bilig-26/ Summer 2003

THE XIXth AND XXth CENTURY UIGHUR HISTORY BOOKS
AND THE QUESTION OF AHMED YESEVI'S BIRTH PLACE

Prof. Dr. İsa ÖZKAN

        Hodja Ahmet Yesevi is one of the eminent sophist who lived in the XII'th century. The fact that the order of Yesevi was named after him and the fact that he trained, thousands of followers made it possible for his name to live until now. The question of where Ahmed Yesevi was born has been the subject on many studies by researchers both in Turkey and outside Turkey. It is the purpose of this paper to analyse and clarify the common fallacies and evaluations in the world concerning the birth place of Ahmed Yesevi with special reference to the history of Eastern Turkestan.

Key Words : Ahmed Yesevi, The question of Ahmed Yesevi's birth place, the town of Sayram, Eastern Turkestan, Western Turkestan