In Henan Province, the heart of Central China, an enthralling new photo exhibition has commenced as part of the celebrated China Photography Festival. Opening its doors on Sunday, this captivating exhibition takes its inspiration from the Kirgiz Epic of Manas, a significant piece of ancient intangible cultural heritage. The display seamlessly intertwines an enlightening introduction to this impressive ancient work with stunning photographic depictions of the cultural inheritors from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The Epic of Manas, with its astounding count of over 230,000 lines, ranks as one of the world’s longest epic poems, outstretching even Homer’s Odyssey by a staggering eighteen-fold. The epic narrative encompasses eight diverse episodes that intricately weave the story of eight generations of the family of the hero Manas. This monumental saga encompasses 20 million words in the Kirgiz language, underlining its cultural significance and historical depth.
This impressive epic poem encapsulates the richness of the Kirgiz ethnic group’s heritage, comprising of an array of elements like myths, folktales, customs, and idioms. This breadth and depth of content have rightfully earned the Epic of Manas the reputation of being an “encyclopedia” of Kirgiz ethnic culture, preserving its diverse facets for future generations. Remarkably, this comprehensive epic has been orally transmitted since as early as the 16th century, underscoring its crucial role in preserving the cultural identity of the Kirgiz ethnic group. However, the wealth of content contained within this epic means that performing it is an arduous task that requires an enormous amount of time.
Visitors to the photo exhibition will be treated to a unique collection of photographs that allow viewers to embark on a journey of tranquility and introspection. Early attendees to the exhibition have commented on the peaceful ambiance the exhibition fosters, proving it to be more than a mere display of cultural history and photographic excellence. Rather, the exhibition provides an immersive experience that allows visitors to tap into a sense of inner peace while simultaneously gaining insights into a rich cultural heritage.
In summary, this photo exhibition offers a fascinating fusion of ancient cultural heritage and contemporary artistry. It provides an illuminating exploration of the Kirgiz ethnic group’s cultural richness, encapsulated in the Epic of Manas, while also paying homage to the cultural inheritors from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region through captivating photography.
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