Article

Name: On common plot aspects of Altai and Mongol-Oirat epics

Authors: T. M. Sadalova, T. N. Pashtakova

Kalmyk State University named after B. B. Gorodovikov, Elista, Russia; S. S. Surazakov Scientific-Research Institute of Altaic Studies, Gorno-Altaisk, Russia; National Museum of the Altai Republic named after A. V. Anokhin, Gorno-Altaisk, Russia

In the section Эпосоведение

Abstract:

This paper presents a comparative study of the Altai and Mongol-Oirat epics. The study is relevant due to its contribution to historical and typological studies of epics, as well as the increasing interest of Turkic-Mongol peoples in preserving their ethnocultural identity. The primary objective was to identify common plotlines, mo-tifs, and images associated with epic characters. Included in the study resources are the Altai heroic tale “Kan-Altyn,” as narrated by storyteller T. A. Chachiyakov, and the Mongol-Oirat tales “Khan-Kharanguy” and “Geser.” A comparative analysis of “Kan-Altyn” and “Khan-Kharanguy” was conducted. In addition, the authors investigated how the image of the hero Geser from the Oirat-Mongol epic is presented in Altai mythology and epic poetry. By focusing on the under-researched epic literature of the Altai and Oirat Mongols, this work introduces a unique perspective to the field of comparative studies involving Turkic and Mongol cultures. The analysis uncovered universal motifs such as the miraculous birth of a hero, battles with mythological monsters, matchmaking rituals, and the establishment of a world order. The key finding of the study is that, despite a shared historical and cultural context, the Mongol-Oirat texts reflect Buddhist influences. In contrast, the Altai narratives preserve a more archaic mythological framework rooted in ancient beliefs. The authors suggest that further comparative analyses of a broader range of epic texts within these traditions would be promising for future research.

Keywords: Mongol-Oirat epic, Altai tales, archaic origins, myths, plot, imagery, comparative analysis, storytellers, Kan-Altyn, Khan-Kharanguy, Geser

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