Kyrgyzstan: The Epic of Manas

Kyrgyzstan's schools will now teach the Epic of Manas as a required component of the curriculum.   IWPR did not say whether this was to go to grade school, secondary school, or university (or all of the above). 

Like Homer's epics, the Epic of Manas is part of an oral tradition; unlike Homer, his work is still sung today and various artists sing its excerpts in various form.  It has some similarities to the Mongol histories; and it is also claimed by Uighur historians in Xinjiang.

In 2005, the Turkish scholar Elmira Koeçumkulkïzï translated large excerpts of the Epic of Manas to English.  On the Epic of Manas Web site, an article by this scholar is featured, as well as links to excerpts of the poem–and–links to performances of it.

This work is copyrighted, but here is an excerpt (lines 6550 – 6599) from an excerpt of the epic:  (lines 6378 – 7276).  To set the scene: boorish, ambitious warrior Kochku starts boasting before he raids the horses of the noble Kyrgyz: 

Among those horses
Stallions and chargers were mixed.
Kochku and Tagïlïk,
Leading their seven hundred warriors
Raided the horses all together,
They cut off the tether ropes, made an uproar,
Thus testing the forty families,
They carried out their khan's order
By devastating Bay Jakïp.
Suffering from the Kalmyks,
 
Women and children were distraught,
“We really face captivity,” said
Noble Baltay and bay Jakïp:
Losing hope for their noble souls, they said,
“We suffered from Kochku.
If we resist them,
Not one of us will be spared,” they said,
“Let the Kïtay take our livestock,
And add them to their treasure,” they said.
Only Allah is just,
 
May our noble souls survive!” they said.
The wicked Kochku began the killing,
He didn't spare any souls
Of the forty Kyrgyz families, the noble people.
From the palace of Esenkhan
He had come on a special mission
To the Kyrgyz,
To inflict great trouble
On Jakïp,
And take away his countless livestock
 
By plundering them quickly.
They destroyed their yurts,
Made their young women and girls weep,
And plundering, stampeded
All the grazing mares.
While that was going on,
The twelve-years-old brave Manas,
Riding his horse Toruchaar
Donning his weapons and everything,
Wearing an unsheathed sword at his waist,
 
Like a dark rain-cloud,
His wrath showing on his face,
Without a moment's pause,
And risking his life and limb,
Without a second glance,
With no thought for his soul, he said:
“While I still have my strong head,
How can I give up my stallions?
These Kalmyks have gone too far,
I will exchange blows with them.

Thus the first noble deed of Manas–he kills Kolchuk. 

We’re indebted to Elmira Koeçumkulkïzï for a wonderful translation and an excellent introduction.  I look forward to seeing this work in English–one of those Penguin classics editions, or similar!  However, I’m glad I don't have to take the test.

Check also the UNESCO site for downloads.

Photos: Freenet.biskhkek.su; Dick McCray, 1998