介绍:
When first meeting Buchung, it&`&s hard to relate this smartly dressed young man with the timeworn profession of troubadour. But when he starts chanting the ancient Tibetan saga, The Epic of King Gesar, this shy and restrained fellow will suddenly turn into an imposing master of eloquence.
He spouts and gushes while his every gesture and expression screams confidence.
Buchung explains.
"What I presented was the first episode of the Epic. The story goes, before the age of thirteen, King Gesar was expelled by neighboring tribe and forced to live in a valley. When he turned thirteen, God sent a message to let him join the horse racing festival. He won and ascended to the throne."
According to the legend, Gesar was born around 11th century. At that time, Tibetan regions were ravaged by demons and man-made disasters. Under the command of the God, Gesar came to the World of Man to liberate human from torment and distress. As a brave and chivalrous demigod, he slayed monsters and fought for the weak, which won him overwhelming respect.
"In my mind, Gesar subdued all kinds of demons and robbed the rich to give to the poor. There is no one like him. He is my biggest hero. "
For centuries, Gesar&`&s merits and exploits have gradually formed into poems and have been wildly recited by minstrels. But unlike traditional epics that are handed down orally from teacher to disciple, many Tibetan minstrels claim that they gained the ability to memorize the lines after experiencing some inexplicable incidents. Buchung is one of them.
"When I was a kid, I didn&`&t know how to speak. But after I visited the Shabten Monastery in Nagqu and chanted prayers several times, I could speak all of a sudden. Then when I turned eleven, one day I fell asleep while the animals were grazing. In my dream, two monks holding sutras came to me. The monk dressed in red was about to hand me the sutra, but all at once, a dog ran out, which interrupted my dream. When I woke up, a man in red riding a red horse moved around me and told me to pass down the story of Gesar. Though I understood the legend at that moment, I kept on raving. In northern Tibet, where I come from, if someone experiences such adventure, they will be sent to the monastery to receive blessing. Afterwards, I could recite large portions of Epic of King Gesar clearly and fluently."
Buchung claims that from the birth of Gesar to the hero&`&s wartime expeditions, he could chant certain sections for days and nights with no pause.
"Whenever I tell the story of Gesar, I narrate the plot first and then sing the lyrics. Coming to a halt is impossible unless I reach the singing part. I always feel really good during the process. It&`&s kind of like entering into another world. If I sing for a long time, those scenes and images will pop up in front of me, just like TV shows. "
Since then, the cries of those legendary battles mingling with the whinny of war horses have become the spiritual haven for the young Buchung. At the age of seventeen, instead of pursuing a higher education like his peers, he decided to become a minstrel and perform on the stage. Five years later, the budding artist joined other bards to perform at a local community art center, the Tibetan equivalent of tea house in the mainland. He has been there for eleven years.
"I perform every day. There are several minstrels in the art center, so we take turns. Years ago, minstrels dispersed everywhere. But now, we gather together at the county as a group. Basically, the content of the show is up to us, but if someone who is familiar with the story come to visit, they could request the sections they like. "
Just like a troubadour of the medieval age, Buchung has also left his footprints all across the Nagqu region of north Tibet.
"The Epic of King Gesar is so popular among the Tibetan people. I used to travel to Sog County and Nyima County. Now I perform in Shantsa County. But no matter where I go, people always enjoy my performance. You know, in this pastoral area, herdsmen hero-worship Gesar, since they grew up listening to his tale. "
Arguably the world&`&s longest epic poetry, the saga of King Gesar has been enriched, refined and replenished over the years. Thanks to generations of folk artists, the tale not only vividly showcases the spectacular life of the hero, but also blends ancient Tibetan history, myth and custom. Embedded within the religious and daily lives of local communities, the Epic is not just a poem. In other words, it is the encyclopedia of Tibetan culture. That&`&s probably why the story of King Gesar was listed as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2009.
But as the old generation of minstrels gradually passes away, the Epic might become a swan song. Therefore, since the early 1980s, the government has started to record this national treasure by transcripts and videos. Storytellers, especially the young ones, are encouraged to pass down their skills.
Buchung proudly presents us his name tag, which announces his identity as an inheritor of this cultural heritage.
"Last year, the government recognized me as the inheritor, thus telling the story of Gesar has become my priority and life skill. Next, I will publish my own books and albums. Maybe I will travel to other places to perform. I have faith in the future."
Regardless of wind or rain, Buchung puts on traditional costume and rhythmically recounts the legend of his favorite hero at the art center every day. He says he doesn&`&t worry about whether the number of audiences will shrink or not because the melodic verses about King Gesar will be heard, as long as Tibetan people are around.
"Nothing could bring me such joy than telling the Epic of King Gesar. No matter what kind of dreadful things I encounter, as long as I come to the stage, all the trouble will go away."
Today, the chanting of those ancient stories is commonly played on radio, television, or in local art center, or at the horse-racing festival. Thanks to minstrels like Buchung, as one of brightest gems of Tibetan culture, the Epic of King Gesar will carry on glowing.
