Quyi
Tibet Autonomous Region, Southwest China
11th–12th century CE, Tibet
Representative List
Master-Apprentice (Oral/Aural)
Oral Tradition
Gesar Epic Tradition
"The world's longest living oral epic — over a million verses recounting the heroic deeds of King Gesar, sung by Tibetan storytellers."
CIVILIZATION CONTEXT
This artifact is part of the Intangible Heritage Cluster. It connects to 13 entities across the atlas, spanning 1 region, 1 master, 0 festivals, and 0 skills.
Gesar Epic Tradition: A Living Heritage
The Epic of King Gesar is the world's longest living oral epic, with over 100 episodes and 1 million verses passed down by Tibetan and Mongolian storytellers. It recounts the heroic deeds of King Gesar, a legendary warrior-king who battled demons and united tribes. Performers (sgrung-mkhan) chant the epic in a distinctive style, often entering a trance-like state. It remains a living tradition performed across the Tibetan Plateau.
Centuries
Years of Unbroken Lineage
0
Related Cultural Vectors
Stories & Legends
Tibetan Opera: Masks of the Himalayas
historicalAt 4,000 meters, a masked opera has been performed for over 600 years.
Related Places
Generations Preserved
Sangzhub
Sangzhub is one of the most renowned Gesar epic storytellers (sgrung-mkhan) from the Tibetan Plateau. She began chanting the Epic of King Gesar as a child and has memorized over 40 episodes. Her perfo...
Relationship Constellation
Tracing the invisible threads that connect Gesar Epic Tradition to the broader civilization ecosystem.