EMPOWERING EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, STRESS REDUCTION, AND RESILIENCE THROUGH LINGUISTIC EXPRESSIONS IN GESAR CULTURE: A DISCOURSE INVESTIGATION OF XIZANG COMMUNITIES (https://doi.org/10.63386/617585)
Zijun Shen1
Department of Foreign Languages, Sichuan University of Media and Communications, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4170-6524
Tianle Huang2*(corresponding)
School of Theater, Film and Television, Community University of China, Tianle Huang, huangtianle@cuc.edu.cn
Tufa Chen3
Dongguan City University, Guangdong, China
Minjie Lai4*（corresponding）
International College, Guangzhou College of Commerce, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Dr. Imran Ali5
Assistant Professor. Department of Linguistics and Literature, University of Haripur Pakistan.
Email: imranali@uoh.edu.pk
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4312-3532
Abstract
This study explores how language practices within the Gesar of Ling Epic contribute to Xizang’s emotional well-being, stress reduction, and resilience. One of the world’s longest oral epics, Gesar remains vital for cultural identity and psychological support. Understanding its role in mental health can inform culturally grounded therapeutic approaches that align with Xizang traditions and lived experiences. This research employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and quantitative data to examine the relationship between language, culture, and mental health. Surveys and publications provide data on mental health prevalence among Xizang refugees and the resilient impact of Gesar traditions. Chapter 7 of the epic was analyzed for symbolic, ritualistic, and communal language practices, underpinned by Cultural Discourse and Psychological Resilience theories. Findings show that Gesar traditions enhance psychological resilience through metaphorical storytelling, ritualistic practices, and communal recitations, providing cognitive reframing, emotional expression, and social support. Celestial metaphors reinforce perseverance, while ritual offerings and chants act as structured coping mechanisms. The study highlights the need for region-specific mental health strategies, particularly for high-altitude Xizang communities, integrating faith-based interventions and communal healing rituals to address environmental stressors. Modern therapeutic frameworks should embrace traditional storytelling and ritual practices to support mental health and preserve Xizang cultural identity.
Keywords: Gesar Epic, Emotional Well-being, Stress Reduction, Psychological Resilience, Xizang Culture
Introduction:
The Gesar Epic is the longest oral epic in the world and serves as the source of cultural and psychological pride for the communities of Xizang. Shaped around King Gesar, the semi-divine curmudgeon who has been tasked with the battle against evil, the narrative far from storytelling is the central foundation on which the cultural identity of Xizang, the spiritual and emotional fortification of the public has relied for centuries. Consistent with these themes, this study frames an analysis of discourse and language practices within the Gesar tradition as a means of investigating how language practices contained in the Gesar tradition contribute to emotional well-being, stress reduction, and resilience through culture, language, and mental health.
The Gesar oral epic is integrated into the life of Xizang. Samuel and Samuel (2012) describe the bible as a repository of ethical teachings and history memory; a bible for analyzing spiritual, educational orientalism entrainment purposes. The epic performance also adds to ritual and meditative practices that play a role in the cultural preservation and emotional expression of its practice (Kapstein, 2013). The tradition reinforces sharing the identity and the collective narratives that provide psychological resilience to Xizang communities (Nursanty et al., 2023).
Language in the Gesar tradition plays a crucial role in emotional regulation and stress management. Through metaphorical richness, it offers expressive tools for suffering and resilience (Thupten, 2018). The communal act of recitation fosters emotional bonding, providing a shared vocabulary for collective healing (Bookman Zandler & Smith, 2024). Ritualistic storytelling and ceremonial rites further create interpersonal connections that mitigate stress and reinforce cultural solidarity (Merino, 2024). The epic also aligns with Buddhist principles of impermanence and transformation, reinforcing resilience through mindfulness and acceptance (Kapstein, 2013). The protagonist’s journey reflects moral integrity and inner strength, instilling perseverance in its audience. This study examines how these linguistic and narrative practices guide psychological resilience, emphasizing the role of cultural narratives in mental well-being (Garbin, 2024). According to Handford & Gee (2014), language serves as a means to create meaning and facilitate communal understanding. This research investigates the psychological impact of the epic’s narratives and performances using a mixed-methods approach (Nyaupane & Timothy, 2022).
