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Jung Kwanghun Geumgang University, 522, Sangwol-ro, Nonsan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea

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Kim Hyunju Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, 81, Oedae-ro, Mohyeon-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

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This paper compares narrative modification in the Mongolian heroic epic The Epic of Geser with that of the Buddhist Mulian story. The Mulian story, in which the protagonist saves his mother from the underworld gained widespread popularity in its time. Mulian Bianwen from the Tang dynasty, presents the scenes from the story in a very dramatic manner. The Mongolian Geser epic uses this motif but adapts the story to fit the characteristics of a heroic epic for nomadic people. Heroic epics must contain motifs that depict the image of their protagonist to present a collection of exemplary characters. To create a complete heroic epic, the story of Geser absorbed a religious story from another culture that was very popular at the time. In the present study, five scenes common to The Epic of Geser and the Mulian story are analysed to investigate how the original Buddhist story became a part of the heroic epic. This analysis considers the ways in which identical story motifs can be used for the different purposes according to the nature of the literary work.

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  • Benedek PÉRI (Eötvös Loránd University)
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  • István VÁSÁRY(Eötvös Loránd University)
  • Yutaka YOSHIDA (Kyoto University)
  • Peter ZIEME (Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities)

 

Dr. Gábor Kósa
Editor-in-Chief
Institute of East Asian Studies
Eötvös Loránd University
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kosa.gabor@btk.elte.hu

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Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Language English
Size B5
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1950
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ISSN 0001-6446 (Print)
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