Episode one: Entitled “Manas,” this part tells of the birth of the protagonist, the national hero named Manas and how he was made the Khan of the Kyrgyz Khanate. Unwilling to bow and scrape to alien conquerors for bare subsistence, Manas called on the ethnic group members to oppose aggression. Campaigning alongside the friendly forces of the neighbouring tribes, Manas led Kyrgyz warriors to stage the moving and heroic revolts against the invasion by alien troops. It showcases ancient Kyrgyz people’s unswerving ideal and wish for national freedom and people’s well-being. It contains up to more than 50,000 lines.
Episode two: Entitled “Semetei,” this part elaborates on how Semetei, the son of Manas, was taken by his mother to the city of Bukhara after the death of Manas and then took shelter right there. At the age of twelve, Semetei returned back to his ancestors’ former residence, annihilating all the enemies and putting down the civil strife. As a result, forty Kyrgyz tribes and sixty Alasha tribes were saved by him from the brink of extermination. It also has a poetic account of the love affairs between Semetei and the fairy maiden Aichurek. It consists of more than 37,000 lines.
Episode three: Entitled “Seitek,” this part reflects how Seitek, the posthumous
1: A Manaschi refers to a person who recites the epic of “Manas.”
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son of Semetei and Aichurek, grew up into an invincible hero after overcoming various difficulties and dangers akin to those of his ancestors. The young hero avenged his widely-admired father by killing traitors and secret enemy agents within his ranks. Under his leadership, the land owned by people before was seized back once again with people’s houses rebuilt right there. In addition, it presents audiences a vivid description on how Seitek began his successful campaigns against a vicious giant and then saved the Mangete tribesmen from the talons of enemy cavalrymen. It is of around 25,000 lines.
Episode four: Entitled “Kenenim,” this part is a paean to Kenenim, who was the fourth successor. Kenenim, son of Seitek and Goddess of War Kuial, grew into a valiant and justice-upholding hero later on. After pulling up a huge willow, the heroic khan without wearing armor or holding any weapon broke into the massive formation of enemy troops and beat the devil out of the ferocious enemies. He is best known for weeding out the wicked and pacifying the good. He made a great contribution to numerous Kyrgyz and Khazak tribes’ development and flourishing. He is celebrated as a much-loved heroic khan popular with the masses. It contains over 34,000 lines.
Episode five: Entitled “Seyit,” this part recounts the young hero’s odyssey of ridding people of scourges and vanquishing monsters. Seyit set off on his trip to subdue the demons in place of his father. In addition, part of the verses are supposed to eulogize the pure love between him and Princess Kirlgikei. It comprises 11,000 lines or so.
Episode six: Entitled “Asilbaqa and Bekbaqa,” this part is devoted to the
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heroic deeds of Seyit’s twin sons Asilbaqa and Bekbaqa. After Seyit died aged twenty-two, his father Kenenim held control of the Kyrgyz Khanate once again. When the posthumous twin sons of Seyit turned twelve, their grandfather passed the duty of managing the country on to them. The twin brothers ascended to the throne at the same time and co-ruled the khanate. However, Asilbaqa died young. Bekbaqa followed in the steps of his older brother and enlarged the cause of his great family. Bekbaqa led Kyrgyz people to resist the attacks launched by the alien tribes when the future of his country hung in the balance. With the help of quick wits and unrivaled guts, he made great strides in the battlefield repeatedly. This part is drenched in a mythological flavour. The whole stuff is of more than 30,000 lines.
Episode seven: Entitled “Sombilek,” this part details how the 16-year-old Sombilek, a posthumous son of Bekbaqa, rallied his people to resist the joint incursion made by Mangete and Khurasan tribes. The Khanate’s existence was in peril when the invaders captured Talas. Not dejected by difficulties and obstacles at the critical moment, Sombilek persevered in struggling and succeeded in driving all invaders off in the end. This part is composed of 11,000 lines or so.
Episode eight: Entitled by “Qiktey,” this part tells the fascinating tales of Qiktey, the posthumous son of Sombilek. His mother died shortly after he was born. As a poor orphan, Qiktey was adopted by others. When he was fourteen years old, the Qirat troops invaded the territory of Khazaks. After hearing the news, the young hero was not down-hearted at all. In order to prevent the frienldy Khazaks from falling under the oppressive rule of the Qirat khan, Qiktey commanded
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his troops to do whatever they could to assist in the campaign rather than sit by. Meanwhile, the forces of the Torghut tribe launched a sneak raid on Talas, the capital city of Kyrgyz people. Immediately after defeating Qirat aggressor troops, the highly energetic and indefatigable hero engaged in the decisive fight with the Torghut forces and gained a triumph in the end. Unfortunately, Qiktey was stuck with arrows and died of injuries he sustained. Qiktey did not have a wife so he left no offsprings behind. The death of Qiktey meant that the standout heroes from eight generations of Family Manas wrapped up their great campaign for Kyrgyz people’s independence, flourishing and well-being. Their great feats added a brilliant page to the annals of the Kyrgyz Nationality, creating an examplary heroic image on the minds of ordianry Kyrgyz people. They will be eulogized for ever by later generations.
