Elements of customary law (traditional law) in the Book of Dede Korkut [Dede korkufta halk hukuku unsurlan]

The Book of Dede Korkut includes striking examples of customary law, in other words, traditional folk law. These examples show that Dede Korkut stories include very important legal principles for our social order. That is why the Book of Dede Korkut is considered significant for Turkish judicial history. However, the studies in this area are not adequate. In this paper, the Book of Dede Korkut is analyzed from the perspective of customary law. The paper defines and specifies the kinds of behaviours considered criminal in the Oghuz community and criminal law, the pre-Islamic legal situations in the traditional steppe community and the understanding of state administration. These examples are analyzed and evaluated within the framework of old Turkish law. In addition, the examples related to customary law in the Book of Dede Korkut can be regarded as the sources of contemporary law. This paper looks into the relations between the examples of customary law and contemporary law.