Furthermore, this study is relevant to the development of culturally sensible mental health interventions. Gearing et al. (2013) suggest that issues of efficacy and acceptance of mental health strategies are improved when mental health strategies are aligned with indigenous cultural practices. Epic metaphors and themes help culturally relevant frameworks for emotional articulation and healing among Xizang communities (Sharma & Thapa, 2023). However, the Gesar epic has declined because of globalization and the decay of oral tradition for continued transmission. Digital archives and educational efforts are made to have their relevance in current times (Mipham, 2023). Assmann (2011) emphasizes the importance of media-based preservation strategies in sustaining cultural traditions across generations. Beyond its cultural significance, the epic remains important to the emotional well-being and resilience of Xizangs.
Literature Review
This literature review examines the intersection of culture, mental health, and resilience, particularly within the Xizang Gesar epic and broader Buddhist practices. Xizang cultural and spiritual frameworks enhance psychological flexibility, emotional well-being, and stress reduction through faith, communal support, and cognitive-emotional regulation. Research on Xizang refugees, students, and healthcare professionals highlights the role of cultural narratives in fostering resilience, while comparative studies on Chinese healthcare and workplace stress highlight the broader implications of cultural identity on mental health.
Cultural Narratives and Psychological Resilience
Several studies have emphasized the role of cultural narratives in promoting resilience among Xizang communities. Lewis (2013) explores how Xizang refugees construct flexible and adaptive mental frameworks rooted in trauma. This study highlights how Buddhist teachings, communal support, and cultural identity help individuals reframe trauma and build resilience. The findings correspond with Hussain and Bhushan (2011) who investigated the link between posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth in Xizang refugees. The study emphasizes cognitive emotional regulation strategies in developing an increased ability to adapt to trauma and their use as protective factors through Buddhist and cultural practices.
Wang et al. (2024) also further this discussion and investigate how psychological resilience and self-harmony as psychological resources are achieved through the use of faith in Xizang Buddhism which leads to positive social attitudes. The findings of their work show that students involved in Buddhist practices in Xizang have more effective coping mechanisms and better emotional stability. These studies taken together show that spiritual and cultural practices are an important factor in acquiring psychological resilience among Xizang populations.
Liu (2023) explores Chinese healthcare students’ cultural stressors beyond Xizang contexts to find that Confucian values, structured expectations of family, and communal support are both sources of stress and protectors. Xizang Buddhism offers a structured basic of grace, while Confucianism emphasizes social consonance and obligation, which generates extra stress on the academic and professional fronts. The findings, regardless of the differences, both cultural frameworks manifest how tradition and identity work in the context of emotionality and well-being.
The Gesar Epic and Mental Health
The Gesar Epic is meaningful to the central Xizang cultural tradition which acts as a source of cultural resilience and emotional well-being. Thurston (2019) asserts that the epic’s oral transmission, rituals, and written texts help sustain Xizang’s (Tibet) cultural identity. Through Gesar’s tradition, his study analyzes how resiliency is reinforced through symbolic narratives and they serve as a repository of collective memory. This corresponds with Thupten (2018), who interprets Gesar as metaphorically rich and as a linguistic framework for suffering and overcoming adversity.
In the linguistic approach, Zhou et al. (2024) examine the matters of translation of Gesar to English. The meaning of resilience is constituted culturally and shows how emotional and psychological resilience is shaped. By using effective translation strategies, the epic continues to play the role of a tool for collective healing and is still relevant in modern Xizang communities. According to Nursanty et al. (2023), cultural preservation can also work with the mental health of people since sustaining traditional narratives can help to increase identity and emotional stability lowering any chances of cultural disintegration.
Rituals, Communal Practices, and Stress Reduction
Cultural rituals and communal storytelling serve as essential mechanisms for stress reduction. Kapstein (2013) examines the ritual and meditative practices that characterize Gesar’s performances, and how the repetition of the ritual and meditation practices generates structured spaces for emotional expression and healing. Merino (2024) also explains how collective storytelling and ceremonial rites serve as stress relief mechanisms to remain socially cohesive. Furthermore, Bookman-Zandler & Smith (2024) explore community healing models and the relationship between collective trauma and emotional resilience within indigenous cultures. These studies demonstrate that ritual participation within a community promotes psychological well-being and thus supports the therapeutic value of the Gesar tradition.
Garbin (2024) also supports this argument by applying discourse analysis of Xizang cultural narratives in the Gesar epic to find how linguistic patterns of the epic construct resilient identity. The finding of this study is similar to that of Handford & Gee (2014) who postulate the important role of language in establishing communal realization and resilience. These results indicate that storytelling and language are useful means by which to provide mental health support to Xizang communities.
