ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jla.2025.06.005
Overview of Horqin Mongolian Mangasin Ulger and Its Performance Taboos
Tenghe Bao
National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14201, Mongolia.
*Corresponding author: Tenghe Bao
Published: July 18,2025
Abstract
Mangasin Ulger is locally known as the Horqin heroic epic in the Horqin region. In Chinese academia, Mangasin Ulger is widely regarded as a form of Mongolian epic poetry and is currently in a post-endangered revival phase. Accompanied by the ancient Mongolian instrument Tsoor khuur,a traditional bowed instrument, its performances feature exclusively sung narration without spoken dialogue. Linguistically, it is distinguished by its use of regional dialects and archaic Mongolian, reflecting its literary and cultural uniqueness. Musically, it features nine distinct melodic frameworks, Mongolian call “aya”. a hallmark of its unique artistic identity. Mangasin Ulger is an art form deeply rooted in oral tradition, characterized by its strong reliance on verbal transmission. In the Horqin region, Mangasin Ulger has integrated elements of Buddhist and shamanic cultures, thus acquiring social functions such as invoking blessings and warding off disasters, and giving rise to a series of performance taboos. This paper outlines its characteristics and expressive forms, analyzing its performance functions, narrative taboos, and religious connotations in folk traditions. The research methodology combines documentary analysis with field interviews of Tsoorch, Mongolian epic performers. The study aims to reveal the features and value of this art form—which integrates literature and music—across different stages of societal development.
Keywords
Mangasin Ulger; Mongolian epic; Mongolian music; Mongolian literature
References
Boteletu, & Hasibateer. (2012). Mengguzu yingxiong shishi yinyue yanjiu [A study on the music of Mongolian heroic epics]. China Social Sciences Press.
Chen, G. (2003). Manggusi gushilun [On the story of Mangas]. Beijing Normal University Press.
From the author’s interview with Jin Gang, dated January 9, 2025, at Jin Gang’s home in Horqin Left Rear Banner, Inner Mongolia.
Jin, G. (2025, January 9). Personal interview [Unpublished raw data].
Li, J. (2021). The rheological tradition—A research on oral transmission in the reconstruction of Horqin heroic epic music [PhD thesis, Inner Mongolia University].
Tong, Z. (2007). Burenchugula “Baodi galiba han” yinyue yanjiu [A study on the music of Burentsuglaa’s Bodigalab Khan] [Master's thesis, Inner Mongolia Normal University].
Ulaanjee. (2017). Seerish: Historical monument, bridge of generations. The Art of Studying Seerish.
Wulanjie. (1998). Mengguzu yinyueshi [A history of Mongolian music]. Inner Mongolia People’s Publishing House.
How to cite this paper
Overview of Horqin Mongolian Mangasin Ulger and Its Performance Taboos
How to cite this paper: Tenghe Bao. (2025). Overview of Horqin Mongolian Mangasin Ulger and Its Performance Taboos. Journal of Literature Advances, 2(1), 25-29.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jla.2025.06.005