Under the Mulberry Tree

The Contemporary Uyghur Anthology is a collection of Uyghur reflections in diaspora. Weaving together memories of the homeland, experiences of displacement, and transitions of identities, this anthology is a creative reflection of the beauty and complexities of the Uyghur experience.
By centering Uyghur voices at the forefront, this anthology serves as a form of living memory in a pivotal moment of Uyghur history. The title Under the Mulberry Tree refers to a story from the Uyghur literary classic Ana Yurt, where youthful Nuri faces terrible injustices, separation, and turmoil; but for one moment in the Charbagh, his love for Sebihe and his own family is full, ripe, and sweet, like the mulberries from the ancient tree. In a similar way that the mulberry tree offered comforts in Nuri's time of need, we hope this volume offers a place of reflection and celebration of Uyghur culture.