Shepherding in the Turkish folk culture

The horse herders who take care of the horse herds and shepherds had a wide place in the life of Turks who the first nation domesticated horse. Animal husbandry had been a condition of existence and the lifestyle of the Turkish nation, and consequently, traditions and beliefs about shepherd's arosed. In this study, sheepherding and rituals attached to it that widely covered in our cultural history have been examined. In this study, traditional methods in the execution of herding, tools and applications for herding were investigated. The relationship between shepherding and prophet hood has been tried to put forward. In the nomadic and post-nomadic life, the messages that contained in herding in terms of folk literature have been given, and the value of shepherd and herding has examined in the legends, tales, myths, folk tales, songs, poems, adages that belong to folk literature and have treasure worth for Turkish culture. Furthermore, in this study was given some examples about which shepherd not only has fed sheep or horse but also been central figure of the astral myths in the Turkish culture. It was observed that some properties of pre-Islamic shamans and baksıs have existed some shepherds today. The deep shepherd cult of Turks that was generated around shepherd and sheepherding was investigated. Key Words: Shepherding, folk culture, traditions and beliefs, ceremonies, folk literature texts.