Higher Hierarchs of Tibetan Buddhism in Early Song-Shas of Mongolian-Speaking Peoples

Abstract

This paper continues the exploration of early song records from Mongolian-speaking peoples (Khalka Mongols, Oirat, Kalmyks, Buryats). Introducing song-shas into scholarly discourse is of significant interest for studying the broader issue of the development of genre systems within Mongolian song folklore. The examination of these song-shas is also crucial for reconstructing the historical evolution of Buddhism among the Mongols. For the first time, this article analyzes the representations of the higher hierarchs of Tibetan Buddhism (Tsongkhapa, Dalai Lama, Panchen Lama) based on early records of song folklore preserved in archives in Saint Petersburg, a substantial portion of which has been published by the author in the collection “Kalmyk Folk Songs and Melodies of the 19th Century” (2015) and in the monograph “Kalmyk Folk Songs and Melodies from the 19th to Early 20th Century: Research and Materials” (2023). Additional materials for studying the hierarchs of Tibet and their depictions include folklore (legends, tales, epics), lexicographic, historical, and ethnographic sources, as well as translations of Buddhist hymns (rapsals). Through an analysis of the song texts, the author concludes that the examined early song-shas provide evidence that complements and expands knowledge about the higher hierarchs of Tibetan Buddhism, who have had a significant impact on Buddhism among the Mongols.

Keywords

• song-shas
• buddhist hymns
• mongolian-speaking peoples
• cult of higher hierarchs of tibetan buddhism