Tibetan hero epic "Biography of King Gesa'er"

General Overview

Epic of King Gesar is a Tibetan heroic epic presented in the form of narration and singing. Its Tibetan names are Jiawugesa'ertena and Gesa'er'azhong. This epic prevails in Tibetan-inhabited areas of Xizang, Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan, and also circulates among parts of the Tu and Naxi ethnic groups.

There are 60 to 70 Tibetan manuscript versions of the work, containing more than one million lines of verses. It has been translated into many foreign languages, and scholars generally believe it took shape in the 11th century.

Main Content and Plot

The epic tells that King Gesar was the incarnation of a heavenly deity. He was capable of summoning wind and rain, subduing demons and eliminating disasters for the people. Renowned for extraordinary bravery and power, he was hailed as the Mighty Lion King.

Apart from depicting King Gesar’s heroic deeds and grand war scenes, the work also records the intricate ethnic relations and arduous process of ethnic unity in ancient times, embodying the aspirations and noble ideals of the Tibetan people.

Cultural and Academic Value

As an exceptional literary masterpiece, the epic boasts profound academic significance. It is regarded as an encyclopedia of ancient Tibetan society and represents the pinnacle of ancient Tibetan culture, holding a pivotal status in the research of Tibetan culture.

Inheritance and Development

Traditional Inheritance Mode

In old times, the epic was mainly passed down orally by folk minstrels named Zhongken (Tibetan balladeers). To this day, all its variants have not been fully compiled and collated. Judging from hundreds of existing handwritten and woodblock-printed copies (excluding rare editions), it is recognized as the world’s longest epic.

Modern Collation, Publication and Adaptation

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, a large number of Tibetan original texts, Chinese translations, research documents and collected papers on Epic of King Gesar have been systematically sorted out and published. Meanwhile, the epic has been adapted into stage operas, TV dramas and other artistic works for wider dissemination.