Üliger (Mongolian: үлгэр), tale is the general term given to tales and popular myths of the Mongols (included in Buryats) of north-east Asia. They are an important part of the oral traditions among the Buryats and other Siberian tribes, and among other functions, were used to orally transmit Buddhist birth stories.[1] The tales are significant in Mongolian literature, given its long-standing tradition of passing stories on by word of mouth.
Traditionally, üligers are delivered orally in alliterative verses, often taking the form of couplets or quatrains.[2] Like other epics in oral literature, individual üliger can vary greatly in length and content from one occasion to the next. One famous performer, the Inner Mongolian Muu-ōkin, "was said to be able to recite üliger that lasted for months." Like other epic poets, üliger performers accompanied themselves with an instrument, in this case a four-stringed fiddle.[3]
Subject matteredit
Üligers generally tell the legends of mythological and historical heroes.[2] Common as the villain in the üliger is a monster with several heads, known as the "manggus," whom the hero consistently defeats.[2][4]
Popular üligers include the proverbs attributed to Genghis Khan, and the epics surrounding Khan's life, including the tale about his two white horses. Still recited today by Mongolian singers are üligers based on the story of Hua Guan Suo, one of the warriors from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.[5] Longer myths, such as the Epic of King Gesar, were important vehicles for the transmission of shamanic traditions. Oirad epics relayed in üligers are Jangar, the history of the four Oirad's Victory over the Mongols, Khan Kharangui, Bum Erdene, etc.
The Epic of King Gesar is not only a part of Mongolian folklore but is also engrained in Tibetan and Chinese history. However, given the oral nature of the genre, a large number of variants have always existed, and no canonical text can be given. Despite the age of the tradition dating to the 15th century, the tale was put into Mongolian woodblock print, commissioned by the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty in 1716. In the late 19th/early 20th century a woodblock edition of the story was compiled by a scholarly monk from Lingtsang. Üligers of King Gesar have even been told as far west as the Caspian Sea, reaching Europe with the Tibetan BuddhistKalmyk people.
Chinese and Tibetan literature also underlies the Üliger-iin Dalai (The Ocean of Parables, see also Kathāsaritsāgara), a collection of Buddhist birth stories (including the set of stories "The Wise Man and the Fool") edited in 1837 by O. Kowalewski.[6] There is some scholarly debate as to whether a Chinese[7] or a Tibetan[8] version of "The Wise Man and the Fool" is the direct source for the Mongolian text, but while there are small variations, on the whole the Mongolian version is quite faithful to its originals.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abYoshitake, S. (1928). "A Chapter from the Uliger-Un Dalai". Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies. 5 (1). University of London School of Oriental and African Studies: 81–90. doi:10.1017/S0041977X00130617. JSTOR 607784.
^Pegg, Carole (2001). Mongolian Music, Dance, & Oral Narrative: Performing Diverse Identities. U of Washington P. pp. 57–58. ISBN978-0-295-98112-3.
^Preminger, Alex; Warnke, Frank J.; Hardison, Osborne Bennett Jr. (1975). Princeton encyclopedia of poetry and poetics (2nd ed.). Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. pp. 528. ISBN0-691-06280-3. OCLC 1203178.
^Takakusu, J. (1901). "Tales of the Wise Man and the Fool, in Tibetan and Chinese". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. 33: 447–60. doi:10.1017/s0035869x00028677.
External linksedit
Encyclopædia Britannica
Related bibliographyedit
Heissig, Walther. "Mongolen." Enzyklopädie des Märchens: Handwörterbuch zur historischen und vergleichenden Erzählforschung. Eds. Kurt Ranke and Rolf Wilhelm Brednich. Walter de Gruyter, 1999. 812-23. ISBN978-3-11-015453-5.
Lohia, Sushama. The Mongol Tales of the 32 Wooden Men (γučin qoyar modun kümün-ü üliger). Harrassowitz, 1968.
Popke, Suzanne L. Buryat Uliger: The Adventures of Tolei Mergen. 2005.
