The Manas Epic storyline
Bearing in mind that
- there are differences between the various versions of the epic …
- it is the world’s longest epic with over half a million lines …
- it is said to take three months, four hours a day, to recite the whole epic from start to finish …
- it took several years for the various manaschi to compile their written versions …
… this is the basic storyline of the Manas Epic … in brief:
Manas
The first part of the Manas component of the epic trilogy begins with the description of the downturn in the fortune of the Kyrgyz following the attack by the Chinese Army under the Khan, Alooke. The Kyrgyz have suffered a crushing defeat, the land has been plundered and exiled by the victorious Chinese to various far flung and remote regions in an attempt to prevent them from ever reuniting.
Amongst the Kyrgyz exiled to the Altai, where they have to live amongst a hostile population of Kalmyks is Jakyp. Already an old man, he was childless and so he prayed to Allah for a child – and his wife eventually delivered a boy. From his birth the boy, Manas, proved to be a special character – he grew quickly, big and strong. Although, born in the Talas region he grows up in the region of Andijan (currently in Uzbekistan) “running to fat” through “eating half-baked bread and unripe green apples”. He is a mischievous boy, getting into all sorts of trouble and constantly playing tricks. His father sends him to help a shepherd – hoping that he will settle down … but, on the contrary, he forms a gang of (forty) teenagers that kill lambs and hold a feast, play tricks and a make a nuisance of themselves. The shepherd begs his father to take the boy back.
At 12 he was a practiced archer … at 13 experienced in combat with a spear, abducted young girls and fought strong and brave athletes making them exclaim “kuki” in pain … at 14 he raided villages where his enemies lived, stealing horses from them … he is a giant of colossal height and with enormous strength.
News about him and his exploits spread far and wide – and both the Kalmyks and the Chinese sought to eliminate him. Their attempts, however, are defeated by the young man and his “bodygaurd” of forty companions. Inspired by his heroism, accounts of his exploits and good luck, the Kyrgyz tribes arrive at a joint decision to reuinte and face down their enemies. Manas is elected their leader and at the age of 15 he was the soverign of many people from the river Chu to the river Talas.
The return of the Kyrgyz to their homeland from exile involves a number of wars and battles. According to Ozorbakov there are ten campaigns, marches and battles against the forces of the Khans Tekes, Akhumbeshim, Alooke, Shooruk from Afghanistan and eventually the Chinese Khan Konurbai. Along with the counsel and advice of his loyal friends Koshoi and Bakai – both considerably older and more experienced than him in military affairs – the early battles serve to provide the youthful provide Manas with the experience and training necessary for even greater conflicts yet to come.
Interspersed between the fighting are episodes which concentrate on other matters …
- the story of Almambet, a Chinese refugee who becomes Manas’ best friend – describing how he argued with his khan and fled from his native China, defeating powerful Giants en-route by means of his resourcefulness and daring;
- Manas’ wedding to Kanykei, the daughter of the ruler of Bukhara – Manas asks Jakyp his father to travel to Bukhara and ask for her hand in marriage … but he is refused. In one version of the epic, the offended Manas declares war and marches on the city, defeating the defenders he takes Kanykei by right of conquest. Another version describes how, during their first meeting, he neglects the local customs of matchmaking and it is her turn to be offended. Manas reacts rudely, and she takes a sword to drive him from the chamber … and succeeds in wounding him. Infuriated Manas orders an attack on the town, but his friend and counsellor, Bakai, manages to calm him down and saves the marriage;
- the Kezkoman conspiracy against Manas by a group of Kyrgyz manaps who think he is overreaching himself. The Kezkomans are a group of Kyrgyz who, having heard of Manas and his exploits, come to ally themselves with him. Although they receive a warm and generous welcome – being granted land and livestock, they are envious and devise a plot against him. His friend Koshoi hears of the plot and tries to dissuade them and for a time it looks as if he has succeeded … but eventually they invite Manas and his companions to a feast where they re given drugged wine … The plotters seize Talas – but Manas is not dead. He is nursed back to health and with some of the companions who were late for the feast he restores justice and order, punishing the plotters;
- a funeral feast for Koketei in which a number of competitions are described … a wrestling match between Koshoi and the Chinese giant Joloi, a spear fight between Manas and his future nemesis Konurbai, the finale is provided by a horse race in which Manas on his horse Ak-Kula manage to overcome the dastardly tricks of Konurbai. The defeats at the hands of the Kyrgyz provokes the visiting Chinese Khans to go on the rampage, plundering the Kyrgyz lands … and Manas with his companions chase after them and defeat the armies … but the khans escape;
Under Manas’ leadership, the Kyrgyz succeed in evicting their enemies from the Chui and Issyk Kul- and Manas undertakes the “Great March” which is the major event and culmination of the first part of the epic. This episode describes how the Kyrgz gather and undertake a long campaign against the Chinese capital Beijing, (although some suggest if was, in fact a Uighur city with a similar name – as Beijing doesn’t receive this name until the fifteenth century). The Kyrgyz are victorious – but at the cost of a great loss of life. Manas, himself is mortally wounded in single combat, and sets off to Talas, where he dies. Kanykei, now a widow, builds a mausoleum for him.
