Illustration: Liu Xiangya/Global Times
In bedtime stories for Tibetan children, when the phrase "once upon a time" is uttered, if the corners of the parents' mouths lift and their tone becomes lively, then the character making an entrance is extremely likely to be Akhu Tonpa.
Almost every culture has such a character, one who thrives beyond official history and temples, continuously experiencing realistic life in a fictional backdrop.
Akhu Tonpa was a widely known and revered sage in Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Many of these stories depict Akhu Tonpa as a wise figure who stands up for justice. He, along with figures like the Han monk Jigong and Uyghur Avanti, has become a symbol of wisdom for the Chinese nation. Every ethnic group has its share of folk wisdom stories. Over the years, people have aggregated dozens or even hundreds of stories around one single character, turning them into a focal point for wisdom and humor. The multitude of stories associated with Akhu Tonpa, involving clever stratagems to outsmart the wealthy or play pranks on the rich, is a testament to his wit and intelligence, even though these stories span considerable periods of time.
Akhu Tonpa almost single-handedly established his divine status through "street wisdom." In Tibetan culture, he, who is traditionally been portrayed as a serf (or a wandering beggar escaping this status), remarkably stands alongside Gesar, the king from divine lineage, as two great heroes of the Tibetan people. From this, we can observe the subtle thread of the free and egalitarian spirit that permeates Tibetan folk culture, transcending social classes and resisting destiny. This is somewhat connected to the widespread influence of the Buddhist culture.
In the hearts of devout Buddhists among the Tibetan people, Akhu Tonpa is even considered an incarnation of the Bodhisattva Manjushri, who propagates Buddhist teachings. Numerous stories are passed down in Tibetan folklore, recounting how he cleverly exploited the weaknesses of the greedy, stingy, lustful and foolish rich. Akhu Tonpa particularly enjoyed playing tricks on high lamas, local officials (county magistrates), landlords, merchants, and the wealthy. These stories contain resistance against the notions of "wealth without benevolence" and "no honesty in business," expressing the spirit of justice held by the vast population of former serfs in old Xizang.
In reality, Akhu Tonpa was actually a real person. He was originally a serf on the estate of a noble family. The estate owner was a tyrant who oppressed the serfs and exploited the villagers. Akhu Tonpa used his wit and wisdom to deceive the estate owner into being drowned in the river, after which he fled his hometown and wandered the land. In memory of him, the people of his hometown erected a square-shaped stupa at the site of his original humble dwelling. Legend has it that good people who circumambulate the stupa while praying will attain happiness, while those with malicious intent will experience a heartache upon seeing the stupa.
In Sichuan's Garze county and the Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture, as well as in different areas of Xizang, Northwest China's Qinghai Province, and Southwest China's Yunnan Province, people continue to debate the birthplace of Akhu Tonpa. It is evident that Tibetan people residing in various parts of China all hope that Akhu Tonpa is their "fellow countryman," considering him a source of pride and honor for their respective hometowns.
The stories of Akhu Tonpa are diverse, often marked by strong combativeness, pronounced satirical elements, and filled with wit and humor. The targets of his tales range from kings to dishonest merchants, encompassing various forms of social malfeasance. These include ridiculing kings, playing pranks on local officials, punishing landlords and leaders, resisting religious privileges, and chastising dishonest merchants and usurers.
From the perspective of artistic expression, the stories of Akhu Tonpa are highly comedic, with humor and wit being their most prominent features. People genuinely love and admire him, not only for his bravery and sense of justice in serving the people, but also for his cleverness and humor. He excels in employing comedic artistic techniques to engage in struggles, thereby securing victories and providing spiritual satisfaction for the toiling masses.
In the presence of Akhu Tonpa, even the greatest difficulties and most challenging tasks can be accomplished. Although Akhu Tonpa's background is that of an impoverished serf, his resilience, cleverness, bravery, intelligence, and optimism inspire the laboring masses to dare to overcome challenges and to punish cruel and greedy lords.
Akhu Tonpa becomes a concentrated representative of the intelligent, wise, and courageous Tibetan people, embodying the ideal figure in their hearts. The stories possess strong philosophical, lifelike, and entertaining elements, providing enlightenment and exhibiting a vibrant vitality.
Even in the digital age of Xizang, Akhu Tonpa can still brush shoulders with you on the streets at any time. He is the beloved protagonist of a claymation series for children, a piece in the repertoire of Tibetan dance examinations, and the subject of many Tibetan songs passed down in different regions.
More than that, he is in countless bedside stories transcending different times and spaces - perhaps just a small joke or a metaphor. These texts share a consistent tone: lively, humorous, and clever, yet there seems to be a touch of poignant resistance against destiny. This underlying theme perpetually symbolizes the most vibrant and interesting dimension of this ethnic group.
"When you face unjust treatment, and instead of shrinking away or succumbing to anger, you decide to counter it with humor and wisdom, that's when you become Akhu Tonpa," a Tibetan elder once told me.
The author is a lecturer at Hunan University, and holds a PhD from Renmin University of China.
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