Comparative Studies on Cultural Influence in Mental Health
The psychological resilience that Xizang cultural practices provide is similar to other cases of cultural practice. Guo et al. (2016) investigate how organizational support influences resilience in Chinese nurses concerning how structural empowerment, job stress, and burnout shape their resilience. This is consistent with Sharma & Thapa’s (2023) finding on the socioeconomic factors determining land degradation in high altitudes of the Himalayan communities. The results from both studies emphasize the need for culturally specific interventions that allegedly have both environmental and social impact on mental health.
In addition, Assmann (2011) expands on the utility of the cultural memory in preserving resilience. Mipham (2023) has offered a digital archiving of the Gesar epic to ensure its continued viability in circulation; his research on media-based preservation strategies correspond with his ideas. These findings highlight the need for the preservation of cultural heritage to enhance the person’s psychological stability as well as identity.
Though Xizang studies and psychology have been researched, there is much to know about how these frameworks have changed in modern terms. Few studies have examined how younger Xizang generations interact with the Gesar tradition in a globalized setting or what cultural resilience mechanisms can be adapted from Xizang occupational fields other than Xizang such as healthcare and education. Furthermore, it is well known that in resilience the role of Buddhist teachings is well documented, but research is necessary to understand how these concepts interact with present-day therapeutic approaches.
Research Methodology
Nature of the Study
This study employs a mixed-methods research design to explore how language practices in the Gesar tradition contribute to emotional well-being, stress reduction, and resilience among Xizang communities. The quantitative analysis examines mental health prevalence, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression among Xizang refugees, the role of Gesar oral traditions in fostering psychological resilience, helpline usage during the COVID-19 pandemic, and faith-based coping mechanisms in high-altitude communities. The qualitative component applies discourse analysis to explore linguistic structures, metaphorical expressions, and ritualistic practices in the epic that reinforce psychological resilience.
To integrate these findings, statistical trends from quantitative data are analyzed alongside qualitative insights to explain how cultural narratives act as coping mechanisms. For example, increased resilience scores among Xizangs engaging in storytelling traditions are cross-referenced with thematic elements of perseverance in the epic to illustrate how engagement with Gesar’s narratives strengthens mental health. This dual approach ensures a culturally contextualized interpretation of mental well-being.
Theoretical Framework
The study applies Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine how linguistic structures within the Gesar epic shape psychological resilience and social identity. CDA is employed to study metaphorical constructs, narrative framing, and rhetorical techniques that reinforce the strength of emotion, collective healing, and stress adaptation. CDA helps to focus on language as a means of encoding cultural values, making explicit the implicit psychological mechanisms of resilience.
Cultural Discourse Theory also explains how oral traditions define communal states of mind, while Psychological Resilience Theory explains how individuals and groups assimilate and administer cultural narrative experiences to endure adversity. The study combines these approaches to place the Gesar epic in the frames of a storytelling tradition and a therapeutic structure of emotional regulation.
Data Collection
The quantitative data is collected from peer-review surveys, mental health reports, and academic studies coming from BMC International Health and Human Rights, Springer Link, MDPI Public Health, and the CTA Mental Health COVID-19 helpline. These sources offer statistical illustrations of mental health rates, resilience to faith-based coping mechanisms, and helpline usage trends during crises. The data uses cross reference of Xizang health reports and comparative studies on high altitude psychological resilience to ensure validity.
A discourse analysis of Chapter Seven of the Gesar of Ling epic is utilized to obtain qualitative data from the translated version by Robin Kornman, Sangye Khandro, and Lama Chönam. Symbolic language, ritualistic elements as well as themes of resilience are looked at in the analysis of the epic picking up from where they left off. Ethnographic studies of Gesar’s performances and interviews with Xizang practitioners supply firsthand accounts of how Gesar has continued to be significant in modern mental health practices.
Data Analysis Techniques
The quantitative analysis uses descriptive and inferential statistics to portray the mental health prevalence and the association of cultural engagement with psychological outcomes. Both resilience and stress reduction are regressed to evaluate how engagement with Gesar’s storytelling is correlated to these variables.
It discusses the qualitative analysis of the epic’s language and structure that yields patterns and points to resilience. The text then systematically examines metaphorical imagery, repetition, and linguistic devices that increase the reinforcement of coping mechanisms. In a broader cultural and psycho-analytical context, these results are cross-compared with other Xizang oral traditions and Buddhist texts.
Sources
This study uses many sources to increase validity and generalizability. Apart from studies on Xizang oral traditions, cultural memory preservation, and mental health resilience, comparisons of high-altitude psychological stress and mental resilience in Indigenous storytelling tradition also expand the study scope. This study combines quantitative mental health data with qualitative discourse analysis to offer a possible solution to this issue by using the Gesar epic as a cultural legacy and as a function of the psychological support system for the Chinese Xizang communities.
