Nasreddin Hoca is a legendary figure and a humorous folk hero who lived around Hortu and Akşehir during the Anatolian Seljuk period. He is mostly known through anecdotes portraying him as a witty and wise man with a sharp sense of humor. Although there is debate about whether he actually lived and, if so, what his true personality was like, some historical documents suggest that he was a real person. According to these sources, Nasreddin Hoca was born in 1208 in the village of Hortu in Akşehir, where he received his basic education. He later studied at a madrasa in Sivrihisar, and upon his father's death, he returned to his hometown to serve as the village imam. After some time, he migrated to Akşehir, a center for Sufi thought at the time, and became a dervish under Mahmûd-ı Hayrânî, affiliating with Sufi orders such as Mevlevi, Yasawi, or Rifa'i. Nasreddin Hoca also held administrative positions in Akşehir and is thought to have briefly lived in surrounding areas. He died in Akşehir in 1284 and was buried in the Nasreddin Hoca Tomb, which still exists today.

Nasreddin Hoca's anecdotes are widely told not only in Anatolia but also in the autonomous Turkic republics of Central Asia and Russia. This shows that his sense of humor and folk wisdom are part of a shared cultural heritage across the Turkic world. His witty and thought-provoking stories have been passed down through generations for centuries and adapted with small variations in different regions. This widespread presence is an important indicator of the common history, linguistic unity, and cultural interaction among Turkic peoples. Even today, Nasreddin Hoca's tales continue to entertain while also teaching valuable lessons and encouraging reflection.