A library with a collection of more than 2,000 books of the Tibetan epic "King Gesar" has opened in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The books, including many precious historic versions translated in various languages such as Tibetan, Mongolian, Chinese and English, as well as over 100 tapes and disks, were collected from home and abroad over recent years.
"King Gesar" is generally considered the world's longest folk epic and is still passed down orally by singers and illiterate herders and farmers.
"The original mode of passing down the epic is in danger, even on the verge of extinction," said Wan Guo, professor of Southwest Minzu University, which cooperated with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences on the establishment of the library.
"The library is conducive to the comprehensive and systematic collection of Gesar literature, as well as the gradual digitalization of the literature resources," said Wan.
"The Epic of King Gesar" tells the story of how an 11th century Tibetan demigod king conquered his enemies and helped ordinary people.
The epic has been passed down orally in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the northwestern province of Qinghai.
