His exact country and lifetime are not known certainly but he is usually assumed to have lived in Anatolia between the 11th and the 14th century. However, he is well known among various Turkic peoples living in a wide geography between Anatolia and Xinjiang (in China, where Uighurs live) and it is possible to find one of his statues in Bukhara (showing him riding his donkey backwards and grasping its tail , as he is traditionally depicted) or a journal bearing his name in Baky or Tabriz.

Mark Twain's Library of Humor includes a story attributed to Nasreddin Hoja. The anectodes attributed to him reveal a satirical personality with a biting tongue that he was not afraid to use even against the most tyrannical sultans of his time. He seems to be the symbol of both the Cental Asian style satirical comedy and the rebellious feelings of people against the dynasties that once ruled this geography.

An Example

A neighbour comes to the gate of Nasreddin Hoja's yard. The Hoja goes out to meet him outside.

"Would you mind, Hoja," the neigbour aks, "to lend me your donkey today? I have some goods to transport to the next town."

The Hoja doesn't feel inclined to lend out the animal to that particular man, however; so, not to seem rude, he answers:

"I'm sorry, but I've already lent him to somebody else."

Suddenly the donkey can be heard braying loudly behind the wall of the yard.

"You lied to me, Hoja!" the neighbour exclaims. "There it is behind that wall!"