Turkish literature was the joint product of the Turkish clansand was mostly oral.
The oldest known examples of Turkish writings are on obelisksdating from the late 7th and early 8th centuries. The Orhun monument inscriptions written in 720 for Tonyukuk, in 732 for Kultiginand in 735 for Bilge Kagan are masterpieces of Turkish literaturewith their subject matter and perfect style. Turkish epics dating from those times include the Yaratilis, Saka Oguz, Kagan, Gokturk,Uygur and Manas.
The "Book of Dede Korkut," put down in writing in the14th century, is an extremely valuable work that preserves the memory of that epic era in beautiful language.
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