marries this girl as well. This second marriage reflects the legend of the Turks descending from a tree (like the Kipchak legend) in the Oghuz narrative. From this union, three sons are born. He names them Kök (Sky), Tağ (Mountain), and Tengiz (Sea). These names represent the earth, matter, and the three great powers of nature. They will also be the ancestors of the future Üçok branch. Third Chapter: Universal Sovereignty – The Army Whose Banner is the Sun 6. The Khan's Assembly and the Declaration of the Ceremony After the death of his father Kara Khan, Oghuz calls all the tribes to a great assembly (kurultay). This assembly is not only a ceremony of ascension to the throne but also the declaration of the beginning of a new era. Oghuz erects nine banners; cooks meat in nine cauldrons; sets up ninety colorful tents. When he ascends to the throne, he proclaims those historic words that form the essence of Turkish state philosophy and the ideal of universal sovereignty: "I have become your khan, Let us take the bow and shield, May it be a sign for us, Let the wolf be our battle cry, Let the iron spear be the forest, Let the wild donkey walk in the hunting ground, More sea, more river, The sun is the banner, the sky is the tent." These words will be etched in the minds of every Turkish soldier, serving as the fundamental manifesto of the spirit of conquest that will last for centuries. 7. Envoys to All Directions and the Universal Call Oghuz Khan is a conqueror not only with his sword but also with his code of law. As soon as he ascends the throne, he sends envoys and decrees (fermans) to rulers all over the world. These decrees contain the famous statement: "I am the khan of the Turk. I must be the ruler of the four corners of the earth. You must also obey me." The Altun Khan in the East (the Chinese Emperor) responds to this call with gifts and declares his obedience. However, the Urum Khan in the West (the Roman/Byzantine Emperor) arrogantly rejects this call. In response, Oghuz gathers his army and embarks on that great campaign that will change the course of history towards the West. 8. The Guidance of the Gray Wolf and Divine Guidance The army, while advancing into unknown lands across vast steppes, one morning, a great male wolf (Bozkurt) with a sky-colored mane and sky-colored fur appears right in front of the camp. This wolf is a tangible sign from God. Its eyes shine like stars, and its stance seems to say, "Follow me!" The Bozkurt begins to walk; the army follows it. When the wolf stops, the army camps; when the wolf walks, the army sets out. This sacred guide leads the Turkish army beyond mountains, rivers, and deserts, carrying them from victory to victory. This motif is the strongest symbol of the belief that Turks are "descended from the wolf" and that they are a nation guided by God. 9. The Urum Khan and the Great War and First Conquests The army advancing under the guidance of the Bozkurt finally reaches the Urum (Roman) border. The Urum Khan, seeing Oğuz's steel army before him, is initially astonished, but succumbs to his pride and enters the battlefield. The two armies face each other in a vast plain. The battle lasts for days; the sky is filled with dust and smoke, and the ground echoes with the neighing of horses and the clashing of swords. Oğuz, at the head of his army, cuts down everyone who stands in his way. The epic describes Oğuz's appearance in this battle as follows: He is like a dragon that has plunged into a herd of lions, spewing fire from its eyes. The Urum Khan's army is routed; the khan himself barely escapes with his life. Oğuz completely conquers the Urum land; he binds its people to his own customs, establishes justice, and distributes the spoils to his army. 10. Crossing the Itil (Volga) River and the Kipchak Legend The army continues to advance towards the West. They encounter the legendary wide and turbulent Itil (Volga) River. The river is so large that it takes days to build a bridge over it. At that moment, one of Oğuz's most loyal bey finds a crossing in the dangerous waters of the river or bravely crosses the river by riding a hollow tree trunk (according to some versions, by making a raft). When this brave bey comes before Oğuz and returns with victory, Oğuz Kağan says to him, "You will now be known as Kıpçak (hollow tree)!" This is the creation myth of the Kıpçak Turks (Cumans). Oğuz grants him a great homeland and riches. 11. The Dream of the Great Turk, Iron Carriage and Civilization During the campaign, Ulu Türk (in some texts known as Irkıl Hoca), one of Oğuz Kağan's wisest advisors, has an extraordinary dream one night while sleeping in his tent. In his dream, a gigantic golden bow extending to the west and three silver arrows extending to the east appear. As soon as he wakes up, he rushes to Oğuz and tells him about his dream. After listening to this dream, Oğuz falls into deep contemplation and makes the following interpretation: "The Sky God has granted me the entire world. The bow represents the sky and sovereignty; the arrows represent the earth and the points of support for this sovereignty. The West is my bow, and the East is my arrows." This dream is the first divine sign of the distinction between Bozok and Üçok. At this time, Ulu Türk also signs another brilliant invention: a large wooden carriage (kağnı) that moves on wheels. Thanks to this carriage, the army can easily transport enormous spoils and heavy weapons. Because the carriage creaks and makes a sound like "Kang, kang!", Ulu Türk names this invention "Kang" and Oğuz Kağan names the tribe that made this invention as Kanglı (or Kangar). This is another creation myth of a Turkish tribe. 12. Eastern Campaign and Submissive Tribes In the West, Oğuz, who maintains order, this time turns his face to the East under the guidance of Bozkurt once again. He organizes a great campaign towards the geography of China, Tibet, India, and Iran. During these campaigns, many