Epic of King Geser
Also known as: Epic of King Gesar, Gesar of Ling, Geser Khan, King Gesar Epic
A vast oral epic about King Geser of Ling, a divinely aided warrior whose campaigns against demon-kings and hostile realms restore order and protect the faithful across the Tibetan-Mongolian borderlands.
Description
The Epic of King Geser (Gesar) is a living oral tradition recounting the deeds of a mythic warrior-king of Ling. Born under auspicious signs and endowed with divine aid, Geser subdues demon-kings, defeats rival polities such as Hor, rescues his abducted queen, and pacifies chaotic frontiers. Performers narrate and sing episodes—often over many days—drawing on a flexible repertoire transmitted by memory, apprenticeship, and visionary inspiration. The cycle integrates Buddhist and indigenous elements, framing warfare as a sacral restoration of order and compassion. Regional recensions in Tibetan, Mongolian, and Buryat communities present different episode orders, names, and emphases. Some versions feature extended cosmological preludes, while others foreground martial exploits or moral exempla. Modern compilations, field recordings, and partial translations document a tradition still evolving with each performer’s voice.
Historiography
The epic survives primarily through oral performance by specialist bards, with Tibetan woodblock prints and Mongolian/Buryat manuscripts and notations appearing relatively late. Nineteenth- and twentieth-century collectors transcribed episodes, producing localized redactions that reflect performance choices rather than a single archetype. Scholarly debates concern origins (Tibetan vs. pan–Inner Asian), Buddhist overlays, and the relationship among Tibetan, Mongolian, and Buryat branches. Contemporary recordings and ethnographies highlight ongoing creativity and ritual dimensions in performance.
Date Notes
An orally performed epic with numerous Tibetan, Mongolian, and Buryat recensions; written block-prints and manuscripts appear late and vary widely.
Archetypes
Major Characters
- King Geser
- Brugmo
- Trothung
- Lingtsang
- Namtose
Myths
- The Miraculous Birth of Geser
- The Taming of the Wild Lands
- Battles against Demons and Ogres
- The Rescue of the Abducted Wife
- The Pacification of Enemy Kingdoms
Facts
- A living oral epic performed across Tibetan, Mongolian, and Buryat regions.
- Episodes are improvised within traditional frameworks; no single fixed master text exists.
- Gesar is often called Joru in youth before his enthronement.
- The rescue of Queen Brugmo and the war with Hor are central narrative arcs.
- Performances may last days and combine chant, narrative, and song.
- Many recensions integrate Buddhist ethics with older heroic motifs.
- The hero’s horse Kyang Go Karka functions as a sacred, semi-divine helper.
- Late woodblock prints and manuscripts preserve localized, selective sequences.
- Field recordings in the 20th century captured master bards and stabilized variants.
- Scholarly debate continues over origins and pathways of diffusion across Inner Asia.