April 13, 2024
üliger, mongolian, үлгэр, tale, general, term, given, tales, popular, myths, mongols, included, buryats, north, east, asia, they, important, part, oral, traditions, among, buryats, other, siberian, tribes, among, other, functions, were, used, orally, transmit,. Uliger Mongolian үlger tale is the general term given to tales and popular myths of the Mongols included in Buryats of north east Asia They are an important part of the oral traditions among the Buryats and other Siberian tribes and among other functions were used to orally transmit Buddhist birth stories 1 The tales are significant in Mongolian literature given its long standing tradition of passing stories on by word of mouth Contents 1 Format 2 Subject matter 3 References 4 External links 5 Related bibliographyFormat editTraditionally uligers are delivered orally in alliterative verses often taking the form of couplets or quatrains 2 Like other epics in oral literature individual uliger can vary greatly in length and content from one occasion to the next One famous performer the Inner Mongolian Muu ōkin was said to be able to recite uliger that lasted for months Like other epic poets uliger performers accompanied themselves with an instrument in this case a four stringed fiddle 3 Subject matter editUligers generally tell the legends of mythological and historical heroes 2 Common as the villain in the uliger is a monster with several heads known as the manggus whom the hero consistently defeats 2 4 Popular uligers include the proverbs attributed to Genghis Khan and the epics surrounding Khan s life including the tale about his two white horses Still recited today by Mongolian singers are uligers based on the story of Hua Guan Suo one of the warriors from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms 5 Longer myths such as the Epic of King Gesar were important vehicles for the transmission of shamanic traditions Oirad epics relayed in uligers are Jangar the history of the four Oirad s Victory over the Mongols Khan Kharangui Bum Erdene etc nbsp King GesarThe Epic of King Gesar is not only a part of Mongolian folklore but is also engrained in Tibetan and Chinese history However given the oral nature of the genre a large number of variants have always existed and no canonical text can be given Despite the age of the tradition dating to the 15th century the tale was put into Mongolian woodblock print commissioned by the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty in 1716 In the late 19th early 20th century a woodblock edition of the story was compiled by a scholarly monk from Lingtsang Uligers of King Gesar have even been told as far west as the Caspian Sea reaching Europe with the Tibetan Buddhist Kalmyk people Chinese and Tibetan literature also underlies the Uliger iin Dalai The Ocean of Parables see also Kathasaritsagara a collection of Buddhist birth stories including the set of stories The Wise Man and the Fool edited in 1837 by O Kowalewski 6 There is some scholarly debate as to whether a Chinese 7 or a Tibetan 8 version of The Wise Man and the Fool is the direct source for the Mongolian text but while there are small variations on the whole the Mongolian version is quite faithful to its originals 1 References edit a b Yoshitake S 1928 A Chapter from the Uliger Un Dalai Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies 5 1 University of London School of Oriental and African Studies 81 90 doi 10 1017 S0041977X00130617 JSTOR 607784 a b c Mongolian literature Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved December 31 2008 Pegg Carole 2001 Mongolian Music Dance amp Oral Narrative Performing Diverse Identities U of Washington P pp 57 58 ISBN 978 0 295 98112 3 Preminger Alex Warnke Frank J Hardison Osborne Bennett Jr 1975 Princeton encyclopedia of poetry and poetics 2nd ed Princeton N J Princeton University Press pp 528 ISBN 0 691 06280 3 OCLC 1203178 Heissig Walther 1994 Tracing Some Mongol Oral Motifs in a Chinese Prosimetric Ming Novel of 1478 Asian Folklore Studies 53 2 Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture 227 54 doi 10 2307 1178645 JSTOR 1178645 Kowalewski O 1836 Mongolian Chrestomathy Vol 1 pp 5 13 Laufer Berthold 1907 Skizze der mongolischen Literatur Revue Orientale 8 165 261 Takakusu J 1901 Tales of the Wise Man and the Fool in Tibetan and Chinese Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 33 447 60 doi 10 1017 s0035869x00028677 External links editEncyclopaedia BritannicaRelated bibliography editHeissig Walther Mongolen Enzyklopadie des Marchens Handworterbuch zur historischen und vergleichenden Erzahlforschung Eds Kurt Ranke and Rolf Wilhelm Brednich Walter de Gruyter 1999 812 23 ISBN 978 3 11 015453 5 Lohia Sushama The Mongol Tales of the 32 Wooden Men gucin qoyar modun kumun u uliger Harrassowitz 1968 Popke Suzanne L Buryat Uliger The Adventures of Tolei Mergen 2005 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Uliger amp oldid 1183327755, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