Results
Symbolic and Metaphorical Language Enhancing Emotional Well-Being
Symbolic and metaphorical language was present throughout the chapter and proved to have a significant role in maintaining the emotional health of Xizang communities. While they are not simply decorative gadgets, these linguistic elements also work as exceptional powers and psychological things to work out emotions and develop resilience. An example in point is the description of Gesar’s transformation and final coronation.:
“The way that Joru had hidden his true innate form was just like the sun when it is hidden in dark clouds… appearance and unsightly clothing and assumed the rūpakāya with the manifold astonishing major and minor marks.” (Kornman et al., p.441).
The metaphor where the hidden divine form of Gesar lies in the metaphor of the sun hidden using a cloud or a lotus from muddy waters signifies the hidden potential in people. It reinforces the concept of inner strength, encouraging self-discovery and personal growth despite external hardships. The epic provides a model for resilience, inspiring individuals to navigate adversity with confidence and perseverance by depicting transformation as a presentation of one’s true nature. Additionally, the narrative employs celestial metaphors to emphasize Gesar’s divine authority:
“Thus, it is that by decisively winning the wager of the horse race, the banner of this renowned account of his ascent to the throne would be hoisted to fly at the peak of existence.” (Kornman et al., p.441).
Here, the imagery of the raised banner symbolizes triumph, recognition, and spiritual elevation, both for Gesar as a leader and for the Xizang people collectively. This metaphor instills a sense of pride, shared purpose, and communal identity, reinforcing emotional well-being through cultural unity. By connecting Gesar’s success to celestial forces, the epic strengthens the psychological resilience of its audience, affirming the belief that perseverance leads to ultimate victory.
Ritualistic Practices and Stress Reduction
In Chapter Seven, ritualistic language and ceremonial practices serve as structured mechanisms for emotional regulation and stress reduction within Xizang communities. These traditions are not only symbolic but provide a practical framework for managing emotional challenges, reinforcing resilience through collective participation. A notable depiction of ritual offerings highlights this function:
“Thus he sang, and similarly the chieftain of the Greater Lineage, Nyibum Daryag of Serpa, starting with the beautiful golden scarf of auspiciousness, offered the golden treasure vase that fulfills all desires, and all sorts of tiger and leopard skins.” (Kornman et al., p.447).
This ritual, accompanied by chants and prayers, serves as an act of gratitude, blessing, and communal solidarity. The structured nature of these practices provides predictability and control, which can alleviate anxiety and offer psychological comfort. Additionally, these ceremonies are inherently communal, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual emotional support, which strengthens collective resilience. The significance of ritualistic singing further reinforces the role of ceremonial language in stress reduction:
“Thus he sang, and the other warriors and maiden sisters also offered songs of auspicious connections and greeting scarves.” (Kornman et al., p.452).
Through collective singing and the exchange of greeting scarves, emotional bonds are reinforced, creating an uplifting and harmonious atmosphere. The rhythmic nature of songs induces a state of relaxation and emotional release, similar to meditative practices. By participating in these shared rituals, individuals reaffirm their cultural identity and develop psychological resilience, transforming communal traditions into sources of emotional strength.
Narrative as a Tool for Building Resilience
Chapter Seven’s storytelling techniques and narrative structure serve as powerful mechanisms for fostering resilience, allowing individuals and communities to internalize strategies for overcoming adversity. The Gesar epic presents resilience models that provide psychological reinforcement, demonstrating how struggles can be transformed into personal and collective strength. A key example of this resilience-building is Gesar’s triumph through divine intervention:
“With his mouth at Turquoise Bird’s ear, Joru screamed the sound of ki! three times, and just like the moon escaping from Rāhu, Turquoise Bird was revived and was just as he’d been before.” (Kornman et al., p.441).
The metaphor of the moon escaping from Rāhu symbolizes the victory of knowledge and virtue over darkness and ignorance. This imagery reinforces the idea that adversity can be overcome through persistence, spiritual strength, and faith, serving as a model for individuals facing personal hardships. By aligning resilience with cosmic and divine forces, the narrative instills confidence in the audience, motivating them to navigate challenges with determination. Furthermore, the epic emphasizes Gesar’s role as a stabilizing force, restoring cosmic and social balance, which reinforces collective resilience:
“The way of appearing in the firmament is the same, yet Rāhu robs the power of the sun and moon while not harming the constellations… come from the speed of the horse.” (Kornman et al., p.441).
