On the Terms of Turkistan and Turan in Qutadγu Bilig

The thinker of the Qarakhanids period, Yusuf Balasaγuni (11th Century) in his well-known work Qutadγu Bilig have noted the followings: ‘(...) in the Region of Mashriq (East), in the districts of Turkestan according to the language of Buγra Khan, this book (...) the Iranians called it as ‘the Turkic Shah-name’, (...) the Turanians named it as: ‘The Qutadγu Bilig’. These notes may prove the facts that the terms ‘Turkestan’ and ‘Turan’ are closely connected with the similar geographical regions during the period of the Qarakahanids. This paper highlights how these terms are linked with historical realities and the issues of the origin of their usage