THE COLLECTING HISTORY OF THE EPIC "MANAS" BY PEOPLE’S ORALLY TRADITION BACKGROUND

This article analyzes the collection of information about the Manas epic, beginning with Oriental scholars and ending with the statements of modern scientists-manasologists. In detailed form, the author made an attempt to analyze in detail the history of the collection of the Kyrgyz epic, which dates back to the 15th-16th centuries, when the first recorded episodes from the epic Manas appeared in Farsi. Further he mentions the names of outstanding scientists Chokan Valikhanov and academician V.V. Radlov, thanks to the study of which the acquaintance of the learned world with the epic has received an active character since the beginning of the second half of the XIX century.