The 2nd International Workshop on Epic Studies: Hero, Heroic Epic, and Comparative Oral Poetics, Sponsored by Institute of Ethnic Literature, Chinese Academic of Social Sciences, was held in Beijing, China between October 8-9,2002. Focused on hero tradition and heroic epic both in western and eastern cultures, 14 speakers presented their papers at the workshop wherein 60 participants successively involved. The interaction between the two lines of discussion --the discourse of local knowledge and the discourse of comparative rules-- helped participants to concentrate on both problems and solutions in the interpretation of epic traditions as well as on theoretical and methodological issues confronted scholars.

The main problem facing the modern scholar is the comparative methodology in dealing with hero traditions, epics, and oral poetics through singers, creative textualizations and collectors. From European epics, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey (Orality and Poetic Structure), to Asian epics, including Tibetan Epic King Gesar (Textual Implication and performance tradition), Mongolian Heroic Epic (heroic Epithet and preaching narration), Orality of Epic Kirgiz Manas, Epic Hero in Yi Narratives, and a general survey on southern epic in China, the workshop constituted a "thick corpus" which enables us to penetrate the details of conception of hero, and the making of heroic epic. On the parallel line, through the concept of text in oral tradition, diachronic and typological research in folktale type, motif of 'Hero's Returning Home', modern mythology in theories of Confucian Classics, speakers addressed the issues of human universals and cultural identity, the question of oral narrative traditions and their roles as bearer/keeper of cultural norms even today, some illustrative case studies were provided, ethnographically.

As invited speakers, Prof. Mineke Schipper and Prof. Steven Shankman also delivered lectures at Beijing Normal University and Capital Normal University later after the workshop, whereas the main platform in classrooms was more of a teaching/question-and-answer format. In addition to, an informal discussion between Committee on Intercultural Studies, International Comparative Literature Association and Institute of Ethnic Literature about preliminary issues concerning a special panel on ethnic epic traditions at ICLA/2003 Hong Kong Conference happened on Oct 14.

A List of Presentations:

Steven Shankman（尚冠文）, Oregon University
Homer's Iliad and Odyssey: Orality and Poetic Structure
荷马《伊利亚特》和《奥德赛》：口头性和诗的结构 Liu

Kuili（刘魁立）, Institute of Ethnic Literature, CASS
Chinese Tale Type of River Snail Maiden: Diachronic and Typological Research
论中国螺女型故事的历史发展进程

Yang Enhong (杨恩洪), Institute of Ethnic Literature, CASS
On the Textual Implications of Tibetan Epic: Gesar Singer Bsam-grub's Performance
《格萨尔》艺人桑珠说唱本的学术价值

Chao Gejin (朝戈金) , Institute of Ethnic Literature, CASS
Hero's Epithet: A Case Analysis of Arimpil's Epic Jangar
史诗英雄的特性修饰语：以冉皮勒《江格尔》为例

Lu Wei (吕微)， Institute of Literature, CASS
Modern Mythology and Theories of Confucian Classics：
A Case Study of Explanations on A High Official in Ancient China
现代神话学与经今、古文说--《尚书·吕刑》阐释的案例研究

Yin Hubin（尹虎彬）, Institute of Ethnic literature,CASS
The Concept of Text in Oral Tradition
口头诗学的文本概念

Mineke Schipper, Leiden University
Cultural Norms, Collective Identity, and Oral Traditions
文化规范、群体认同与口头传统

Dong Xiaoping (董晓萍), Beijing Normal University
Motif of Hero's Returning Home: Ritual and Ethnographic Implication
"英雄回家"母题：仪式与民族志涵义

Chen Ganglong（陈岗龙）, Peking University
From Tribal Epic to Preaching Epic: Mongol Heroic Epic as Rectifying Narration
从部落史诗到说教史诗：作为弥补叙事的 蒙古英雄史诗

Bamo Qubumo(巴莫曲布嫫), Institute of Ethnic Literature, CASS
Approaching Southern Epic Traditions: Epic Hero Zhyge Alu and Yi Narratives
探寻南方史诗传统：英雄支格阿鲁与彝民族叙事

Xing Li（邢莉）, Central University of Nationalities
On Mongolian Heroic Epic Tradition
蒙古族英雄史诗传统

Adili Jumaturdi (阿地里·居玛吐尔地), The Graduate School of CASS
On Orality of Epic Manas
《玛纳斯》史诗的口头性特征

Li Lianrong (李连荣), Institute of Ethnic Literature, CASS
Epic Gesar and Tibetan Tradition of Performance
《格萨尔》史诗与西藏的表演传统

Liu Yahu (刘亚虎), Institute of Ethnic Literature, CASS
A General Survey of Southern Epics in China
中国南方史诗综论