The Kyrgyz culture has been greatly influenced by the nomadic heritage. It is reflected in the way a household was run, in customs, and rites. People decorated their homes with items that were both beautiful and practical. The masterpiece of folk creation is the Kyrgyz tent (yurta), which was easy to assemble and transport from place to place.

The Kyrgyz have a rich tradition of oral culture. Much of Kyrgyz history has been learned from the epic story Manas, a poetic legend transmitted orally through generations and written down in the nineteenth century. The epos is named after a legendary Kyrgyz warrior who led his people in heroic battle for freedom against invaders. The story reflects the people's dream for justice and a better life. Moreover, the saga gives an insight into all aspects of traditional life of the Kyrgyz: their origin, daily activity, customs, morals, aesthetics, concepts of' nature, general knowledge, and the language. The Manas epos is written in verse and contains 500 thousand lines of poetry. Thus it is longer than the Makhabharata, or the Iliad and the Odyssey combined. In 1995, Kyrgyzstan celebrated the 1,000th anniversary of the epic work, which was recognised by the UNESCO as one of the year's most significant world cultural events.