Xinjiang Oirat Storytellers: Keepers of the Jangar Epic Tradition

Abstract

Introduction. Despite quite a number of Jangar-related issues have been duly studied, questions pertaining to existence, continuity (transmission) and preservation of the Xinjiang Oirat epic tradition, biographies of jangarchis and their repertoires remain somewhat insufficiently answered by Russia-based folklorists and, thus, seem as relevant enough. Goals. The article attempts an academic insight into the storytelling tradition of Xinjiang Oirat jangarchis, considers geographical borders of the epic, determines the role of a storyteller as bearer, keeper and performer of the epic heritage inherent to China’s Oirats. Materials and methods. The descriptive and comparative methods prove most instrumental in exploring the storytelling tradition of Xinjiang Oirats. The narratives examined are related editions in Oirat (Clear Script), Mongolian, and Kalmyk. Conclusions. Analysis of the Xinjiang Oirat storytelling tradition shows that the Jangar Epic was widely present in all ethnic groups of Xinjiang Oirats — the Torghut, Olet, Tsakhar, Khoshut, Zakhchins, and Uryankhai — throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, each population to have had renown jangarchis of their own with extensive repertoires numbering at least ten (and more) Jangar epic songs. The identified lines and patterns of transmission were clan-oriented. So, many jangarchis learnt epic narratives from storytellers of their clan — fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and brothers. The epic tradition was also contributed to by talented female storytellers who — having been unable to participate in meetings and contests since women were traditionally banned from epic storytelling — would recite texts in the family circle and teach storytelling to their children and grandchildren. In mid-to-late 20th century, the Xinjiang Oirat oral epic tradition started being paralleled by a written one.