Tales of the Golden Corpse: Tibetan Folk Tales

by Sandra Benson

Tales of the Golden Corpse is the first complete English version of the famous Tibetan folktales told to a young boy who has killed seven sorcerers in the defense of his Master. The boy must redeem himself by carrying a talking corpse full of wondrous tales on a long journey, without himself speaking a word. These 25 tales of intrigue and magic provide the reader with a window through which to view ancient Tibetan culture. Within them, you will encounter heroes and villains, fearsome witches, murderous demons, and clever tricksters with a uniquely Tibetan humor. Songs, riddles, jokes, and sayings make the stories come alive as they unfold against the background of everyday Tibet—its farmers and nomads, kings and magical beings.

Genres: Folk Tales, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Michal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember when my grandma used to read a summarized version of this book to me when I was a kid. I'm happy I found the full one and it was even more enjoyable to read it today as an adult together with my girlfriend. The stories are really funny and so random sometimes, but every single one is unique and has a thought behind it. I rate it as 5/5 because of both the story telling, the plot the fun we had reading it together and also a bit of nostalgia.

[Csenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well done edition of some great tales. Contains 25 Tibetan folktales within a traditional frame story. If you are familiar with the Sanskrit version of the same story - The King and the Corpse - here is what's different: These tales are more along the lines of classic fairy tales (some of them recognizable from European traditions as well), rather than dilemma tales. Also, the frame is slightly altered to fit Tibetan Buddhism. None the less, I liked the stories in this collection a lot more than the Indian one. The publication is high quality, with a good intro, notes, and glossary for each tale. Definitely worth a read.

[Wakeup · Rating 5 out of 5]

The boy was asked by Master to carry back the golden corpse. The corpse would tell many wonderful stories. As soon as the boy could not help talking, the corpse would fly back to its original place, and the boy had to start again. That was the end of the story, but it always felt like something was left unfinished. I thought, is the boy really that can't help it? After suffering ninety-nine losses, can you not remember the lesson for the hundredth time? Then I thought, maybe the boy was pleased to get rid of his previous life, and the story of the corpse was his antidote. In this way, the boy again and again to carry the body, the boy later old, finally died. The boy's soul did not enter the reincarnation; he was trapped by those stories and became the golden corpse, waiting for the next boy to listen to him tell those stories. Or maybe, the corpse and the boy are actually the same person. Master let the boy find the corpse, is to let him find another part of himself, to find their own demons. Or maybe, in fact, there was no corpse, and there was no boy at all. They were both incarnations of master, which was the struggle of master's spiritual journey.

[Bat-Erdene Khalzan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Шидэт хүүрийн үлгэр бол буддын шашинт орнуудын дунд өргөн тархсан, тархахдаа янз бүрийн хэлбэрээр тархсан үлгэр юм. Монгол хэл дээрхи шидэт хүүрийн үлгэр нь эмгэнэлтэйгээр дуусдаг. Харин Төвөд хэл дээрхи нь үнэнхүү баяр жаргалтай дуусдаг юм байна лээ. Энэ нь уламжлал уу, эсвэл коммунизмын нөлөө юу гэдгийг мэдэхгүй байна. Ямартай ч манайд ч гэсэн "Шувуун саарал", "Учиртай гурван толгой" зэрэг хэд хэдэн зохиол үзэл суртлын улмаас зохиогчоос өөр хүний гараар дахин найруулагдаад хэвлэлтэнд гарч байсныг бид бүгдээрээ мэднэ. Сүүлийн үед эх хувилбарууд нь хэвлэгдэх болсон билээ.

[Wyrd Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so interesting. Much like The Tale of Tales and The Decameron, all the folk tales in the collection have a framing narrative where a golden corpse tricks a young boy into letting him escape by telling stories. It's an amazing example of wonder tales from the nation of Tibet. I highly recommend reading it.

[Dylan Rock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of folktales from the roof of the world that showcase the uniqueness of Tibetan culture sitting at the crossroads between both Indian and China.

[Ghilimei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am primit ediția românească de la Maria ca s-o adaug la colecția mea de cărți de povești. Din păcate, ediția românească nu are ilustrații - îmi imaginez că ar fi fost tare frumoase și mi-ar plăcea să răsfoiesc ediții ilustrate ale acestei colecții de povești tibetane.

Traducerea face ca poveștile să pară tare asemănătoare cu basmele populare românești - limbajul e de vină, zic eu. Altfel, temele sunt aceleași: animale vorbitoare care ajută eroul la ananghie, mame vitrege pizmașe care doresc moartea fiilor/fiicelor vitrege și ascensiunea pe tron a propriilor copii, nestemate fermecate care îndeplinesc dorințe (prin basmele românești se întâlnesc mai degrabă alte obiecte fermecate), săraci care ajung în mod miraculos să aibă palate și acareturi mai multe și mai mari decât ale împăratului, împărați invidioși pe supușii mai săraci care ajung să-și piardă tronul sau chiar viața din cauza asta și așa mai departe.

Există chiar și o poveste a porcului în care în loc de porc întâlnim o pasăre fermecată, iar pedeapsa soției curioase este asemănătoare cu blestemul Elizei din Lebedele lui H.C. Andersen - să prindă 1000 de păsări felurite și să facă din penele lor un alt costum de pasăre pentru soțul vrăjit.

Poveștile sunt frumoase, deși uneori se termină brusc din cauza băiatului pe care-l tot păcălește Mortul Fermecat să vorbească pentru a fugi înapoi în cimitir :)

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific folktales - great for short story enthusiasts.

[Deborah Brannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read my review of this collection at Green Man Review.

[PK Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Folktales from the Corpse. Review on Aisle B http://aisleb.tumblr.com/post/2527338...