Genghis Khan and his era in contemporary Buryat and Kalmyk literature

The article examines the formation of historical memory about Genghis Khan and his era in the modern literature of the Mongolian peoples of Russia. In the post-Soviet period, the culture of the Buryats and Kalmyks has seen a growing interest in the image of Genghis Khan and a desire to associate their identity with him. Against this background, a number of works that in one way or another relate to the image of Genghis Khan appeared in their literature. It is proved that the works by contemporary authors are created in the context and on the basis of earlier texts – medieval Mongolian historical works on the one hand, and texts by Russian and European authors about Genghis Khan on the other. Buryat and Kalmyk writers simultaneously develop previous traditions and debate with them, offering their interpretations of the personality and biography of Genghis Khan. A noticeable tendency in the artistic interpretation of Genghis Khan’s image is the emphasis on his supernatural abilities and patronage of higher powers over him, which generally continues the medieval Mongolian tradition, but at the same time leads to the emergence of new interpretations. The desire to show the deeds of Genghis Khan in a global context and to prove their benefit for all peoples of Eurasia has become a new aspect of interpretation. The localization of the Mongolocentric narrative about Genghis Khan is also an important feature of modern Buryat and Kalmyk works dedicated to the topic.