本书讲述了这样一个故事：在很久很久以前，天灾人祸遍及藏区，妖魔鬼怪横行，黎民百姓遭受荼毒。大慈大悲的观世音菩萨为了普渡众生出苦海，向阿弥陀佛请求派夭神之子下凡降魔。神子推巴噶瓦发愿到藏区，做黑头发藏人的君王——即格萨尔王。为了让格萨尔能够完成降妖伏魔、抑强扶弱、造福百姓的神圣使命，史诗的作者们赋予他特殊的品格和非凡的才能，把他塑造成神、龙、念(藏族原始宗教里的一种厉神)三者合一的半人半神的英雄。格萨尔降临人间后，多次遭到陷害，但由于他本身的力量和诸天神的保护，不仅未遭毒手，反而将害人的妖魔和鬼怪杀死。格萨尔从诞生之日起，就开始为民除害，造福百姓。5岁时，格萨尔与母亲移居黄河之畔，8岁时，岭部落也迁移至此。12岁上，格萨尔在部落的赛马大会上取得胜利，并获得王位，同时娶森姜珠牡为妃。从此，格萨尔开始施展天威，东讨西伐，征战四方，降伏了入侵岭国的北方妖魔，战胜了霍尔国的白帐王、姜国的萨丹王、门域的辛赤王、大食的诺尔王、卡切松耳石的赤丹王、祝古的托桂王等，先后降伏了凡十个“宗”(藏族古代的部落和小帮国家)在降伏了人间妖魔之后，格萨尔功德圆满，与母亲郭姆、王妃森姜珠牡等一同返回天界。

King Gesar is an epic from Tibet based on Tibetan folk tales, legends, folk songs and proverbs. Representing the highest achievement of ancient Tibetan culture, it has been in circulation for centuries. It is an encyclopedia-like masterpiece reflecting the history of the ancient Tibetan society.

Compared with the world's Other famous heroic epics, King Gesar has two outstanding characteristics.

First, it has been passed down orally and musically from one generation to the next. Even today the epic is still widespread among the Tibetan people,especially among farmers and herdsmen. It is a "living" heroic epic and belongs to the Tibetan cultural heritage.

Second, it is the longest heroic epic in the world. It is an immense work,with more than 1 million verses, which would fill 120-plus volumes if written down.

The State of Ling generally refers to the ancient Tibetan-inhabited areas. In the light of its structural order, we selected the high spot of this epic to entertain readers at home and abroad. We hope our readers, through reading King Gesar, will get to know and love both this great epic and the Tibetan culture.

Preface

Chapter I

Demons Emerge and the Goddess of Mercy Comes to the

Rescue

Chapter II

God Son Is Born in Ling and Zhaotoin Works Against

Choru

Chapter III

Zhaotoin Casts Greedy Eyes on the Throne of the Ling Tribe/and

Gormo Manages to Capture the Heavenly Horse

Chapter IV

Choru Fulfills His Wishes with Flying Colors/and Zhaotoin

Depresses with All Hopes Dashed to Pieces

Chapter V

An Expedition to Kill the Devil and to Save Gesar's

Concubine

Chapter VI

The State of Hot Kidnaps Cholmo by Force and King Bacham ls

Killed as a Punishment

Chapter VII

The State of Chain Fights for the Salt Lake and the Ling King Slays

King Sadain of Chain

Chapter VIII

Ling Attacks Moinyo upon Hearing a Prophesy/and the Four Demons

Surrender and the Ling Troops Return Triumphantly.

Chapter IX

Ling Brings an Army to Chayo to Open the Treasure-House for the

Benefit of the People

Chapter X

The Lion King and His Officials Burn a Demon's Body/and

Gesar Selects a Wife for the Prince

Chapter XI

Lion King Rescues Mother from Hell and Rongcha Chageng Passes

Away

Chapter XII

Prince Zhalha Ascends the Throne to Become the King of Ling and

the Lion King Returns to Heaven Together with His Wives