Noyon Galdama in Written and Oral Traditions of Mongolic Peoples

Introduction. Oirat old-script texts tell us about the prominent historical figure of Noyon Galdma (Kalm., Oir. Һалдма, Һалдмба; Mong. Галдамаа, Галдамбаа), son of Khan Ochirtu-Tsetsen, grandson of Khan Baibagas of the Khoshuts and Khong Tayiji Erdeni-Baatar of Dzungaria. The image and memory of Galdama has been preserved in oral folklore of Mongols. Goals. The article attempts a review of studies to have dealt with Galdama, seeks to analyze the reasons underlying his popularity in Mongolic folklore traditions, and reveal peculiarities of the image characteristic of different genres. Results. The historical figure — the son of Khan Ochirtu-Tsetsen — is widely known in written and oral traditions of Mongolic peoples, e.g., Galdama is mentioned in Ratnabhadra’s Biography of Zaya Pandita and other narratives. Mongolists have been dealing with epic songs of Galdama for over a century already, a total of circa twenty legends about this hero have been recorded. The seventeenth-century Oirat nobleman’s name is nowadays integral to diverse Mongolic cultures, such as Kalmyks and Buryats of Russia, Oirats of Western Mongolia and China’s Xinjiang (Torghuts, Upper Mongols, Olots), as well as Alasha Khoshuts and Ejine Torghuts inhabiting Inner Mongolia (PRC). So, versions of Galdma-related songs number over thirty. Conclusions. The dissemination of folklore texts centered around the renown protector of native territories believed to have been a skilful warrior and chieftain of border detachments is associated with the theme of homeland defense that was most urgent during the lifetime of Noyon Galdama (1635–1667) — when all Mongols faced an increasing threat of Manchu invasion, and the Congress of 1640 developed The Great Code of Laws that proclaimed defense of Mongol-inhabited domains a supreme goal and virtue. Mythologization of Galdama’s image also attests to the significance of his personality in Oirat history, which can be traced in Oirat folklore heritage. 

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