The definition and characteristics of Sagu and Sav genres in pre-Islamic Turkish folk literature

The genres of Sagu and Sav, which have a significant place and influence in the field of Turkish folk literature, are seen as products reflecting the oral cultural identity of various Turkic societies. The Sagu and Sav genres, which emerged and developed in pre-Islamic periods, are reflected in the oral and written traditions of various Turkic societies with different denominations after Islamization. These reflections are examined comprehensively in this study based on presented examples. The sagu and sav genres discussed in this thesis constitute a common cultural denominator for the societies of the Turkic world. In this study, poetic pieces related to the cult ceremonies influential in the formation of the Sagu genre are given as examples, and information is provided on the ritual phenomenon and shamanic prayers. Besides the Sagu genre, the influence of Islam on the Sav genre is also emphasized in terms of examination. At the same time, it is concluded that the Sagu and Sav genres that emerged before Islamization overlap with genres known as elegy and proverb in terms of content in the post-Islamic written tradition. In light of all these researches and examined works, the genres of Sagu and Sav, which constitute an important place when following the traces of oral and written Turkish folk literature, provide significant clues about pre-Islamic Turkic societies. Reflecting the cultural genes of Turkish folk literature and settling into the flow of time with different names and phenomena, the genres of Sagu and Sav still maintain their importance in today's Turkish society.