Mongol epic poetry

Mongol epic poetry is called *tuuli* in the Mongolian language. It forms a major part of the country's oral literature. The best-known examples are the *Jangar* and the *Geser*. Performers commonly sing these epics while playing instruments like the Morin khuur (a horse-head fiddle) and the Tovshuur (a lute). The stories typically cover Mongolian history, portray ideal worlds and heroic figures, and describe the conquest of new territories. In 2009, UNESCO added Mongol epic poetry to its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

For centuries, these epics were not written down, remaining purely oral until the 18th century. Although oral transmission continues, written versions now exist, and some performers enhance their recitations by reading these texts. The *Geser* epic was transmitted orally among the Mongols long before it was ever written down; its first Mongolian edition appeared in the 18th century, and it was later adapted into a distinctly Mongol form. The *Jangar* took its current shape among the Kalmyks and was first recorded in writing in the 19th century. During World War II, the Soviet government promoted the *Geser* to encourage patriotism among the Buryats. But in the years after the war until Stalin’s death in 1953, the epic tradition was denounced as “feudal” and anti-Russian. Under the Mongolian People’s Republic, traditional culture was suppressed, and rapid globalization, urbanization, and modernization further eroded public interest in epics. Fewer skilled singers emerged, and performances became rarer. To reverse this decline, the Mongolian government adopted the National Safeguarding Plan of the Mongolian Epic in 2011. It then partnered with NGOs to organize epic-singing competitions, award singers with recognition and financial prizes, and raise awareness by featuring the tradition in modern media.

Chinese scholars generally identify three main “epic centers” for Mongol epics within China, each with its own distinct tradition. The Bargu Epic Center belongs to the Bargu Mongols of northeastern Inner Mongolia. Its epics are very short, focusing on herdsmen or hunters battling monsters, and are passed down by amateurs—there are no professional singers here. The Oirat Epic Center, associated with the Oirat and Chahar Mongols, includes the *Epic of Jangar*.