The name “40 Tribes” is a reference to the Epic of Manas, the traditional poem that describes the origin of the Kyrgyz people. As the story goes, the warrior and now national hero, Manas, united the original forty tribes who occupied the region to defend their ancestral homeland against Chinese and Mongol invasion. The tale is a critical part of Kyrgyz ethnic identity and has been recited for centuries by generations of nomadic families. Today, a 40-ray sun representing the original 40 Tribes is the central emblem of the Kyrgyz national flag, and also our logo.