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Jangar: The Heroic Epic of the Kalmyk Nomads
The first English translation of a Kalmyk epic nearly lost to history.
This is the first English translation of Jangar , the heroic epic of the Kalmyk nomads, who are the Western Mongols of Genghis Khan’s medieval empire in Europe. Today, Kalmykia is situated in the territory that was once the Golden Horde, founded by the son of Genghis Khan, Juchi. Although their famed khanates and cities have long since disappeared under the sands of the Great Eurasian Steppe, the Kalmyks have witnessed, memorized, and orally transmitted some of the most transformative developments, both victorious and tragic, in the history of civilizations. A tribute to the protectors of the mythical country Bumba, Jangar reflects the hopes and aspirations of the Kalmyk people as well as their centuries-long struggle for their cultural existence.
This new English translation is more than a tribute to the artistic creativity and imagination of the Kalmyk people—it is also an important step in their struggle for cultural survival. It was only after centuries of oral transmission that the songs and stories surrounding Jangar were written down. When the first translation, into Russian, finally appeared, Stalin had the entire Kalmyk population deported to Siberia and ordered that their national literature be eliminated from the published world. This Soviet repression has had enormous consequences for world literature, silencing nomadic voices and keeping hidden their distinctive contributions. Making Jangar available in English is a landmark event, bringing a lost classic to the world’s attention and restoring the voices of an almost-erased tradition at the heart of the history of Eurasia.
This is the first English translation of Jangar , the heroic epic of the Kalmyk nomads, who are the Western Mongols of Genghis Khan’s medieval empire in Europe. Today, Kalmykia is situated in the territory that was once the Golden Horde, founded by the son of Genghis Khan, Juchi. Although their famed khanates and cities have long since disappeared under the sands of the Great Eurasian Steppe, the Kalmyks have witnessed, memorized, and orally transmitted some of the most transformative developments, both victorious and tragic, in the history of civilizations. A tribute to the protectors of the mythical country Bumba, Jangar reflects the hopes and aspirations of the Kalmyk people as well as their centuries-long struggle for their cultural existence.
This new English translation is more than a tribute to the artistic creativity and imagination of the Kalmyk people—it is also an important step in their struggle for cultural survival. It was only after centuries of oral transmission that the songs and stories surrounding Jangar were written down. When the first translation, into Russian, finally appeared, Stalin had the entire Kalmyk population deported to Siberia and ordered that their national literature be eliminated from the published world. This Soviet repression has had enormous consequences for world literature, silencing nomadic voices and keeping hidden their distinctive contributions. Making Jangar available in English is a landmark event, bringing a lost classic to the world’s attention and restoring the voices of an almost-erased tradition at the heart of the history of Eurasia.
264 pages, Paperback
Published January 10, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 14, 2023
The fact that this exists is so cool. I think the translation was done really well and the intro was very helpful for contextualising this work. Big kudos.
The stories themselves made me want to hear the original versions even if I won’t understand it. And lowkey they remind me of jinn society stories which makes it even more fascinating to me. Also love how important the horses are
The stories themselves made me want to hear the original versions even if I won’t understand it. And lowkey they remind me of jinn society stories which makes it even more fascinating to me. Also love how important the horses are
May 6, 2023
Jangar is the heroic epic of the Kalmyk Nomads who are the Western Mongols of Genghis Khan's Medieval Empire. This English translation of ten songs, usually sung by Jangar singers [jangarchi], was penned by Saglar Bougdaeva who was born and raised in Kalmykia. The Epic of Jangar is performed across the Great Eurasian Steppe which includes parts of Mongolia, China and Russia.
Jangar, orphaned by war at the age of two, triumphed over five witches and captured five lords by age five. At seven years old, he was named the Khan of seven lands. His horse Arazal was faster than the wind. Jangar went on to establish the mythical kingdom of Bumba. Khans from the forty-two khanates of the four continents brought the best six thousand and twelve masters with them to build the towering ten-tiered palace which was three fingers from the sky. This was a sacred place. Sitting in concentric circles in the consul hall, the assembly was populated by legendary families, noble knights, elderly men and women, and youths. All could equally participate in decision making and merrymaking. "Jangar as a concept links community of honor and justice...living by honor...holds the union of equal kingdoms together and makes it invincible."
In each of the ten episodic cycles, Jangar choses a heroic figure to go on a quest. Scarlet Lion Khongor was known for his bravery. "The Knight's throat was warm [after drinking arza and araka]...his heated heart exhilarated, Boiling twelve courages inside, Ready to break out of his chest cage." His pie-bald, Lazy Galzan, at times encouraged his tearful knight who cried," When will I learn not to drink and brag? If I go forward, I shall lose my life. If I return, I shall lose my honor. I shall fight, let destiny decide!"
