A Prince in the Body of a Parrot (Cuckoo): Literary Transmission and Transformation between India, Inner Asia and Beyond

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to trace out the varieties of the motif of The Life Story of

Moon Cuckoo - the Tibetan narrative and Mongolian opera - through the literatures of Central Asia, India and Middle East. This motif tells about a prince who is tricked into entering the body of a cuckoo; later on, he is not able to regain his human form, stolen by his evil-minded companion.

Keywords

• Tale of the Moon Cuckoo
• Danzanravjaa
• Mongolian opera
• Indian narratives