Adil Zhumaturdu (Adili Jumatuerdi) comes from Kirghiz, born in Akqi County, Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. He received his Ph.D. in Philology from Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (GSCASS) in July 2004. His research focuses on the oral epic tradition of Turkic people, especially the Kirghiz epic Manas. He has conducted long-term field work on Kirghiz oral tradition, made an intensive study on singer of epic Manas during his stay in Xinjiang, and used to be vice chairman of Literature and Art Association of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region from 1997 to 2004 and as well as Folk Literature & Arts Society of Xinjiang from 1995 to 2004. He is senior research fellow of Institute of Ethnic Literature, CASS; director of Research division of Northern Ethnic Literature and professor of GSCASS. He is author of (1)Research on Epic Manas Singer(in Chinese 2006);(2) Critical Biography of Famous Manaschi Jusup Mamay (in Chinese 2002, in Kirghiz 2007); (3) On-and-spot Report to Jusup Mamay's Family (in Chinese 2003); (4) Calling for Manas (in Kirghiz, collection of research essays 2005). Recent Essays: "Epic Formula of Manas and Singer's Formulaic Composition" (2006); "Analytical Report of Field Investigation on Epic Manas Singers in Akqi County in the 20th Century in Xinjiang" (2006); "A Comparative Study on Manaschi and Jianggerchi" (2005); "Manaschi's Image as Shaman" (2004); "The Performance of Manaschi and the Dramatic Feature of Manas" (2005); "A Comparative Study in Origin Epic 'Er Toshtuk'" (2003); "Persian Majmu Atut-Tabarih and Epic Manas in the 16th Century" (2003).

• Research Field: Turkic heoric epic; the Kirghiz epic Manas; oral tradition; folklore
• Webpage URL: CELN