Editing Epic of Manas (section)

==Recitation==
Manas is the classic centerpiece of Kyrgyz literature, and parts of it are often recited at Kyrgyz festivities by specialists in the epic, called ''Manasçı'' ({{langx|ky|Манасчы}}). Manasçıs tell the tale in a melodic chant unaccompanied by musical instruments.

Kyrgyzstan has many Manasçıs. Narrators who know all three episodes of the epic (the tales of Manas, of his son Semetey and of his grandson Seytek) can acquire the status of Great Manasçı. Great Manasçıs of the 20th century are [[Sagymbai Orozbak uulu|Sagımbay Orozbakov]], [[Sayakbay Karalaev]], Şaabay Azizov (pictured), Kaba Atabekov, Seydene Moldokova and Yusup Mamay. Contemporary Manasçıs include [[Rysbek Jumabayev]], who has performed at the British Library,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gullette |first1=David |title=The Genealogical Construction of the Kyrgyz Republic: Kinship, State and 'Tribalism' |url=https://archive.org/details/genealogicalcons00gull |url-access=limited |date=2010 |publisher=Global Oriental |location=Folkestone |page=[https://archive.org/details/genealogicalcons00gull/page/n164 153]|isbn=9781906876104 }}</ref> Urkaş Mambetaliev, the Manasçı of the Bishkek Philharmonic (also travels through Europe), [[Talantaaly Bakchiev]], who combines recitation with critical study,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Plumtree |first1=James |title=A Kyrgyz ''Singer Of Tales'': Formulas in Three Performances of the ''Birth of Manas'' by Talantaaly Bakchiev |journal=Доклады Национальной академии наук Кыргызской Республики |date=2019 |pages=125–133 |url=https://www.academia.edu/41232534}}</ref> and [[Doolot Sydykov]], noted for lengthy performances (including a 111 hour recitation over five days).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Калыков |first1=Мундузбек |title=Манасчы Доолот Сыдыков установил рекорд — он читал эпос «Манас» пять суток |url=https://kloop.kg/blog/2021/09/06/manaschy-doolot-sydykov-ustanovil-rekord-on-chital-epos-manas-pyat-sutok/ |website=kloop.kg |language=Russian |date=6 September 2021}}</ref>       Adil Jumaturdu has provided "A comparative study of performers of the ''Manas'' epic."<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Jumaturdu|first1=Adil|title=A Comparative Study of Performers of the ''Manas'' Epic|journal=The Journal of American Folklore|date=2016|volume=129|issue=513|pages=288–296|doi=10.5406/jamerfolk.129.513.0288|s2cid=163241388 }}</ref> 

There are more than 65 written versions of parts of the epic. [[Arthur Thomas Hatto]] made scholarly editions with facing English translations of the Manas tales recorded in the 19th century by [[Shokan Valikhanov]]<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Hatto |editor1-first=Arthur T. |title=The memorial feast for Kökötöy-khan (Kökötöydün ašı) : a Kirghiz epic poem |date=1977 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=9780197135938}}</ref> and [[Vasily Radlov]].<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Hatto |editor1-first=Arthur T. |title=The manas of Wilhelm Radloff |date=1990 |publisher=O. Harrassowitz |location=Wiesbaden |isbn=9783447030106}}</ref> An English translation of the version of Sagımbay Orozbakov by Walter May was published in 1995 as part of the commemoration of the presumed 1000th anniversary of Manas' birth (and re-issued in two volumes in 2004), and a substantial episode of this variant translated by Daniel Prior was published in 2022.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Orozbak uulu |first1=Sagymbaĭ |editor1-last=Prior |editor1-first=Daniel |title=The memorial feast for Kokötöy Khan : a Kirghiz epic poem in the Manas tradition |date=2022 |publisher=Penguin |location=London |isbn=9780241544211}}</ref>