A Comparison of the Narrative Structures of the Three Great Epics of National Minorities in China

Gesar of the Tibetan nationality, Manas of the Kirgiz nationality and Jiangel of the Mongolian nationality are known as the three great epics of the national minorities in China. Gesar has a narrative structure similar to the Ramayana, the great Indian epic with a circular structure of heaven earth heaven; Manas' structure is semi-circular: birth of the hero on the earth performing meritorious deeds death resurrection. Jiangel has a chain structure. In this epic the hero