马木白提·艾买提《永恒的力量》

Gusev Mamay (1918-2014) was the only contemporary Manaschi to have completed the monumental task of singing all eight volumes of the epic Manas. This feat is particularly significant given the comprehensive nature of Manas, a historical narrative in the form of Kyrgyz poetry that encompasses a vast array of subjects, including ethnography, history, politics, literature, economics, ethics, aesthetics, psychology, sociology, astronomy, chemistry, physics, medicine, geography, science, military affairs, diplomacy, national defence, tactics, traditions, customs, sovereignty, patriotism, human rights, sociality, strategy, worldviews, values, and insights on life. Manas serves as an encyclopedia of spiritual knowledge for the Kyrgyz people, an epic that has driven the progress of human history.

If each of the eight volumes of Manas is considered an independent epic, then combined with more miniature epics headed by Yertuxitik and those similar to Muzbulinchak, jointly owned by the Kyrgyz and Kazakh ethnic groups, Gusev Mamay emerges as a towering figure. He sang nearly 30 epics, showcasing his unparalleled talent in "original oral narration and spontaneous creation during performances." His contributions left an indelible mark on history.

With Manas as his magnum opus, Gusev Mamay brought the essence of Kyrgyz culture to the world stage. Under his tireless narration, Manas, one of China's "Three Great Epics," grew to be ten times larger than Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, making Kyrgyz culture renowned worldwide as a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity."

In 1979, Gusev Mamay was honoured by central leaders and celebrated as a "national treasure." That same year, he participated in the Symposium of Folk Singers and Poets of China's Ethnic Minorities and the Fifth Congress of Literary and Artistic Workers of China. He was elected as a member of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and a director of the China Folk Literature and Art Research Association. Later, he served as vice chairman and honorary chairman of the Xinjiang Federation of Literary and Art Circles, executive director of the China Society for Folk Literature and Art, and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Consultative Conference of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He also received special subsidies from the State Council.

Zhong Jingwen, honorary chairman of the China Society for Folk Literature and Art and a professor at Beijing Normal University, praised him highly: "Two thousand years ago, the epic Odyssey by the famous ancient Greek poet Homer was renowned worldwide and handed down from generation to generation. However, Gusev Mamay is now the contemporary 'living Homer.' The epic Manas will also be handed down from generation to generation! Gusev Mamay is a great Manaschi and a pride of humanity!" In 1987, Professor Karl Reichert from the University of Bonn in Germany introduced Gusev Mamay's achievements at an international symposium, where participants unanimously hailed him as a "living Homer."

His artistic talent and exceptional memory—singing the vast Manas with over 250,000 lines without missing a single word—are astonishing and await further research by experts in literature, philosophy, psychology, aesthetics, epic theory, and human brain memory studies. Regardless, Gusev Mamay's performances awakened the spirits of generations, fostering national sentiment and providing tremendous energy for the growth of contemporary ethnic literature.

On August 17, 2013, Halima Mamat Kuramxiyev, a master's degree holder from Fatih University in Turkey, Turkish researcher, and Kyrgyz scholar who led the team compiling the catalogue of Chinese Kirgiz-language publications, Sayitbek Idrissov, chief editor of the Kyrgyzstani magazine "Dawn," and my children visited Gusev Mamay. At 96 years old, he remained remarkably sharp, like a computer free of any virus, retaining every detail. We listened to his discourse, rich with truth and profound meaning. Halima Mamat Kuramxiyev and Sayitbek Idrissov showed their respect by gently kissing his hand and placing it on their foreheads before bowing. The older man accepted their gestures with joy and answered their questions with clarity, as if he were 35 years old, without deviating or altering a word. His wise words, filled with philosophical insights and profound wisdom, drew us into his world.

When the topic of the "Manuscript Manaschi" rumour arose, his response was noble and broad-minded: "No matter what, anyone who works hard and sweats for 'Manas' cannot be a bad person." His indifference to fame and fortune, calm serenity, and noble morality were evident.

We took photos with the older man for remembrance. As if with their grandfather, my children clung to him, kissed his face, and listened attentively as he shared wisdom. In his bedroom, where awards and gifts from various guests adorned a small shelf, we drank tea brewed by his family, feeling as if we were drinking divine tea.

Before leaving, I asked him a question that had always perplexed me, hoping for an answer from the great Manaschi himself.