Oirat Dzhangarchi Perlyan Rampil and his Repertoire

Introduction. The relevance of this study stems from the need to examine the storytelling tradition of the Oirat people of Xinjiang using the results of the research by Chinese Dzhangar scholars published in the Oirat and Old Mongolian scripts, which represent valuable information, but is currently inaccessible to Russian scholars. The aim of this article is to examine the biography and epic legacy of Perlian Rampil, an outstanding rhapsodist of the Xinjiang Oirat epic tradition, “Dzhangar.” The novelty of this work lies in its characterization of the storytelling tradition of the Xinjiang Oirat version of “Dzhangar,” and the analysis of the biographical information and the epic repertoire of Oirat Dzhangarchi Rampil. The research material includes the scholarly works of the Chinese and Russian researchers on the Dzhangar, as well as the published texts of the Xinjiang Oirat version of the Dzhangar in the Oirat script called “todo bichig” (“clear writing”). Results. One of the prominent representatives of the Khobuksar storytelling tradition is the talented Dzhangarchi Perlian Rampil, who learned epic songs from various teachers—Khulbar Bair, Köke Günzyan, and Ikrin Al. Rampil’s epic songs were first recorded in 1977–1978 by scholars from Inner Mongolia University. Subsequent recordings of the songs were conducted by various researchers between 1980 and 1982. The most complete repertoire of the Dzhangarchi was recorded in 1991 by D. Taia, who recorded seventeen chapters of the “Dzhangar.” The epic legacy of the outstanding Oirat Dzhangarchi, Perlin Rampil, represents a valuable example of artistic creation and testifies to the high degree of preservation and significance of the “Dzhangar” epic in the culture of the Oirat people of Xinjiang. A system of knowledge and skill transmission ensured the continuity of the tradition, and the diversity of repertoires and outstanding performers testify to the richness and vitality of the Oirat epic heritage. The Khobuksar Mongol Autonomous Region, as a center of storytelling, played a key role in the preservation and development of the epic, demonstrating its cultural value and significance for the entire Oirat people.

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