Carrying an epic spirit over centuries

"From undergraduate to doctoral studies, my focus has always been on Manas," he says with a smile.

"My PhD dissertation was entirely about the first excerpt — the same one my great-grandfather sang. It's a heavy topic, but with guidance from Professor Hu Zhenhua, a leading Manas scholar, I successfully completed it. The book is being prepared for publication."

For him, academic research and artistic practice mutually enrich one another.

He says that after more than two decades of performing Manas, each time he sings it, he discovers something new.

"That experience helps me analyze emotion and character with authenticity. And my research, in turn, pushes me creatively. By comparing versions from Kyrgyzstan and beyond, I've found gaps and possibilities — maybe even room for a new-generation hero in future adaptations," he adds.

Today, he can perform continuously for more than eight hours, but endurance is no longer the goal. "What matters most is passing on the spirit my great-grandfather taught me — the soul behind the song," he notes.

In June, after earning his doctorate from Minzu University of China, Tuohenali returned to his hometown of Akqi to nurture young cultural inheritors and dig further into local resources related to Manas.

Now, his days follow what he calls a "three-in-one" rhythm — teaching, promoting and memorizing Manas.