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Folk Tale: Sohor Sandag


Type

Video

Change log

Authors

Bulag, Uradyn E. 
Fuerwa, Dorjraa 

Abstract

This video presents a folk tale about Sohor Sandag, a figure depicted differently among the Oirats in various regions. In many accounts, he is portrayed as the individual responsible for inviting a living Buddha to his hometown in Xinjiang, leading to claims from different locales that Sohor Sandag was born there. However, in the version recounted in Nilah, Sohor Sandag is depicted as a figure who rebelled against his Khan, the ruler of the Jungar Khanate, but ultimately failed. As a result of this uprising, the Khanate successfully established Ghulja City, which eventually evolved into the modern-day Ili City. Buddha typically determines which of his numerous disciples is best suited to settle in a particular place or even within a specific family to serve as a protective deity, based on their willingness and astrological alignment. One of the reasons is that it would be inappropriate for an entire populace to worship the Panchen Lama or the Dalai Lama. During a visit to Lhasa, Mongols from Ili expressed a desire to acquire a deity for worship. In response, Buddha in Lhasa allocated to them statues of the Panchen Lama, often referred to as the “Old Buddha” due to the antiquity of their invocation, as well as Choije Burhan.

Description

Keywords

Sohor Sandag, Nilah, Jungar Khanate, Ili City, Buddha, Oirats

Is Part Of

Publisher

Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge

Publisher DOI

Publisher URL

Sponsorship
Sponsored by Arcadia Fund, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin.