One of the bravest heroes of Manchu legendry is Balu Ulu. Here, he aims his final arrow at the flame-spewing head of the great beast that had imprisioned the Sable God.

The Manchu language, altogether different from and unrelated to Chinese, is an Altaic language that sadly is nearly (if not yet completely) extinct. With the loss of the language there is a concomitant loss in the oral transmission of these peoples' traditional tales. Fortunately, a significant number have been preserved by effective collecting among the Manchurians and the Mongolians. The collecting continues, although virtually all Manchurian folktales are now to be found in Chinese, with very few in Mongolian. Still, much that is Manchu, even much of the individual Manchu clans and tribes, shows through, giving us a rare glimpse into what this fascinating society once was.

The inhabitants of modern Manchuria lead industrialized and urbanized lives. But traditionally they have been regarded as great hunters. Many Manchurian folktales and a number of other folk arts, especially dance, celebrate this subject. The region is also a source of expensive furs, especially sable, which, together with ginseng, are important regional exports.

In Manchurian folklore, great heroes often are great hunters. Some are very famous, such as Hailibu and Havanchin. One of the best-known tales, in which the hunter becomes the savior of his people, is the story of Ussuri-khan, the leader of the Ussuri-hala.