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1001 Stories Collection

Nasreddin Hodja: Seven Stories

Audio
1001 Nasreddin 7 stories Ts Sergey
Added on 06th October 2020

Oral tradition Turkish story

Fables Funny
1001

Tradition says that if you tell one story about Nasreddin, you have to tell seven.

Story

There are many stories of Nasreddin, trickster and teacher, but the tradition is that you can’t tell just one, you have to tell seven. So here are seven stories about donkeys and drought, tiger powder and a lost ring, sharing almonds, borrowing pots and washing a cat.

Why we chose it

Our Storyteller in Residence, Peter Chand told stories of Nasreddin in our courtyard in the summer of 2020.

Where it came from

Nasreddin Hodja is a 13th century character. Like many folk story heroes he may have been based on a historical person or he may have been a purely imaginary character. The original stories probably came from Anatolia but the character Nasreddin Hodja has lasted for centuries and new stories have been added over the years expanding the collection. The stories were spread orally throughout the Ottoman Empire and wherever he goes Nasreddin is known for his wit, humour and the brevity of his anecdotes.

Where it went next

The stories travelled to Persia, Arabia and Africa and along the Silk Roads to China and India.

Associated stories

There are many stories of Nasreddin and they are still told around the world today. In pictures he is often shown riding his donkey backwards – an image from one of his best known stories. There are statues of Nasreddin backwards on the donkey in Ankara, Turkey and Bukhara, Uzbekistan.

Added on 06th October 2020

Oral tradition Turkish story

Fables Funny
1001