Modern Social Science Research

As the longest living epic in the world, Gesar was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. Its translation and dissemination in English have become an important component of the strategy for Chinese culture to “go global.” However, this epic, originating from the Tibetan oral tradition, faces multiple transformations in the process of English translation, transitioning from “living performance” to “written text” and then to “English text.” This paper first systematically analyzes how the Gesar epic constructs a profound foundation for cultural identity through historical memory, hero worship, religious belief, and oral transmission. Second, it explores the translation strategies employed in the English translation of the epic to better construct cultural identity. Finally, in light of the obstacles and practical challenges encountered in the cross‑cultural dissemination of the epic, this paper proposes pathways such as cultivating interdisciplinary talents, increasing academic support, and empowering transmission through technological innovation to promote the global dissemination of the epic, thereby achieving the dual goals of the “living transmission” of this intangible cultural heritage epic and cross‑cultural identity.

Cultural identity; Epic; English translation; Gesar