Carrying an epic spirit over centuries
Manas inheritor preserves ancient story of a hero by continuing his great-grandfather's teachings with daptations and translations, Yang Feiyue reports.
In the 1960s, during a linguistic survey in Xinjiang, researchers from the Xinjiang Federation of Literary and Artistic Circles unexpectedly discovered Jusup, who could recall the entire epic from memory, reciting hundreds of thousands of lines and performing for months. His extraordinary memory and artistry earned him the title "Contemporary Homer".
Through years of recording, transcription and translation by Chinese scholars, the first complete Chinese-language edition of Manas was published in April 2022, based on Jusup's performances.
"The written version provides a solid foundation for diversified interpretation," says Adil Jumaturdi, a researcher at the Institute of Ethnic Literature of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, adding that it has opened new pathways for the epic's performance, study and innovation.
In 2023, the musical drama Manas reignited public enthusiasm across China, drawing younger audiences to explore the ancient tale through modern artistic expression.
