Bilig

Bilig is a term from Turkic languages traditionally meaning wisdom or knowledge. In linguistic and literary contexts, the word is most prominently associated with Kutadgu Bilig, an 11th-century didactic work written in Old Turkic by Yusuf Balasagunlu (often identified with Yusuf Has Hacip). The title is commonly translated as The Wisdom for Happiness or The Wisdom that Brings Happiness, with bilig conveying the idea of knowledge that guides right living.

Kutadgu Bilig is considered one of the earliest major works of Turkic prose and a foundational text in Turkic literature. Composed as a blend of philosophy, ethics, and practical counsel, it addresses governance, justice, mercy, and the duties of rulers and officials. The work uses a frame narrative and allegorical dialogue to convey lessons about virtuous leadership, social harmony, and the moral responsibilities of rulers toward their subjects. Its language and style provide important evidence for the development of Old Turkic syntax, vocabulary, and rhetorical form, and it influenced later Turkic literary and intellectual traditions as well as some Persian-language didactic writing.

In modern usage, bilig survives as a historical term in discussions of Turkic philology and literature, illustrating how knowledge and wisdom were articulated in early Turkic thought. The word’s scholarly prominence largely stems from its association with Kutadgu Bilig and its role in shaping the medieval Turkic literary canon.