Is there an English translation of "The Legend of Oghuz Khagan"? This tweet kicked off my interest in this topic.

AFAIK, "The Legend of Oghuz Khagan" is one of the classics in Uyghur literature and it has been called one of the great poetic epics of Uyghur history.

I've seen a translation into Chinese by Geng Shimin.

Does an English translation exist of "The Legend of Oghuz Khagan"? The work doesn't seem to be very long, but I can't seem to find much info on it.
Harun Doğruyol has written on the topic and has found similar issues:


  During my research I did not come across any English version of this epic,


but thankfully he also says:


  so I have translated the first and pagan version and have attached it to my article.




The Legendary Turkish Warrior (Alp) Oguz Khan and His Epic

The Birth of Oguz Khan  


……They said let it be.
Here is his image:  
After that they also got in happy and joyful mood
One day  
Their eyes brightened up, became colorful, filled in light
That day Moon Khan gave birth to a boy  
Bluish, sky-blue was his face
Redd*ish was his mouth, like a fire was his color of face  
Crimson were his eyes, dark was his face
His eyebrows were more beautiful than fairies’, how black!  
He came to his mother’s breast he took it and sucked milk
He did not want to suck milk anymore  
He wanted raw meat, meal and, food
He wanted wine from his surroundings and, wanted to have fun  
Immediately, he started to talk, utter and say
After forty days he started to walk and play
His feet were as if they were ox’s feet
His ankles were as if they were wolf’s ankles
His shoulders were similar to that of sable’s
His chest is identical to that of a big bear’s
He was a human but full of hairs
His body was covered with hairs
He herded the flocks of the horses he caught and rode them
Days passed, so many years passed
Oguz also grew up and became a handsome hero
The youth of Oguz Khan
In that age! In that place!
There was a big forest inside Oguz’s homeland
Lots of rivers and streams flowed through this forest
Lots of game animals live in the forest
Lots of game birds also flew over it
In the forest did a big rhinoceros live
It ate and didn’t let either animal or human live
It attacked herds and always ate horses
It troubled people, took their lives
It never granted humans their lives
Such a monster was it, it was that much frightful
There was a person who was very “Alp” (heroic, sublime, frightful, sacred Turkish warrior) called Oguz Khan
In order to kill that rhinoceros he went to that spot
He took a spear and a sword with a shield and arrows
He challenged the rhinoceros that it would die soon
He hunted a deer while hunting in the forest
He tied it to a tree with a willow branch
He returned to his house before the morning broke
When it was dawn he checked the deer
He realized that the rhinoceros had already swallowed the deer
He caught a bear also instead of a deer
Taking off his golden belt of kingship
He hanged the bear downstairs
It was morning again, it began to dawn
He came and realized that the rhinoceros had taken his bear
Finally this case annoyed him extremely
He approached the tree himself and stayed under it
When the rhinoceros came, it saw Oguz and stopped
It hit Oguz’s shield with its head 
Oguz hit its head with his spear
Killing the rhinoceros Oguz saved his homeland
Beheading it with his sword he took its head
e returned his home and delivered the news to his country
One day he saw a white falcon
It perched on the rhinoceros and eating its intestine
He shot an arrow with his bow, the arrow killed the falcon
He beheaded it then, he murmured himself:
“The rhinoceros ate both the deer and the bear”
“My spear killed it, because it was made of iron”
“A little white falcon ate the huge rhinoceros”
“The arrow and the bow killed it because it was made of copper”
One day
Oguz’s marriage with the daughter of the sky
While Oguz was begging of the God
The darkness fell suddenly, a light descended from the sky
Such a light was it, brighter than the moon and the sun
Oguz Khan walked and approached the light
He saw a girl sitting in the middle of the light
There was a beauty spot was on her head, as bright as a fire
She was so beautiful, as if she was the North Star
Such a beautiful girl was she, the sky smiles with her when she similes
When she wants to cry, the sky cries with her
The time Oguz saw the girl, he was overwhelmed
He fell in love with her; he loved her whole heartily 
He entered the bride’s chamber, got what he wanted
She became pregnant, after days and nights passed
Her eyes brightened up when her three sons were born
They named the first son “Sun“ 
They found the name “Moon” for the second son
They were glad that third one’s name was “Star”
Oguz’s marriage with the daughter of the ground
Oguz Khan went to the forest to hunt one day
There was a tree standing in the middle of the lake
A girl was sitting in the cavity of the tree
Her eyes were bluer than the sky, she was a God’s daughter
Her hair was wavy as if a river wave
Her tooth was like a pearl shining in her mouth
Anybody living in the world would say that
Ah! Ah! We are dying! My God! We are dying!   
They would say and shout and shout
Like sweet milk’s becoming kumiss (traditional drink)   
When Oguz saw the girl, he was out of mind
An ember of fire entered his heart whatsoever   
He loved her whole heartily, he took her hand
He entered the bride’s chamber, got what he wanted
They named the first son “Sky“
They found the name “ Mountain” for the second son   
They were glad that third one’s name was “Sea”
When Oguz heard this, he had his lineage praised with songs in his homeland   
He gave a big feast
He provided wealth to his homeland   

