Manas
Manas is an epic of the Kirgiz people and is the second-longest epic in the world, with over 234,000 lines, second only to the Epic of Gesar. It is included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNE- SCO.
Manas originated in the 9th to 10th centuries and tells the story of the legendary hero Manas and his descendants, who led their people in a struggle for independence and freedom against raiding and enslavement by foreign forces. The poem consists of eight parts, each named after the hero of that section, with Manas serving as the overall title. For centuries, the epic has been passed down through oral tradition and has become an integral part of the Kirgiz people’s cultural heritage. The recitation of Manas has been incorporated into the daily life of the Kirgiz people, and wherever the Kirgiz live, the epic of Manas is performed.
Manas is a valuable literary masterpiece that combines Kirgiz folk literature and music. It is also considered an encyclopedia of Kirgiz folk culture, and provides important insights into the distribution of various ethnic groups in ancient Xinjiang, as well as Kirgiz history, culture, literature, and folklore.
《玛纳斯》
《玛纳斯》是柯尔克孜人的英雄史诗，也是全世界第二长的史诗，共有23.4万多行，仅次于《格萨尔》，被列入人类非物质文化遗产代表作名录。
《玛纳斯》产生于9至10世纪，叙述了柯尔克孜传说中的英雄玛纳斯及其子孙，前后八代人领导族人反抗异族的掠夺与奴役，争取独立自由的故事。全诗由八部组成，分别以每部主人公的名字命名，并以玛纳斯作为总名。千百年来，《玛纳斯》一直口耳相传，其演唱已经融入柯尔克孜人的生产生活，有柯尔克孜人的地方就有《玛纳斯》的演唱。
《玛纳斯》集柯尔克孜民间文学、音乐为一体，是一部珍贵的文学典籍；同时，它也是柯尔克孜民间文化的百科全书，对研究古代新疆各民族的分布和柯尔克孜历史、文化、文学、民俗等具有重要价值。
