The livelihood and transformations of epic traditions in the dastan “Аlpamysh”: the Tatar version of the epic

The epic of Alpamysh is an important cultural heritage that helps us understand the worldview and traditions of the Turkic peoples. The relevance of this study lies in the fact that folklore heritage plays a key role in shaping national identity. Researching the transformation of “Alpamysh” allows us to analyze the influence of social and cultural changes on the preservation and adaptation of dastan narratives. This work can contribute to a deeper understanding of the interactions between different cultures and their epic traditions, which is highly relevant in the context of cultural exchange.

The purpose of this article was to examine the stability and change of epic traditions in the context of the Tatar version of the famous Turkic epic, with an emphasis on analyzing the cultural, historical, and artistic aspects that contribute to the preservation and transformation of these traditions in modern society. The article examines the processes of genre inertia and transformation using the “Alpamysh” epic, identifies key factors influencing the formation and development of the dastan, highlights the characteristics of the Tatar version, represented by various variants common in the Volga region and Siberia, and discusses the evolution of the epic work under the influence of geographical, cultural, and historical factors. During the systematization process, the authors analyzed oral and written versions of the dastan. Particular attention was paid to the current state of the epic, confirmed by materials from recent folklore expeditions. The study demonstrated that, despite differences in its forms of expression, the Tatar version of “Alpamysh” retains the basic narrative structure of the Turkic heroic epic, remaining a significant element of national culture.

The novelty of this study lies in its offering a new perspective on the adaptation and evolution of epic traditions in Tatar culture, examining them in the context of contemporary social and historical changes. The analysis allows us to identify key mechanisms for preserving cultural identity and values in the context of globalization.

The study utilized several methods, including textual, comparative historical, structural-typological, hermeneutic, and others, which together allow for a more in-depth exploration of the dynamics of folklore traditions and their significance. The study revealed that the Tatar version of the epic demonstrates certain features that reflect the cultural and historical characteristics of the people, which contributes to the preservation and transformation of their epic traditions. Furthermore, an analysis of various Tatar versions of the dastan demonstrated how epic folklore adapts to modern conditions while maintaining its integrity.

1. Zhirmunsky VM. Turkic heroic epic. Leningrad: Nauka Publ.; 1974:727 (in Russian).

2. Zhirmunsky VM. Epic tale of Alpamysh and Homer’s Odyssey. News of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Department of Literature and Language. Vol. XVI. 1957;(2):97–113 (in Russian).

3. Rakysh Zh., Matyzhanov K., Akimova T., Oralbek A. (eds.) Alpamys batyr. Almaty: Ush Kiyan Publ.; 2024:380 (in Kazakh).

4. Rakysh Zh. (ed.) Collection of Materials from the International Scientific and Theoretical Conference: Spiritual Heritage of the Turkic Peoples in the Context of World Civilization: The Epic “Alpamysh Batyr”. Almaty: Service Press Publ.; 2024:412 (in Kazakh).

5. Akhmetova-Urmanche FV. (ed.) Tatar epic. Dastans. Kazan: Rannur Publ.; 2004:640 (in Tatar).

6. Mukhametzianova LKh. Tatar epic: book dastans. Kazan: ILLА Publ. House; 2014:380 (in Russian).

7. Mukhametzianova LKh. Tatar historiography of “Idegey”. Golden Horde Review. Vol. 12. 2024;(4):740– 757 https://doi.org/10.22378/2313-6197.2024-12-4.740-757 EDN: ABLYLA (in Russian).

8. Urmancheev FI. The heroic epic of the Tatar people. Kazan: Tatar Book Publ.; 1984:312 (in Russian).

9. Urmancheev FI. Tatar mythology. An encyclopedic dictionary. In 3 vol. Vol. 1 (A–G). Kazan: Magarif Publ.; 2008:303 (in Tatar).

10. Urmancheev FI. Tatar Folk Epic. Kazan: ILLА Publ. House; 2023:381 (in Russian).

11. Mukhametzianova LKh. You are the homeland of epics, Siberia! Kazan fires. 2018;(7):176–181 (in Tatar).

12. Mukhametzianova LKh. Tatar variants of the epic «Alpamysh»: modernization of a number of motifs. In: Rakysh Zh. (ed.) Collection of materials of the International scientific and theoretical conference «The Spiritual Heritage of the Turkic Peoples: the Epic “Alpamys Batyr”». Almaty: Servis Press Publ.; 2024:84–93 (in Russian).

13. Zakirova IG. (ed.) Spiritual heritage: research and discoveries. Tatar epics. Iss. 19. Kazan: ILLА Publ. House; 2023:256 (in Tatar).

14. Akhmetova FV. (ed.) Tatar folk art. Dastans. Kazan: Tatar Book Publ.; 1984:384 (in Tatar).

15. Akhmetova FV. (ed.) Tatar folk art. Dastans. In 15 vol. Vol. 8. Kazan: Tatar Book Publ.; 2019:471 (in Rus.).

16. Mukhametzianova LKh. Tatar folklore in Siberia. Scientific Tatarstan. 2020;(4):96–104 (in Tatar.).

17. Gatina KhKh., Yarmi KhKh. (eds.) Tatar folk art. Fairy tales. Book 1. Kazan; 1977:408 (in Tatar).

18. Khusainov Sh. (ed.) Tales of Alpamysh. Kazan: Dombrovsky typ., Sh. Khusainov heirs’ Publ.; 1912:46 (in Tatar).