Three heroic epics meet in Xinjiang to promote cultural exchanges

Artists perform the "Manas" epic at the opening ceremony of the ninth Manas international cultural tourism festival in Wuqia County, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Ma Jiashuai)

URUMQI, July 16 (Xinhua) -- As the powerful hymn broke the silence inside an open-air stadium, Tiliwaldi Besenahong immediately recognized that it was the "Manas" epic of his Kirgiz ethnic group.

Having learned the epic for some 20 years, the 27-year-old office clerk from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region could not help but sing and sway his body to the melody.

"Whenever I am upset or struggling, the bravery and the spirit of hero Manas would give me energy and strength. When I sing 'Manas' I feel comfortable and absorbed," he said.

But it was not just "Manas" that awed Tiliwaldi Besenahong. At the ninth Manas international cultural tourism festival, held from Thursday to Sunday, the "Epic of King Gesar" of the Tibetan ethnic group and the Mongolian ethnic epic "Jangar" were staged alongside "Manas," a rare feast in performance art circles.

The festival was held in China's westernmost Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang, with the main venue being in Wuqia County and several sub venues across the prefecture.

The performance on Thursday evening kicked off as Tibetan singer Tsedri entered the stage to sing the "Epic of King Gesar." Soon after, actors from Qinghai Province danced, sang, and waved whips to tell the story of King Gesar winning a horse race and then the throne.

"King Gesar fought violence, helped the weak and cared for the people. He is a Tibetan hero and a precious cultural asset of the Chinese nation," said Tsedri.

The rendition was followed by that of "Jangar," where singers and dancers from Xinjiang's Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture staged a show of Jangar leading people to defend their hometown.

"Manas" was the finale of the performance. Throughout the music played by traditional instruments like komuz, stories of hero Manas, from forming an alliance to a wedding, were presented on stage.

All three epics have been designated as national intangible cultural heritages.

"The festival is a good opportunity for us to learn from performers of other epics and improve our understanding of 'Jangar,'" said Sangel, vice head of the troupe that performed "Jangar."

More than 10,000 people watched the show in Wuqia, including many local residents, tourists from outside Xinjiang, and officials from Kyrgyzstan, which borders Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture.

Almaz Muratbekov, an expert with the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan, was impressed by his observation that China's Kirgiz children learn to sing "Manas" from an early age.

Artists perform the "Manas" epic at the opening ceremony of the ninth Manas international cultural tourism festival in Wuqia County, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu)

Artists perform the "Manas" epic at the opening ceremony of the ninth Manas international cultural tourism festival in Wuqia County, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Chenjie)

Artists perform in the Kirgiz ethnic epic "Manas" at the ninth Manas international cultural tourism festival in Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu)

Artists perform in the Mongolian ethnic epic "Jangar" at the ninth Manas international cultural tourism festival in Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Chenjie)

Artists perform in the Mongolian ethnic epic "Jangar" at the ninth Manas international cultural tourism festival in Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu)

Artists perform in the "Epic of King Gesar" of the Tibetan ethnic group during the ninth Manas international cultural tourism festival in Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu)

Artists perform in the Kirgiz ethnic epic "Manas" at the ninth Manas international cultural tourism festival in Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu)