Oral Tales of Mongol Bards

Uuγanbayar (1930-2004) was born and grew up in Sibartai Sumu of Baγarin West Banner. In 1953, he learned to recite one episode of “The Holy Geser” from a herdsman nicknamed Old Quluγar while they were tending their cattle. At that time, Old Quluγar was in his sixties. He knew many tales, and Uuγanbayar enjoyed hearing them. Uuγanbayar admits that he did not frequently perform the episode of Geser epic he had learned from Old Quluγar and that it might contain mistakes. He adds that orally transmitted folk tales also found their way into the epic. Uuγanbayar also recounts legends associated with Geser, which are still a living tradition in his native Sibartai Sumu. He relates how the local people built a temple dedicated to Geser and how they make offerings there every year on the 24th day of the 6th lunar month. In his account, Uuɣanbayar does not mention that he performed the tale Tabun ökin ariɣun saɣurin-i bayiɣuluɣsan šastir “The Story of how Five Maidens Obtained a Noble Position”, which is part of the collection.