SCIENCE COMMITTEE OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND HIGHER EDUCATION

OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

INSTITUTE OF HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY NAMED AFTER SH.SH. UALIKHANOV

Dear colleagues!

On June 23, 2025, Institute of History and Ethnology after Sh.Sh. Valikhanov will hold a scientific seminar on the topic: “Chinese sources on the history of Kazakhstan and the state of its development”. The purpose of the scientific seminar is to differentiate the content, types and level of inclusion in scientific circulation of Chinese sources related to the history of Kazakhstan. During the seminar, attention will be paid to information about the territory of Kazakhstan, the ethnic and political history of the Kazakh people, which are contained in written monuments and archival documents in Chinese.

In addition, the specifics of using the sources of modern Kazakh historiography, issues of translation and interpretation, as well as issues of assimilation will be widely discussed. The ultimate goal of the seminar is to consider ways to widely introduce Chinese sources into scientific circulation and show the possibilities of their effective use in new discussions of Russian history.

Chinese sources are one of the important sources in the study of the early and medieval history of Kazakhstan, especially the formation of the Turkic peoples and their relations with China. These sources contain extensive information about ancient and medieval tribes, their migration, political structure, and external relations. However, their linguistic specificity and the complexity of the historical and cultural context make it difficult to assimilate these materials.

The seminar will address current issues and prospects for involving sources in scientific research. In particular, young researchers will be presented with methodological aspects of working with Chinese archives and historical texts, and recommendations will be given on general research projects and translation initiatives that may be implemented in the future. Thus, the seminar aims to contribute to a comprehensive study of the history of Kazakhstan through foreign sources.

We invite scientists, specialists, doctoral and undergraduates, and students to participate and express their opinions in the scientific seminar “Chinese sources on the history of Kazakhstan and the state of its development”.

Time of the scientific seminar: 12.06.2025, 12.00.

Zoom ID: 815 5103 3652.

Zoom code: 217842.

Organizing committee