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Role of Ancestor Cult in Turks’ Statehood
Conception
Münevver Ebru Zeren
Halic University, Turkey
The ancestor cult is one of the three constituents of ancient Turks’ national
religion called Sky-God Religion or Tengrism by experts. This religion, mostly
recognized as a monotheistic one and centered around Sky God, includes the
belief on water-land spirits and ancestor cult covering the mighty and legendary
rulers/warriors important for Turks’ history. The relationships of God-man-
universe established based on strong universalism seems to find their reflection
within the relationships of God-ruler-state, thus Turks’ conception of statehood
and their vision on world sovereignty. This fact also led to “Sacred Kingship”
concept encountered in most of the ancient nations’ history.
There are multiple records in Turks’ history on the veneration of ancestors by
making sacrifices/prayers for them and commemorating them on specific days
of the year in an aspect of both religious service and state ceremony. This
tradition traceable back until the period of Chou Dynasty established by Turks
in North China, is common to Huns, Turks, Uygurs and other Turkish tribes
living in different areas of Turkestan. The ancestor cult survived even after the
adoption of Turks’ other religions like Buddhism and Islam in different forms
such as donations and daily prayers for ancestors (but mainly for deceased
family members and religious leaders), visiting their tombs frequently and in
religious festivals. On the statehood domain, the enthronization rites, where the
important religious leaders and/or rulers were commemorated most, continued
until Ottoman period.
This paper aims to trace the characteristics and the role of ancestor cult in Turks’
statehood history with specific examples.
Keywords: Turks, statehood, ancestor cult, Sky God religion, Tengrism
Conception
Münevver Ebru Zeren
Halic University, Turkey
The ancestor cult is one of the three constituents of ancient Turks’ national
religion called Sky-God Religion or Tengrism by experts. This religion, mostly
recognized as a monotheistic one and centered around Sky God, includes the
belief on water-land spirits and ancestor cult covering the mighty and legendary
rulers/warriors important for Turks’ history. The relationships of God-man-
universe established based on strong universalism seems to find their reflection
within the relationships of God-ruler-state, thus Turks’ conception of statehood
and their vision on world sovereignty. This fact also led to “Sacred Kingship”
concept encountered in most of the ancient nations’ history.
There are multiple records in Turks’ history on the veneration of ancestors by
making sacrifices/prayers for them and commemorating them on specific days
of the year in an aspect of both religious service and state ceremony. This
tradition traceable back until the period of Chou Dynasty established by Turks
in North China, is common to Huns, Turks, Uygurs and other Turkish tribes
living in different areas of Turkestan. The ancestor cult survived even after the
adoption of Turks’ other religions like Buddhism and Islam in different forms
such as donations and daily prayers for ancestors (but mainly for deceased
family members and religious leaders), visiting their tombs frequently and in
religious festivals. On the statehood domain, the enthronization rites, where the
important religious leaders and/or rulers were commemorated most, continued
until Ottoman period.
This paper aims to trace the characteristics and the role of ancestor cult in Turks’
statehood history with specific examples.
Keywords: Turks, statehood, ancestor cult, Sky God religion, Tengrism
