Issue 81 · Spring 2017

Dear Readers,
We are delighted to reunite the new issue of Bilig magazine with our readers. In this issue, you
will find articles from various fields of social sciences on various topics. We are certain that in
these 12 articles there will be a study that will attract your interest. We would like to introduce
you some articles which will not only provide you with new insights as well as new information
but you will also enjoy reading despite the articles being from different fields.
Written by Mustafa Eren “The Art Ontology of Ihvân- ı Safâ” discusses Ikhwān al‐Safā, a
school of philosophy , arising as an intellectual movement in Basra in the 10th century, on
ontological and anthropological grounds . This article has also a feature that will shed light on
controversies about the contemporary Islamic art and culture. Ikhwān al‐Safā criticizes those
who consider the arts as merely the power of their minds and claim to have obtained the arts via
the superiorities of their ideas and abilities. It claims that artists imitate the nature. This article,
which will be read with pleasure by those who are interested in Islamic philosophy, explains the
source of artistic creativity from the point of view of Ikhwān al‐Safā school.
The article “ From the Kitchen of Khan to the Slaves of Bakhcysarai:Kilercibasi Mehmet Agha
in the Center of Social Relations” by Fırat Yaşa is very striking both in terms of the subject and
the method. The article, closely interwined with history, sociology, law, economics, political
science disciplines, serves as a good example of interdisciplinary works. The article in which social
network analysis has been applied to data related to Kilercibashi Mehmed Agha reveals the
social structure of Crimea through the connections and relations of Kilercibashi Mehmed Agha.
The article Traditional Turkish Music - Byzantine Music During The Tanzimat Era
“A Study On Theoretical Similarities” examines the connection between the Greek-Orthodox
religious music known as Byzantine music and Traditional Turkish Music. The article examines
the written sources of 19th century Byzantine music and the theory of 19th century Traditional
Turkish Music and reveals the theoretical interaction between these two musical cultures.The
author claims that while the theoretical structure of Byzantine music was brought to the stage,
it was greatly influenced by Traditional Turkish Music.
Dear readers,
Kazakhstan’s Turkestan city, where the campus of our university is located, is the cultural capital
of the Turkish world in 2017. The opening ceremony of the cultural capital of the Turkic world
as well as Nevruz on 21 March has been conducted gorgeously. Within the scope of the year of
culture, many cultural and art activities as well as scientific meetings hosted by our university
will be held throughout the year.
On the other hand, the year 2017 is the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations
between Turkey and Kazakhstan and other Turkic Republics. It has been a quarter-century
since the establishment of official bilateral relations and partnerships. The 25th anniversary
of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and the Turkic Republics will be
celebrated with various activities.
These two enormous strides create new excitement and a new spirit for the multifaceted integration
efforts among the Turkic world similar to the early years of the 1990s. Today,as
many ideals and dreams of 1990s came to fruition, it is our constant priority to continue the
collaboration among the Turkic republics in a more robust and lasting manner by diversifying
each area.
We wish you success in your efforts to make the 21st century the Golden era of The Turkic
World.
Best regards,
Prof. Dr. Fırat PURTAŞ
Editor in Chief