Oriental Studies (May 2018)
‘Khar ϒalzn Mӧrtӓ Khadr Khar Avγin Khan Sӧnӓk’ (Khadyr Khara Avgi Khan Senaki Who Rides a Black Horse with a Star): Studies of the Kalmyk Heroic Tale Recorded from Sandzhi Butaev Revisited
Abstract
The article studies the Kalmyk heroic tale Khar ϒalzn Mӧrtӓ Khadr Khar Avγin Khan Sӧnӓk (Khadyr Khara Avgi Khan Senaki Who Rides a Black Horse with a Star) recorded by N. Ts. Bitkeev from the talented Kalmyk taleteller Sandzhi Butaev in 1974. Khadyr Khara Avgi Khan Senaki Who Rides a Black Horse with a Star is distinguished through its artistic perfection, depth of content, archaic motifs, style and poetic formulas, as well as the significant size of the fairy tale. It terms of plot and composition, the fairy tale consists of twelve structural elements. The main character is Khadyr Khara Avgi Khan Senaki who manifests himself as a miraculously born hero (Mong. baatar) with all heroic qualities required, namely: strength, courage, agility, the magic ability to turn into different creatures, and other 'ninety nine erdems' (Kalm. 'skills'). Constituent elements play a significant role in the depiction of the hero's image: his marvelous horse, weapons and other miraculous objects considered to be subordinate and secondary in relation to the physical strength of the hero. The theme of the hero's matchmaking proves an exclusively artistic device, since it has a sufficiently developed and sequential scheme, both in the heroic tale and in the heroic epic of Jangar: the hero arrives in the country of his supposed bride, turns into a lousy boy, encounters members of the khan's retinue, gets summoned to appear in the khan's court to be found innocent by the latter, comes to grips with a rivalling fiance, participates in three competitions, marries the khan’s daughter, receives a dowry, and returns to his native nomadic territory. The three competitions - rifle shooting, wrestling, and the delivery of three red apples (in classic texts - horseracing, archery, wrestling) - constitute a significant element in the structure of the heroic tale for there are many contenders, and only the strongest one to have coped with all the tasks must win. The news about a devastation of the hero’s nomadic territory by mangas (Kalm. 'demons') invaders gives another way to the narrative's development - Khadyr Khara Avgi Khan Senaki’s military expedition to the country of Usun Shara. The hero crushes the mangases, delivers his parents and enslaved people from captivity, bringing them back to their ancestral lands. In the finale of the heroic tale Sandzhi Butaev uses formulas of the feast which introduce the narrator into the circle of characters, depicting him as a participant of the narrated events. The place where the events took place is defined by the narrator as a border territory between the worlds of the dead and the living. Thus, the storyteller reappears among his listeners after having crossed the border. And the very fact is supposed to guarantee the veracity of the narrated tale. Variability, unreality of fairy-tale happiness for human beings inhabiting the material world are contrasted with the well-being of fairy-tale heroes. A peculiar ending also serves as a means to somewhat discharge the intense attention of listeners. The final formulas constitute the concluding stage of the hero's actions - from his crossing the border between the worlds of the living and the dead, subsequent heroic deeds, to his return to the native nomadic territories and, thus, to the real world. Khadyr Khara Avgi Khan Senaki Baatar acts as a 'guardian of the hearth and protector of the clan/tribe, heir and master of myriad herds and vast lands (mountains, rivers) of his father, he who multiplies this heritage (receiving a dowry), destroys enemies (mangases, rivalling fiances)', and returns his enslaved people to their nomadic areas.
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