Missing part


Oguz-Khan’s becoming the “Supreme Khan” of the Turks  


He gave orders to his inner homeland
The people agreed to meet, went to Oguz   
Oguz had forty tables prepared
He had different kinds of food cooked with lots of wine   
People sat at the tables drank so much kumiss
So much wine was drunk and so much sweet was eaten   
After the feast he gave this order
“O! My men! and my nation!”   
“I’m now your Khan”
“Never let either the shield or the arrow fall from your hand”   
“A seal that would lead us should become our sign
“The Alps should become like wolves howling”   
“With iron spears our country should become a forest”
“Our hunting ground should be filled with the wild horses”   
“Our country should abound with rivers and seas”
“The sun in the sky should become our nation’s flag”   
“The sky should become our tent”
“The world should become my country and my nation should be plenty”   
He also delivered his order to all round his country
He informed the ambassadors, everybody learned it   
In one of his messages, he addressed his nation as this:
“Since I’m the supreme Khan of the Uighurs” (first settled Turkish tribe)   
“I’m supposed to be the Khan of the world”
“Every part of the world is under my rule”   
“My wish is that you would obey me”
“My request is that you should be ready for my order”   
“Whoever submits to me will be rewarded”
“He will be my comrade, he could always ask for my help”   
“Anyone who does not obey me and rebels against me”
“I will prepare my army, he is my enemy”   
“I declare that I will attack and run over and suppress him”
“I will destroy him, run over and hang him”   
It was also in that age:   
There was another Khan called Golden Khan
He sent his messenger to Oguz Khan   
He presented the rare rubies and gold and silver
He sent diamonds and showed respect   
Presenting the best gift, he made friends with him
He surrendered himself to Oguz and also made him happy
Oguz Khan’s raids in the west along the Idil River   
There was a great and majestic Khan called Urum Khan
He was dwelling on the left side of Oguz, he was Oguz’s neighbor   
He had lots of cities and innumerable armies
He ignored Oguz’s orders   
He never followed Oguz’s orders and resisted him
He said that “I would never obey you”   
Oguz sent him a command, he ignored
Oguz decided to destroy him   
Oguz set off and raised a flag
He crossed the skirts of the Ice Mountain in forty days   
He had the tents set up, he fell asleep
When the morning was about to break, a light entered his tent   
A male wolf appeared, breathing
A wolf with a blue mane, such a wolf with a bluish furry   
He addressed Oguz as if it was a human being
He began to utter some words as if it was a language   
He said “O! Oguz, I know what your wish is”
“You wanted to start a war in Urum’s province”   
“O! Oguz I will lead your army”
“I will walk in front of your army”   
Hearing this Oguz had his tent rolled up
When he went to his army, he was surprised to see this:   
A big male wolf   
lf like an advance guard
With its blue mane, and blue hair, like a scout making way   
He was walking in front of them
Finally he stopped one day, after many days   
Oguz’s army stopped, behind him
There was a river called Idil-Müren   
The war started suddenly, by the river bank
With spears and arrows on the skirts of the Black-Mountain   
There were lots of fights among the soldiers
The people’s minds were confused, they were worried   
Such a hard fight was it that
The color of the water of Idil-Müren became full of red blood   
Oguz Khan became successful and Urum Khan escaped
He took his kingdom and his nation   
Oguz’s tent was full of loot
Whether dead or alive everything became his slave
Oguz Khan’s raid to Kıpçak   
Urum Kağan had a brother called Uruz
Chief Uruz’s son survived too   
Chief Uruz sent his son to a city
A city set up on the mountain, by a secret river   
Chief Uruz told him “the city should be protected”
“Until the fight is over, the city should be preserved”   
He said “Bring your people back after the war”
Hearing this, Oguz stopped eating and drinking anything   
Oguz moved his army, and reached the city
Uruz sent a messenger to Oguz   
He sent a lot of gold, silver, and pearl as gifts   
