The image of Erlik-Biy in Altai folklore

Abstract

The article considers the folklore image of Erlik-Biy, which is common in Altai myths, fairy tales and epics. The purpose of the study is a comparative study in the Altai folklore genres of the image of the mythological character Erlik-Biy in comparison with the divine pantheon of the Turkic-Mongolian peoples. In this regard, the task is being solved: elucidation of changes in the image of Erlik in texts of one genre and in other genres. The research material in the article is research, mythological dictionaries, publications of folklore texts. The research method was a comprehensive study of all available materials (research, textual, facts) related to the topic of our article, as well as the comparative method that we used in the analysis of folklore plots. The relevance of the article is expressed in the fact that it clarifies in detail the common and different features in the characterization of the Erlik-Biy character in myths, fairy tales and epics, that is, changes in the role and content of the same image within the framework of one folklore tradition are revealed. In comparisons with the pantheon of Buddhist deities, possible transformations of the character are observed, when the “overthrown” can enter the bosom of the deities. So, a similar analysis can be carried out with other characters who actively figure in folklore. The scholarly novelty of the article lies in the fact that the study of the development of the image of the Altai mythological character Erlik-Biy in comparison with the Turkic-Mongolian texts has not yet been the subject of independent research, but this problem is extremely important for a complete understanding of the peculiar changes of this image within the folklore system of one people, and also expands its interpretation in comparison with folklore material other peoples. In the perspective of research, this problem is necessary for a complete understanding of the Altai folklore system of deities and their opponents in comparison with a wide range of similar mythological characters in the folklore of other peoples.

Acknowledgements: The research was carried out at the expense of a grant from the Russian Science Foundation No. 24-48-03026 “Epic landscape of the Oirats of Russia, Mongolia and China (from archaic epic to book text)”.

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