Buzz
Travelers visiting countries like Hungary, Turkey, and India stumble upon an intriguing sight: statues depicting a man riding a donkey erected everywhere.
The Legend of Nasreddin Hodja: A Man Riding a Donkey in Turkey
These statues portray Nasreddin Hodja, a renowned figure with significant cultural and artistic influence in these countries.
You may be familiar with characters like Uncle Cuoi, Sister Hang, Trang Quynh, or Vova, but Nasreddin Hodja might be a new name to you.
In certain Middle Eastern, Central Asian, and parts of European countries, Nasreddin Hodja is a widely celebrated figure in folklore. Stories of Nasreddin Hodja are passed down throughout a vast geographical region, spanning from Hungary, Turkey, India, China, Siberia, and even North Africa.
Stories about Hodja are known for their humor, wit, and profound educational value. Many tales of Hodja have become a prominent part of folk literature in several countries.
According to numerous sources, Nasreddin Hodja is believed to have been born in 1208 in the village of Hortu, Sivrihisar province, which is now part of Turkey. Later, he moved to Aksehir and then to Konya, where he passed away in 1284.
However, according to some alternate accounts, Nasreddin Hodja is a fictional character created by local Anatolian people in the 13th century.
Nasreddin Hodja is depicted as an incredibly clever and wise individual, albeit sometimes displaying a touch of foolishness.
Throughout the hundreds of anecdotes about him, Hodja consistently demonstrates his ability to handle situations with utmost finesse, remarkable quick-wittedness, and profound wisdom.
Today, the tales of Hodja are recounted in various regions, particularly in Muslim-majority countries, and have been translated into many languages.
Many countries and cultures still rely on him to create characters with many similarities like Hodja.
There are various versions of the stories about Nasreddin Hodja, so in each country, people erect different statues. Some places Nasreddin Hodja wears a very large hat, while others do not wear a hat. Some places he rides a donkey, but in a few other places, it's a horse, mule, or camel.
In fact, the number of stories about Nasreddin Hodja has significantly increased as they have been passed down and preserved orally from one generation to another, from one locality to another with many versions being modified to fit the culture of each place.
The treasury of stories about Hodja has reached several hundred, although not all are accurate but they all have one common point, which is a part of Hodja's cultural background.
The image of a donkey often appears in Hodja's stories.
One day, a neighbor came to see Nasreddin and asked to borrow his donkey for two hours to transport goods to the town. Nasreddin really didn't want to lend his donkey, he thought for a moment and then said:
My dear friend, I truly wish to assist you, but I've already lent the donkey to someone else.
At that moment, the donkey, confined on the other side of the wall in the yard, began to bray loudly. The friend immediately exclaimed:
But I can still hear its cries from behind that wall.
Do you believe the donkey or me?' Nasreddin retorted, visibly annoyed.
Humor and wit are often present in every tale of Nasreddin Hodja. Here's another example:
Once Nasreddin was invited to participate in a lecture. When he stepped up to the podium, he asked:
Do you all know what I'm going to say today?
Everyone present had prepared beforehand, and half of them answered 'know,' while the other half answered 'do not know.'
Nasreddin calmly replied: 'Then let half of those who knew what I was going to say explain it to the others,' and then went home!
Over centuries, millions of children have grown up with tales of the legendary wit and humor of Nasreddin Hodja.
Today, in his homeland of Turkey and various other places across Europe, statues of Nasreddin Hodja are erected.
Most of these statues depict Hodja riding a donkey facing forward.
In Sivrihisar, and indeed throughout Turkey, Nasreddin Hodja is revered as one of the cultural icons. Tales and imagery of Nasreddin Hodja permeate every aspect of the people's spiritual lives.
Reported by Minh Hai/Tuoi Tre
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourOctober 18, 2017
