"Manas" as performed by Sagymbay and Sayakbay
"Manas" as performed by Sagymbay and Sayakbay is recorded in full. This is the distinguishing feature of both from other storytellers, as all other known and living storytellers currently perform only excerpts of "Manas," primarily serving as performers of the second and third parts of the trilogy "Semetey" and "Seitek." Such are Togolok Moldo, Akmat, Shapak, Janibai, Moldobasan. Among contemporary storytellers, only Sayakbay stands out in that his performance contains the content of the entire trilogy as a whole.
From the comparison of the plots of the poems by Sagymbay and Sayakbay, it is evident that some episodes and events are narrated in both versions, while others are only in one.
Among the battle episodes, both manaschi include: "The Great Campaign," Manas's war with the Kalmyks in Altai, the war with the Chinese khan Alooke, the war with the Afghan khan Shoruk, and the campaign of Koshoy to Kashgar.
Sagymbay has campaigns of Manas to Central Asia, to the north and to the west, wars with Aigankhan, with the Afghan khan Tyulkü, with the Manchurian khan Neskara, and the giant Nykur, the capture of the caravan of Jolo.
Sayakbay has and Sagymbay lacks: two campaigns of Alooke before the birth of Manas, the expedition of the eight sons of Kara-khan against the Chinese, two campaigns of the troops of Esenkhan led by Jolo, and then, with Neskara against Manas, the attack of Chubak on Bukhara, the battle with the khan Kerke and the subjugation of Kokche.
Among the everyday events, both manaschi have: the birth and childhood of Manas, the arrival of Alambet, the marriage to Kanykay, the conspiracy of the khans, the farewell of Kanykay, the construction of the mausoleum of Manas.
Sagymbay has and Sayakbay lacks: the mourning for Koketey, the conflict with the kozkomans, the arrival of Bai, the sending of Adzhibai to Mecca, the pilgrimage of Baidzhigit, the arrival of Chinese spies-rich men, the birth of Semetey, the pilgrimage of Manas to Mecca.
Sayakbay has and Sagymbay lacks the searches for Manas before his birth, the abduction of Jarg-Manas, the journey of Manas to Koshoy, the searches and finding of Bakai, Adzhibai, Yrchyy-ula, Shyuty, the departure of Manas from his father and the acquisition of the horse Akkula, the finding of swords, a camel and a puppy, the marriage of Bakai, the story of Akbalty and Chubak, the preparation of the Chinese for the fight against Manas.
In addition to this, Sagymbay has a number of fantastical tales, based on myths, which are not present in Sayakbay.
"Manas": the language and style of the epic