Epic tale remains a story worth telling
Legendary king's exploits continue to resonate across the highlands in western and northern China, Deng Zhangyu reports.
"The epic is dynamic and full of vitality, continuously growing over time. Like a river, it constantly branches out and then converges again," says Yeshe Ihamo.
"Everyone is telling his or her own story, and even now, the story hasn't ended."
In Sonam Tashi's published volumes documenting 26 unique stories, there are some interesting and creative ones. For instance, one story is about the mastiffs on the Tibetan plateau, covering their origins, various breeds and how they reproduce. In another, the storyteller recounts a segment rich with Tibetan tea customs and etiquette before the hero Gesar setting out on his expedition.
"Now, young inheritors add some modern elements into the ancient epic," he says.
In describing the war scenes involving King Gesar, young narrators use metaphors and imagery that resemble modern weapons like airplanes and cannons. For example, they might refer to "flying wooden birds" to depict aerial combat.
