Птицы в сказках о животных ойратов Синьцзяна

Abstract

Birds in fairytale traditions of different nations are indispensable characters of animal epos. In the fairytales of Oirats of Xinjiang and Kalmyks of Russia there is a wide representation of birds along with other animals. It is commonly known that a lie in all its varieties and forms is one of the essential compositional stems of the animal fairytale. Every character in a fairytale is capable of lying. It is the only and specific way of protection of weaker character from its physically stronger opponent. In the fairy tales about animals birds often surpass animals in wit and wisdom. Birds protect themselves in different ways, but predominantly use methods that put their opponents off guard. The analysis of the Xinjiang fairy tales about animals shows that storylines about birds that surpass much stronger animals by their wit and wisdom are widely presented there. Stories about animals often have etiological meaning explaining the specific behavior patterns and external distinctive features of the birds.