Semetei
After the death of the hero, Manas’ brothers usurp power and start oppressing the people - enriching themselves in the process. They persecute all who were connected with Manas – Bakai, Manas’ friend and counselor, is enslaved, whilst Kanykei, the hero’s widow, and Semetei, his son, disguise themselves as poor people and escape to Bukhara – to be joined later by his mother.
Semetei is brought up in his uncle’s household. It is an unspectacular upbringing, although he is a strong, skillful and brave youth. He learns nothing about his father until he is fourteen when Sary Taz, one of the hero’s companions, tells him about Manaas’ life … and death … and about event in Talas in the intervening period … how the people are oppressed and downtrodden.
He returns to Talas to deal with his uncles, and liberate his people who rally to the young djigit. Semetei ascends to his father’s throne and establishes peace and justice throughout the land.
All is not well, however, and his rivals besiege the fortress of Manas’old friend Akhun Khan, whose daughter, Aichurek, was betrothed to Semetei even before he was born. To escape the siege, Aichurek turns into a white swan and flies away from her father’s home in search of a protector. She finds Semetei and to entice him steals his falcon, and he follows along with his companions – some of whom are sons of Manas’ original companions. When they meet, Semetei falls for her, and gathering his forces sets out to relieve his father-in-law. Once more peace and quiet is established throughout the land.
But now, Semetei is drawn by the ethical codes of his time to seek vengeance against the man who killed his father. He sets out on a march to Beijing that, in many respects, resembles his father’s earlier campaign. Although the hero and his closest friend are resourceful, they face many obstacles and it is only by stealth and cunning that they succeed in overcoming Manas’ killer and are able to return home to Talas.
Once again, however, peace is thwarted, and Semetei must face his bitter rival, Kyiaz Khan. There follows a long and relentless struggle between the two of them – and eventually Semetei is betrayed by one of his companions – and is killed in combat.
His betrayer seizes power, Aichurek is taken as a concubine and Kaykei, Bakai and other loyal followers are enslaved.
Seitek
The third part of the trilogy recounts the story of Semetei’s son, Seitek.
In Talas, the people are once again living under the oppression of those who have usurped power. Aichurek has been allowed back to her father’s home, where she delivers a son. Although Kyiaz Khan wants to kill the child, she manages to save him, leaving him with a family of shepherds who raise him.
Like his father before him, he learns the truth about his genealogy and family history from one of his father’s companions whom he meets. He sets out in search of Semetei’s best friend and comrade in arms – Kulchoro – whom he discovers is paralyzed. Another of Semetei’s companions is skilled in magic and medicine and cures Kulchoro. Together the two set out for Talas and rally the Kyrgyz people against the despots that rule over them.
The uprising is successful - the tyrant severely punished, and peace and justice are restored once more to the land.
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Although this is the end of the third part of the trilogy … in some versions there are yet further extensions … involving battles with a monstrous creature, or more Chinese assailants. In one such version the main characters gather and say farewell, before “disappearing” – and this has led to a tradition that they are still alive and roaming the planet, although “invisible”, keeping a watch over the fate of the Kyrgyz nation.
Bishkek