Animal Tales of China-Based Oirats: a Case Study of The White-Collared Sparrow (Betege caγān boqširγo) Tale Collection
https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2020-1-10-21
Abstract
Oirat folklore traditions include typologically different tales that remain vastly understudied. Folklore materials of Xinjiang Oirats used to be printed in Clear Script type up to the late 1980s, but currently those are primarily published in Classical Mongolian, which makes it difficult for Russian folklorists to study them. So, the paper attempts an insight into one folklore genre of Xinjiang Oirats — animal tales. Goals. The article classifies animal tales of XUAR-based Oirats (China) in accordance with the universally accepted comparative approach. Materials. The work examines The White-Collared Sparrow (Betege caγān boqširγo) animal tale collection issued by Xinjiang People’s Publishing House in 1981. Results. The study identifies 24 (of 31) plots in standard world classification systems of folklore and mythological motifs, while 7 samples prove essentially local. Some plots are referred to as etiological myths.
Keywords
Supporting agencies: The reported study was funded by RFBR and CASS according to the research project No. 19-512-93002.
About the Authors
Danara V. Ubushieva
Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS
Russian Federation
Cand. Sc. (Philology), Senior Research Associate
Russian Federation
Cand. Sc. (Philology), Senior Research Associate
D. Danbuerjiafu
Institute of Ethnic Literature, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
China
Professor
China
Professor
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Review
For citations:
Ubushieva D.V., Danbuerjiafu D. Animal Tales of China-Based Oirats: a Case Study of The White-Collared Sparrow (Betege caγān boqširγo) Tale Collection. Mongolian Studies. 2020;12(1):10-21. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2020-1-10-21
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