He declared: “O! Oguz Khan you are my Khan”
“My father gave me this city and said: “You are my son”   
“Spare this city for me, it should be protected”
“The city should be preserved until the fight is over”   
“After the war, return back with the city under your rule”
Chief Uruz said more   
“If my father is an enemy of Oguz Khan”
“Do not blame me, if my ancestor is guilty”   
“I’m always with you under your rule”
“I obey your command, I’m devoted to you”   
“My state is your state”
“Our generation is your descendant”   
“God ordered you to rule the earth”
“I submit to you my head and my country”   
“I’m going to sent you my gifts and taxes”
“I will always be your friend”   
Oguz became happy with this brave man’s words
Smiling, he bestowed him an authority to rule    
He said “you gave me lots of gold and gifts”
“You preserved your city so well”      
“For protecting your city so well”
“I gave you the name Saklap” (the preserver)   
Oguz became friend with him, he moved his army
He came to Idil River and stayed by the banks
The river called Idil was a big river
Looking at the river, Oguz asked his chiefs:
“How could we pass this river?”
There was a chief, he bowed to Oguz
He was a very clever chief called Uruğ :army chief
He gave Oguz Khan advice 
Searching the surrounding, he saw lots of trees and branches
He cut and shaped the branches, he made a raft
Lying on the raft, he passed the Idil River
Oguz became very happy and gave this order:
“Stay here, and be a sanjak (province) chief”
“I declare that you will be called Kıpçak (trunk) from now on”
Oguz returned to his army and they set off again
When they began to march, the wolf appeared
Emergence of Turkish tribes “Karluk”
Such a wolf, a male wolf
With blue hair and blue mane
This wolf said to Oguz
“O! Oguz move your army now”
“Take your people and your army with their horses”
“I will lead you to the right way”
Oguz saw the wolf walking in front 
The advance guards of the army were following him
Seeing this scene, Oguz became happy
He rode his multi-colored horse happily
Oguz Loved his multi-colored horse whole heartily
But the horse ran away to the mountain and disappeared
It was a big mountain covered with ice
Its summit is too white because of the severe cold
There was a very brave very Alp chief in the army
He was neither afraid of God nor Satan
He was not bothered with fatigue and cold
He went to the mountain and after nine days
He caught the stallion, and pleased Oguz
He was covered with snow
He looked like a snowman
Seeing him, Oguz smiled at him
Declared “Stay here and be a chief of the chiefs here”
Your name will be Karluk (snowy) forever
He gave him lots of diamonds and gifts
He went on his way bestowing him presents
Emergence of the Turkish tribes “Kalaç”   
While Oguz was moving forward, He was surprised too much
He saw a big house, its windows were made up of silver
The walls were made up of gold, the roof made up of iron
There was no key, the door was locked
There was a soldier called Tömürdü Kagul in the army
He was very skilful, Oguz ordered him 
“You will stay here and you will open the door”
“After you have entered the house, join the army later”
Oguz told this soldier to stay and open (kal! aç!)
Therefore he named him Kalaç
Curcet raid and emergence of Turkish tribes “Kanglı”
    One day
The wolf with blue hair and with mane disappeared
Oguz realized this and stopped
He decided to have his tent set up there
This was a barren area without fields, good enough to beat the enemy
The province called Curcet which had vast pastures
And lots of wealth, lots of cattle, lots of horses
Curcet Khan had lots of gold and silver
He had lots of diamonds
Curcet Kagan with his army and people 
Rebelled against Oguz Khan
Oguz spilled the enemy’s blood with spear and sword
Oguz suppressed and overcame him
Oguz killed him beheading
He divided the loots among his men and made the nation submit to him
Oguz’s officials and soldiers and nation
Took and gathered all the countless goods
The horses, and oxen and mules were not enough
To carry the goods taken in the war
There was a soldier clever and, experienced in the army
His name was Barmaklıg Cosun Billig a very capable man
He designed an oxcart, this skillful man of Oguz
