Galsan Tschinag
Encyclopedia
Galsan Tschinag born Irgit Shynykbai-oglu Dshurukuwaa, (* 26 December 1944 in Bayan-Ölgii Province, Mongolia
) is internationally known as a Mongolia
n writer of novels, poems, and essays in the German language
, though he hails from a Tuvan
background. He is also often described as a Shaman, and is also a teacher and an actor.
at the Karl Marx University
in Leipzig
, East Germany (1962-1968). He did his thesis work under Erwin Strittmatter
, and upon graduation began to work as a German teacher at the National University of Mongolia
. In 1976 his teaching license was revoked because of his "political untrustworthiness". He continued to work twelve-hour shifts, shuttling between all four of the Mongolian universities. In 1980, at the age of 36, Galsan was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition. He later recovered from the condition and credits his "shamanic powers" and plenty of exercise for saving his life.
Today, the author spends most of the year at his home in the Mongolian capital city of Ulan Bator, together with his family of nearly 20. He also spends much time giving readings in the German-speaking world and across Europe, as well as seeking to get closer to his Tuvan roots in the western Mongolian steppes. Though he still writes mainly in German, his books have been translated into many other languages. In addition to his writing, Galsan is an activist for the Tuvan minority and practices shamanistic healing.
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
) is internationally known as a Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
n writer of novels, poems, and essays in the German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, though he hails from a Tuvan
Tuvan
Tuvan can refer to:*Of or pertaining to Tuva*The Tuvans*The Tuvan language*Tuvan Syndrome, a fictional Star Trek malady that afflicts Vulcans, Romulans and Rigellians....
background. He is also often described as a Shaman, and is also a teacher and an actor.
Life
Born in the upper Altai Mountains in western Mongolia, the youngest son of a Tuvan shaman, Galsan majored in German studiesGerman studies
German studies is the field of humanities that researches, documents, and disseminates German language and literature in both its historic and present forms. Academic departments of German studies often include classes on German culture, German history, and German politics in addition to the...
at the Karl Marx University
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, East Germany (1962-1968). He did his thesis work under Erwin Strittmatter
Erwin Strittmatter
Erwin Strittmatter was a German writer. Strittmatter was one of the most famous writers in the GDR....
, and upon graduation began to work as a German teacher at the National University of Mongolia
National University of Mongolia
The National University of Mongolia is the oldest university in Mongolia. It hosts twelve schools and faculties in Ulaanbaatar, and runs branches in the Zavkhan and Orkhon Aimags...
. In 1976 his teaching license was revoked because of his "political untrustworthiness". He continued to work twelve-hour shifts, shuttling between all four of the Mongolian universities. In 1980, at the age of 36, Galsan was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition. He later recovered from the condition and credits his "shamanic powers" and plenty of exercise for saving his life.
Today, the author spends most of the year at his home in the Mongolian capital city of Ulan Bator, together with his family of nearly 20. He also spends much time giving readings in the German-speaking world and across Europe, as well as seeking to get closer to his Tuvan roots in the western Mongolian steppes. Though he still writes mainly in German, his books have been translated into many other languages. In addition to his writing, Galsan is an activist for the Tuvan minority and practices shamanistic healing.
Works in English
- 2004 All the Paths Around Your Yurt (online poetry translation from Alle Pfade um deine Jurte, 1995)
- 2004 You Will Always Be Untamable (online poetry translation from Nimmer werde ich dich zähmen können, 1996)
- 2004 Cloud Dogs (online poetry translation from Wolkenhunde, 1998)
- 2004 Oracle Stones as Red as the Sun: Songs of the Shaman (online poetry translation from Sonnenrote Orakelsteine, 1999)
- 2004 The Stone Man at Ak-Hem (online poetry translation from Der Steinmensch zu Ak-Hem, 2002)
- 2006 The Blue Sky: A Novel (translation in print from Der blaue Himmel, 1994)
- 2007 Beyond the Silence (online poetry translation from Jenseits des Schweigens, 2006)
Works in German
(with tentative English titles)- 1981 "Eine tuwinische Geschichte und andere Erzählungen" (A Tuvan Story and other short stories)
- 1993 "Das Ende des Liedes" (The End of it)
- 1994 "Der blaue Himmel" (The Blue Sky)
- 1995 "Zwanzig und ein Tag" (Twenty-One Days)
- 1996 "Nimmer werde ich dich zähmen können" (Never Will I Tame You)
- 1997 "Die Karawane" (The Caravan)
- 1997 "Im Land der zornigen Winde" (In the Land of the Angry Winds, with co-author Amelie Schenk)
- 1997 "Der siebzehnte Tag" (The Seventeenth Day)
- 1999 "Die graue Erde" (The Grey Earth)
- 1999 "Der Wolf und die Hündin" (The Wolf and the Bitch)
- 2000 "Der weiße Berg" (The White Mountain)
- 2001 "Dojnaa"
- 2002 "Tau und Gras" (Dew and Grass)
- 2004 "Das geraubte Kind" (The Robbed Child)
Awards
- 1992 Adelbert-von-Chamisso-Preis
- 1995 Puchheimer Leserpreis
- 2001 Heimito-von-Doderer-Preis
- 2002 BundesverdienstkreuzBundesverdienstkreuzThe Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
External links
- Images of Migration and Change in the German-language Poetry of Galsan Tschinag by Richard Hacken (pdf)
- The Poetry of Galsan Tschinag: An Introduction
- Friends of Altai
- "Das edle, gute Deutschland wird fortbestehen", by Wolfgang Harrer a.k.a. Blau and Alysa Selene, ZDF (in German, with audio)
- Galsan Tschinag in der ZDF Mediathek (video in German)
- Galsan Tschinag's Website (German)