The pattern goes back to the archetypal image of the world tree – the world axis, the centre of the world and embodies the universe as a whole. In the cultural development of mankind, the image of the world tree, consisting of three worlds (upper, middle and lower), manifests itself in numerous cosmological, religious and mythological representations of the peoples of the world and is reflected in folklore, art, architecture, settlement and grave design, rituals and ceremonies, social structure and so on.
The main symbol of the world tree among Kazakhs is the Baiterek – a sacred tree, a huge poplar. On its top live birds, angels and deities, its roots lead to the underworld where evil spirits, devils and albasty live, and the stem of the Baiterek is the middle world where people and animals live. For the Turks, any tree is sacred, especially a solitary tree that grows near mountain passes, springs or in places that are particularly difficult to access. Associated with this is a sacred custom of tying a rag or ribbon to a sacred place as a sign of respect. The “ağash gül” motif in Turkic/Kazakh culture is one of these graphic representations, widely used in the embroidery of traditional textiles, and its geometric equivalent in the decoration of woven objects (baskur, korzhyn, etc.).
