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Folk Tales from Eastern Tibet, an English translation of the traditional tales prevalent in the Amdo region of Tibet was originally published in Japanese by Professor Ryoshun Kajihama, Setsunam University.

This collection consists of twenty-eight tales; most of which come from the memories of the Tibetans. These folk tales convey a sense of the traditional nomadic life and within them we can catch a glimpse of a nomad’s friendships, enmities, and conflicts and can get a sense of his or her juys sorrows.

Just as in folk tales everywhere, this collection includes many animal stories, tales of family strife and community division, disputes about morals and laws and encounters with magic and magic being. These stories are governed by plots common to all fold tales: the rule of greedy kings is ended; wicked beings are punished, and usually the good are rewarded. One such tale, the final one in this collection, is entitles “The Mare’s Boy” which narrated the story of an extraordinary youth, born from a mare, who eventually becomes king of the land by defeating the copper-beaked she-devil who threatens the health and prosperity of the community and by living in peace with those who had formerly hurt him.