Leadership Insights | Illustrated Lectures: The Inheritance of Shared Intangible Cultural Heritage

The profound and time-honored Chinese civilization is formed through integrating the excellent cultures of various ethnic groups in China. Cultural legacies such as Manas are the precious treasures not only of ethnic minorities, but also of the entire Chinese nation. Thus, it is necessary to promote the protection, inheritance and spread of those shared cultural heritages.

Manas is a kind of traditional folk literature and art in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Born in the 9th and 10th centuries, it has been passed down from mouth to mouth for centuries. It is known as one of the three major epics of China, alongside the Epic of King Gesar of the Tibetan ethnic group and the Epic of Jangar of the Mongolian ethnic group. Featuring a massive length, thrilling storyline and rich content, it tells stories of the hero Manas and his seven generations of descendants leading the Kyrgyz people to resist foreign invaders and fight against various evil forces. The epic integrates historical facts with dramatic narratives, making it very interesting. In November 2009, the epic of Manas was inscribed on the UNESCO the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The epic of Manas is more than just a precious literary classic; it is an “encyclopedia” for the study of the language, history, folklores, and religions of the Kyrgyz people. Over centuries, it has been passed on from generation to generation on the Pamirs Plateau. Today’s literary and artistic workers, on the basis of fully respecting its core essence and adapting to the trend of the times, work to promote the integration of the traditional rapping art of Manas with other art forms, enriching its inheritance methods, increasing its appeal and expanding its dissemination.

The soul-stirring power of epics lies not only in their magnificent themes and lofty narrative styles, but also in their ability to unite the people and inspire them to pursue a better life. For this reason, they have been passed down through the ages and transcended language barriers and national boundaries. The epic of Manas is not only a precious legacy of the Chinese nation, but also a cultural treasure on the Belt and Road. It has played an important role in cultural exchanges among participating countries of the Belt and Road Initiative.