The first Turkic world map, drawn by Mahmud of Kashgar in the 11th century and included in the Dîvânu Lugâti't-Türk work, was this time engraved on a specially prepared tile stone tablet . This circular map is not only a geographical depiction; it is also a unique expression of Turkic culture, language, and the worldview of the period. While Balasagun is at the center of the map, a vast geography, including China, Japan (Cabarka), the Itil tribes, the Indian and Abyssinian lands, is depicted in accordance with the understanding of the period. The inclusion of Japan on a map for the first time here makes the work historically unique. Comments such as "This place is too hot, uninhabitable" or "This region is too cold, uninhabited" in some areas demonstrate that the map is not merely a tool for orientation but also an observation of life. The designation of the Great Wall of China as "Sûr" symbolizes the Turkic-Chinese border understanding of the period, while the indication in one corner of the map of the place where Prophet Adam first stepped onto the earth also illuminates the work's religious and mythological dimension. This work recreates, in the form of a durable tiled stone tablet, the world map prepared by Mahmud of Kashgar to introduce the Turkish language and culture to Arabs. As a tribute to this ancient legacy, we have reinterpreted it as a timeless art object.
Implemented by: Özgün Yazgan
Mahmud of Kashgar's World Map
It was applied on a stone tablet using traditional tile methods.
It is completely handmade.
It is sold unframed.
Contact us for brass frames.