The cycles are formulaic in nature, the recitative is repetitive from cycle to cycle, however, this quality added to the charm of Bumba's heroes and their quests. The Kalmyk love of horses was a constant as heroes were frequently carried to safety by their astute, talkative mounts. The concept of time was suspended. After twenty-five years of age the passing of time did not exist, the death did not enter this place..." Distances were skewed. The distance to enemy lands might take "seven times-forty-nine days" or "a leap of his hind legs covers the distance of one day; a jump of his front legs covers the distance of two days." Knight and magnificent stallion, palomino, or pie-bald were often disguised as a filthy boy and his scrubby colt to gain unnoticed access to the enemy palace.
"The enlightened lord Jangar,
United the four truths with his own hands,
The statehood he created was indestructible,
The glory was uncontrollable.
Rattling beyond his spacious land,
In bliss and peace,
Bumba of wise Jangar spectacularly shone."
A highly recommended classic of Mongolian literature.
Jangar, orphaned by war at the age of two, triumphed over five witches and captured five lords by age five. At seven years old, he was named the Khan of seven lands. His horse Arazal was faster than the wind. Jangar went on to establish the mythical kingdom of Bumba. Khans from the forty-two khanates of the four continents brought the best six thousand and twelve masters with them to build the towering ten-tiered palace which was three fingers from the sky. This was a sacred place. Sitting in concentric circles in the consul hall, the assembly was populated by legendary families, noble knights, elderly men and women, and youths. All could equally participate in decision making and merrymaking. "Jangar as a concept links community of honor and justice...living by honor...holds the union of equal kingdoms together and makes it invincible."
In each of the ten episodic cycles, Jangar choses a heroic figure to go on a quest. Scarlet Lion Khongor was known for his bravery. "The Knight's throat was warm [after drinking arza and araka]...his heated heart exhilarated, Boiling twelve courages inside, Ready to break out of his chest cage." His pie-bald, Lazy Galzan, at times encouraged his tearful knight who cried," When will I learn not to drink and brag? If I go forward, I shall lose my life. If I return, I shall lose my honor. I shall fight, let destiny decide!"
The cycles are formulaic in nature, the recitative is repetitive from cycle to cycle, however, this quality added to the charm of Bumba's heroes and their quests. The Kalmyk love of horses was a constant as heroes were frequently carried to safety by their astute, talkative mounts. The concept of time was suspended. After twenty-five years of age the passing of time did not exist, the death did not enter this place..." Distances were skewed. The distance to enemy lands might take "seven times-forty-nine days" or "a leap of his hind legs covers the distance of one day; a jump of his front legs covers the distance of two days." Knight and magnificent stallion, palomino, or pie-bald were often disguised as a filthy boy and his scrubby colt to gain unnoticed access to the enemy palace.
"The enlightened lord Jangar,
United the four truths with his own hands,
The statehood he created was indestructible,
The glory was uncontrollable.
Rattling beyond his spacious land,
In bliss and peace,
Bumba of wise Jangar spectacularly shone."
A highly recommended classic of Mongolian literature.
March 27, 2026
This is still poetry and the description is wonderful to make you pictue the story in your head. Metaphors are vivid and also not reallly that didactic, comparisons that make the story incredibly easy to see in your mind's eye. Impossible not to do so while reading it. People don't write fiction with imagery this good anymore. Jangar is able to pull you in like only a work of epic poëtry can, and the action poetry is superb.
The women are more reälistic than a lot of historical works. Khongor does not instantly get a woman to fall in love with him by killing somebody in a duel in front of her.
This is one of those stories you've just got to roll with. When the horse talks you accept it. When it says he conquered 7 khanates at age 7 you gotta accept it. The best part is how over the top it iss. The horses will breathe fire from their nostrils, people will ride for days on end without eating because they're just that rough. Certain poetic descriptors are much more common than others, repeating in a formulaïc manner in such a way that it becomes not samey but lyrical.
Unlike more modern literature, Jangar doesn't waste time with explanations of the lore. Things will fly over your head. But if you keep it up, this story will take you for one hell of a ride, it is a wonderful work of incredible prose and marvelous spectacle, action poetry at it's finest.
The women are more reälistic than a lot of historical works. Khongor does not instantly get a woman to fall in love with him by killing somebody in a duel in front of her.
This is one of those stories you've just got to roll with. When the horse talks you accept it. When it says he conquered 7 khanates at age 7 you gotta accept it. The best part is how over the top it iss. The horses will breathe fire from their nostrils, people will ride for days on end without eating because they're just that rough. Certain poetic descriptors are much more common than others, repeating in a formulaïc manner in such a way that it becomes not samey but lyrical.
Unlike more modern literature, Jangar doesn't waste time with explanations of the lore. Things will fly over your head. But if you keep it up, this story will take you for one hell of a ride, it is a wonderful work of incredible prose and marvelous spectacle, action poetry at it's finest.
September 11, 2022
Used as a reference for Tolui's backstory in Music in the Mirrors. Highly recommend all to read Jangar, an epic which souls corrupted by politics once tried to eliminate.
March 27, 2025
so fucking cool dude
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews