An epic tale worth telling
A depiction by Elzati Eshantol of Manas leading the Kirgiz tribes against marauders. CHINA DAILY
Kirgiz folk hero comes back to life with courageous deeds portrayed in gripping detail, Xu Haoyu reports.
It takes a warrior to not just win a war, but to organize peace in times of conflict, Greek polymath Aristotle once said. A shining example of this is the Epic of Manas, which extols the virtues of one Kirgiz man who, according to legend, united 40 indigenous tribes against bloodthirsty invaders.
Said to be 20 times longer than Homer's Odyssey, the Epic of Manas spans eight chapters in 18 volumes and boasts more than 234,000 lines. It is among the greatest folklores of the Kirgiz people, one of China's ethnic groups, and has become the subject of modern-day music and art.
The epic is named after the warrior Manas and covers the life of his descendants for eight generations. Manas not only led Kirgiz tribes against marauders, but also brought traitors to justice and empowered the weak.
"While large tracts of wasteland have turned into lakes, the lakes and seas have turned into mulberry fields; when the hills have turned into gullies and the snow peaks have changed their appearance, the story of the hero Manas has been passed on from generation to generation. The story of the lion Manas has linked people in flesh and blood"-reads a roughly translated excerpt from the epic.
The original tale was passed orally from performer to performer, who were known as manaschi. However, the epic's spirit of solidarity and perseverance has been presented in various literary forms, including narrative poetry, lyrics, proverbs and aphorisms.
The Epic of Manas records nomadic life in the Middle Ages, the historical developments, the customs of the Kirgiz people, nature's beauty in the form of icebergs and grasslands, and also exchanges between the East and the West in ancient times. Together, it is a well-rounded encyclopedia covering history, geography, religion, economy, marriage, customs, music, painting and language.
For thousands of years, performers have sung the Epic of Manas, processing and embellishing ancient wisdom. The talent of past generations has been consolidated, and its content and form have become richer.
Related articles
JoJo Siwa goes wild: Karma singer accused of getting drunk at Disney World after turning 21
Jojo Siwa was seen celebrating her 21st birthday with friends at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lak2024-05-22Xi Stresses Contributing to Chinese Modernization with Solid Actions
Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom2024-05-22Sound relations built on 70 years of friendship
Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, who paid an official visit to China from Mon2024-05-22Chinese company signs MoU with Ethiopia to light up off
ADDIS ABABA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) and Chinese telecom company H2024-05-22- Jodie Turner-Smith displayed her washboard abs as she made her way through London on Monday.The actr2024-05-22
Xi Focus: Xi Stresses Enhancing Guarantee Ability of Land Element for High
Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom2024-05-22
atest comment