Mongolian Epic Poetry

The book studies Mongolian epic poetry on the basis of Mongolian texts and Western literary theory.

The author presents a coherent aesthetic system of heroic epic, gives examples of the sacred, primitive, and paradigmatic characteristics of ancient Mongolian epic, and then shows how the exploits of heroes unfold in infinite time and space. He describes the divinity and humanity of the white heroes as an embodiment of their group spirit. Along with the black Mongol heroes, he presents their divinely wise steeds, prized by Mongol nomads, as the embodiment of a poetics of evil. In particular, the book explores the complex relationship between humans and nature in Mongolian epics and analyzes the influence of social change on the growth, development, and decline of epic. It also examines imagery, prosody, and style, focusing on lyrical factors and the formulaic units of epic composition.

The book will be valuable to scholars and graduate students of Asian literature, folklore, and anthropology.

B. Bürinbeki is a poet, folklorist and literary critic. He focuses on folkloristics and Mongolian literature, with oral traditions in particular.