Put everything in taken during the war
In order to pull the oxcart, the living beings were harnessed in front
The loots were put at the back of the oxcart
Oguz’s chiefs and nation were surprised
They designed oxcarts similar to his
When the oxcarts were moving, they shouted: Kanga! Kanga! 
Therefore their names became “Kanga” (oxcart)
Seeing this Oguz laughed at 
And ordered “The living beings should pull the lifeless”
“Your name is now Kangalug, and the oxcart is your sign”
He left them ad proceeded
Oguz’ raids to the south
The holy wolf with blue hair and blue mane appeared
India, Tangut too became Oguz land
Oguz marched towards Syria
He fought, beheaded, added it to his country
This should be known by everybody
There was a province called Barkan in the south
It was a wealthy area with lots of game bird
The climate was hot; it was a region of the wild animals
It had lots of gold and silver
The People there were dark skinned by divine
The Khan of the Region was called Masar (Egypt)
Oguz went there, fought hard and dominated
When he had a victory, Masar Khan escaped
He took over the land and added it to his country
He took countless properties and horses, his friends became happy
He returned his homeland and his enemies became desperate
Oguz granted the title of Khan to his six sons
This should be mentioned, everybody should know
There was an old man under Oguz’s service
White bearded, gray haired, very experienced
A very noble man, clever and considerate
His title is “Tüşimel” in other words: the vizier of The Khan
His name is Sublime Turk, Oguz’s distinguished man
He had a dream during his sleep. 
He saw a golden bow, and three silver arrows
The golden bow was extending from the east to the west
Three silver arrows were flying to the north
He told Oguz about his dream
He interpreted his dream, with inspiration
He said: “My dream should bring you peace and comfort”
“I hope it will bring unity and security to my Khan”
“What I had in my dream, should come to truth
With the help of the God of Sky
The earth should be filled with your tribe
God should grant the earth to your linage
Oguz was pleased with the Sublime Turk’s words
Oguz took his advice and comforted to it
When he woke up in the morning
He had his younger and older sons called
He said: “I want to hunt”
“As I’m old now I do not have the courage”
“Sun, Moon, Star go to the east”
“Sky, Mountain and Sea go to the west”
Hearing this order, three of his son went to the east
Three of them went to the west
Sun, Moon, Star hunted a lot of games and birds
They found a golden bow
They presented it to the Khan, he became happy and smiled
He divided the bow into three parts
He said: “O! my sons the bow is yours
“Your arrows should reach the sky”   
Sky, Mountain, Sea hunted lots of games and birds
They found three silver arrows   
They presented it to the Khan, he became happy and smiled
He divided the arrows into three parts   
He said: “O! my sons this arrow is yours
“Your arrows should reach the sky”
Oguz gave a big feast       
After saying all these, Oguz organized a general meeting
The chiefs and the people came and greeted each other
Everybody came and be seated in Oguz tent


Missing part


In Oguz’s own big tent   


Missing part


He had a forty fathom tall pole erected on the right side of his tent
He put a golden chicken at the top of the pole
He tied a white sheep at the bottom of the pole
He had a forty fathom tall pole erected on the right left of his tent
He put a silver chicken at the top of the pole
He tied a black sheep at the bottom of the pole
On his right side there were Grey Arrows, on the left Three Arrows
They sat down and had fun more than forty days
They ate and drank and attained their desire
Oguz divided his country among his sons and gave it to his sons
He said “O! my sons”
“So many wars have I been through, so many borders have I crossed”
“So many spears and arrows have I thrown”
“So long distances have I traveled on horse, so many enemies did I make cry”
“I have made happy most of my friends”
“Thank God I have paid my debt”
“To the God of Sky”
“I give this country to you, this country is now yours”


Translated by Harun DOGRUYOL (Based on Togan Zeki Velidi, Oğuz Destanı, Enderun Kitapevi, 2. Basım, Istanbul, 1982