The national epic of Khirghiz people that constitute one of the Turkish tribes is the Manas Epic that is the longest epic and one of the masterpieces of the world literature that are limited in number. This epic has taken its name from the characters in the epic. Those who read and sing this epic are also called as Manasçı (Manas reader). Manas reading is considered as an art and profession. The events that took place in Manas epic is attributed to the Hun period by some researchers. However, it is much more realistic to refer the foundation of these events to the period after the 9th century. The Mongolian Karahitay people that had invaded the Central Asia and captured Karahanli country in the years of 1120s sent soldiers against the Khirghiz people. The events that had been experienced upon this incident are dealt within Manas Epic.
The famous Turcologist Wilhelm Radloff (1837-1918) collected his first compilation related with the Manas Epic from a Manas reader pertaining to Sari Bagiş tribe in the south of the city of Tokmak in Kyrgyzstan. The Manas Epic that is composed of seven sections compiled by Radloff consists of totally 11 thousands and 454 lines. However, it has been stated that the number of the lines that the Manas readers sing is about 16 thousands of lines.
Manas Epic is patterned around Manas who is the national hero of Khirghiz Turks. Since the first section of the epic, a lyric style is used in the expression of the birth of Manas, his ability to speak even in his cradle, his statement that he would defeat the Non-Muslim people, his victory in defeating China when he grew up and became a young man, meeting with the Muslim and brace Almanbet and the wars that they joint together, the marriage of Manas, the resurrection of Manas despite that he was killed for two times by his enemies, his visit in Mecca and the circumambulation of Kabaa. The third death of Manas is the inevitable death of him in the epic. Afterwards, the epics of Manas son, Semetey and grandson, Seytek begin. Manas Epic constitutes a trio chain with Semetey and Seytek epics.
In the Epic that extends to three generations, Manas accomplishes the task as the founder of the government of country; his son, Semetey poses a threat for the domination. However, his grandson, Seytek reorganised the works again.