A Karakhanid Turkic poet and statesman, born around 1018 in Balasagun. His mirror-for-princes 'Kutadgu Bilig' (completed c. 1069-70, over 13,000 couplets) is regarded as the first major work of Islamic Turkic literature; he presented it to the ruler of Kashgar and received the title Khass Hajib ('Privy Chamberlain'). By tradition he died and was buried in Kashgar; the present mausoleum building is modern (built 1865, destroyed in the Cultural Revolution and rebuilt). (Sources: İslam Düşünce Atlası 'Yûsuf Has Hâcib'; en.wikipedia.org 'Yusuf Balasaguni')