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THE MAGIC MOTIFS IN THE UZBEK LEGEND “NINE-HEADED
DRAGON”
Saidova Anaxon Mansurbekovna
Asia InternationalUniversity
Department of History and Philology
Foreign Languages Faculty
alif98_98@mail.ru
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14242260
Abstract:
This article deals with the researches based on the study of the magic
motifs that are implemented in the Uzbek legend “ Nine-headed dragon”. Through
a systematic classification and comparative analysis, the study highlights how
these cultural symbols encapsulate and convey the values, historical experiences,
and societal norms of their respective cultures. It explores the representation of
universal themes such as heroism, morality, and community through culturally
specific lenses, revealing both unique perspectives and shared human concerns
across cultural boundaries. The article underscores the importance of
mythological studies in understanding cultural identities and fostering
intercultural appreciation and dialogue.
Keywords:
mythology, cultural studies, comparative analysis, uzbek mythology,
English mythology, mythological motifs, cultural identity, intercultural
understanding.
Introduction
Mythological stories are important in studying cultures because they give us
a peek into what people in a society believe and value. These stories, which
include heroes, gods, and creatures, are not just for fun - they also teach us
important lessons and show us what people in a society think is right or wrong.
In Uzbek mythology, which includes lots of stories passed down through
generations, there are some similarities with other Turkic myths. These stories
show us what people in Uzbek culture thought was important, both when they
were nomadic and later when they settled down. On the other hand, English
mythology mixes Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Norman influences to create a wide
range of myths that have had a big impact on Western literature and culture.
Main part
One of the most famous mythical creatures is the dragon - a huge reptile
endowed with intelligence. Probably, in the folklore of every nation there is an
image of it. However, for each nation this image has its own distinctive features.
A Japanese person, hearing the word "dragon", will imagine something very
THEORETICAL ASPECTS IN THE FORMATION OF
PEDAGOGICAL SCIENCES
International scientific-online conference
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different from, for example, the association with this word in an Englishman. Each
nation has its own image of a dragon.The Snake and the Dragon are characters
that often merge with each other, sometimes forming an identity. That is why
when speaking about this image we mention both the snake (serpent) and the
Dragon.
As a rule, the Dragon combines elements of various animals - with the head
and div of a snake, lizard, crocodile, and with the wings of a bird or like a bat.
Also, the appearance of the Dragon can include elements of a lion, panther, wolf,
dog, fish, goat, etc. In the fairy tales of many peoples of the world, for whom the
image of the Dragon is one of, so to speak, popular images, the abduction of a girl
by this character is a fairly common motif. Researchers have come to the
conclusion that it is directly related to the ritual in which girls were sacrificed to
the water element.
Often in epic works, man gets into conflict with a mythologic character by
fighting and evoking war. In this case, man uses his intellect and physicality, uses
his strength and defeats the evil in the mythological force. In fact, such myths are
part of human nature so as struggling with the forces of enemy and victory over
them artistically interpreted in magical legends. Legends are often describe an
epic hero who fight against a giant and terrible mythological creature - a dragon
with three, seven or nine heads. For example, according to one legend, there was
located an ancient country Uzgan.It was very flourishing and developing country.
But once there was happened an incident, trade was stopped, and even people
couldn’t go out there. The reason was the appearance of a nine-headed dragon.
And regardless whether people were old or young, women or men, it started to
kill and eat them. Uzgan people did not know what to do. A group of people
decided to meet a dragon face to face and ask about his intention and aim. The
dragon was brought to trial, but asked impossible thing. People should have to
bring thirty boys and thirty girls as sacrifice. Confused and not knowing what to
do, the Uzgans agreed to this conditions, and these Uzgans sacrificed their little
children to the nine-headed dragon for a long time. Every day, every hour people
prayed to God by asking "Save Uzgan from this great disaster. He continued to
defeat thirty young men and women.Things seem to be going badly. "If the boy
has gone, there would be no hero,if the girl leaves, there would be no future
mothers, if they both leave, the nation would be lost. Finally there was not left any
boy or girl to sacrifice. At last the tears of people reached the God, there was
returned a young man from his journey.He was named Qilichbek- a strong and
handsome young man. The savior went straight to the dragon and didn't even say
THEORETICAL ASPECTS IN THE FORMATION OF
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International scientific-online conference
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hello to him and started fighting with the dragon. It lasted seven days and nights.
If he cut off one of the dragon's heads it rose again,if he cut the second,the other
released from that head. Qilichbek did not know what to do. Suddenly the perfect
idea evoked in his mind:"If I don't cut off nine heads of this dragon at once it does
not die. If I cut one, another appears, if I cut nine of them, perhaps he will die" he
thought. So, he focused only on his enemy and said: “ Oh my God help me, my
ancestors Bahauddin and Ali support me”. He turned to the dragon, meet the
dragon face to face, screamed and rushed to the dragon. Then the giant was killed
from the first strike. Dragon said: “ You are a great hero” and fell down. Blood of
the dragon flowed like a river.Qilichbek was standing tired and looked at the
bloody sword, then on that bloody surroundings he also fell down and died.
People were extremely grateful to the savior and buried his div in that saint
place. The spirit of the Qilichbek was the supporter in every deed of the Uzgan
people.
The Qilichbek is the suitable name for a such heroic folk tale. In Uzbek
legends this is a common name which means "Swordsman". Qilichbek was an
ordinary man, however, his sword was magic and huge. With the help of the sword
he put all his strength into his wrist and his intellect and wins with human
fortitude. There is a lot of fairy tale traditionalism in this myth.The motifs of magic
are used variously. For example,the danger of many-headed dragon to the
country; disturbing the peace of the population, eating young boys and girls every
day, hero who started fighting without greeting with the dragon,the war which
lasted seven days and night, killing the dragon in one attack- all this a magical
motif of the legend.
Conclusion
In the legend, the image of the dragon and its danger mean the same with the
image of the conquering rulers of the feudal era. An invading ruler described in
the role of the dragon,eating people means a conqueror who takes a lot of booty
from the conquered cities and takes girls and boys into slavery. Accordingly, the
great social pain of the nation manifests in artistic form in the legends
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