Epic Repertoire of Jangarchi Teltya Lidzhiev: Plot Structures Reviewed

Abstract

Introduction. Exploration of plots from late epic narratives is an urgent task of contemporary Jangar studies. A total of twelve epic texts (audiotapes) recorded by N. Bitkeev from jangarchi T. Lidzhiev in 1970 were transcribed for comprehensive insights into the mid-to-late epic-telling tradition. Goals. The article aims at considering plot structures of two narratives recorded from jangarchi Teltya Lidzhiev and introducing the unpublished texts into scientific circulation. Materials. The explored epic narratives are as follows: The Song of How Jangar [Bogdo] Came to Grips with Altan Cheeji; The Song of How Alya Monkhlya, the Son of Duta, Raided Eighteen Thousand Blood Red Horses from Jangar [Bogdo]. Results. The narratives are not interconnected, each being an independent poem manifesting one certain plot ‘move’. The common elements are characters, localization of events in space and time, a certain epic era and domain ruled by its Khan. The Song of How Jangar [Bogdo] Came to Grips with Altan Cheeji is distinguished by that it contains no prologue which results from the plot proper deals with the era to have preceded the emergence of Bumba and Jangar’s enthronement. As compared to texts of Eelyan Ovla, Teltya Lidzhiev’s songs are notably reduced. However, despite the decreased number of poetic lines, the epic plot structure consisting of separate complete episodes is preserved in full.

Keywords

• epic of jangar
• tradition
• epic repertoire
• jangarchi
• song
• text
• plot
• motif
• hero