This passage highlights Gesar’s power as divinely ordained rather than merely physical, affirming that strength comes from karmic forces and spiritual support. By depicting Gesar as a stabilizer, the narrative reassures the community that their cultural and spiritual identity remains protected, fostering psychological security and resilience even in times of disruption. Through these metaphors, the epic provides a cognitive framework that enables individuals to view adversity as an opportunity for transformation and growth.
Communal Celebrations as Reinforcement of Well-Being
Communal celebrations in Chapter Seven are an important means of reconfirming emotional well-being and resilience. These happenings are to enforce relations in Xizang society, consolidate collective image, and discharge emotion for the sake of preventing psychological ruin. By engaging in collective rituals, individuals experience shared joy and unity, reinforcing their sense of belonging and emotional support. The grand celebration following Gesar’s victory highlights this communal reinforcement:
“From the firmament, music resounded while a shower of white flowers descended. At that time and for the next thirteen days, everyone sang and danced in celebration.” (Kornman et al., p.448).
The length of the celebration symbolizes both the release of collective stress and the reaffirmation of communal identity. Engaging in joyous activities together reduces individual stress, enhances emotional well-being, and fosters a sense of purpose within the community. By commemorating Gesar’s triumph through music, dance, and offerings, these celebrations reinforce cultural values and strengthen the communal network, ensuring long-term resilience against future adversities. The emotional depth of these celebrations is further emphasized through symbolic offerings and ritualistic language:
“As the race of demons wails at their loss. All brethren, do you understand the source of this joy? Country of Ling, do you understand this happiness? I offer this single white scarf to you, Gesar…” (Kornman et al., p.446).
This passage illustrates how communal joy is intertwined with cultural pride and shared triumph over adversity. The exchange of scarves and symbolic gifts represents an emotional investment in collective success, reinforcing the community’s resilience and unity. Through such ritualistic acts, past victories are honored while fostering a collective determination to sustain and strengthen their shared achievements over time.
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Llanguage Practices in Empowering Emotional Well-Being
Chapter Seven employs specific language practices, including chants, prayers, and symbolic declarations, which play a crucial role in regulating emotions and fostering psychological resilience. These linguistic elements function both individually and collectively to provide emotional stability and strengthen cultural identity.
Chants and Divine Affirmations
The chants and prayers in the epic serve as powerful affirmations of ethnic values and personal strength, reinforcing spiritual and emotional well-being. The rhythmic and repetitive nature of these chants induces a meditative state, promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety:
“Thus she sang, and the other warriors and maiden sisters also offered songs of auspicious connections and greeting scarves” (Kornman et al., p.446).
By engaging in communal singing and chanting, individuals experience mood enhancement, stress relief, and a strengthened sense of unity. These practices affirm shared values, reinforce cultural identity, and provide a collective emotional release, helping the community maintain resilience in the face of adversity. Additionally, divine affirmations rooted within the chants establish a spiritual foundation, reinforcing confidence and psychological security:
“I, Sengchen Norbu Dradül, Have been mandated by the imperial gods, Sent to engage in the two activities of forming an army and subjugating the enemies.” (Kornman et al., p.444).
This gives divine authority to the statement, which in turn legitimizes Gesar’s leadership, while at the same time instilling a sense of communal stability and assurance. The use of authoritative language gives a person confidence, makes him assured and reduces and eases out the collective anxiety, builds faith in Gesar as a protector. These affirmations give the community emotional resilience in terms of support from divinity which means a common feeling of security and purpose.
Symbolic Declarations of Power and Authority
Symbolic declarations in the Gesar Epic were meant to launch the divine authority and power of Gesar to reinforce the community’s emotional strength and psychological stability. These proclamations embody the leader that is Gesar, a leader who fights and has spiritual authority as well as strength, protection, and wisdom:
“I am the suppressor of the demons of the dark side, I am the yoke upon the Yellow Hor, I am the wealth lord of both China and Tibet, I am the sovereign of Jambudvīpa.” (Kornman et al., p.443).
Gesar is portrayed as having a divine role to protect and uphold virtue, leading to a sense that the community is proud and takes pride in mentioning Gesar’s name. The narrative is given psychological reassurance by aligning his power with both spiritual legitimacy and earthly dominion and reinforcement of communal security and resilience. It strengthens Gesar’s leadership through the sign that his rule is linked to the collective well-being and aspiration of the Xizang people:
“From this day onward, the wishes of White Ling will be fulfilled. Prepare to sing the songs of delight, prepare to dance the dance of happiness. Keep all of this in your heart.” (Kornman et al., p.441).
This declaration symbolizes a communal commitment to cultural continuity and shared prosperity. By embedding cultural practices and celebrations into the narrative, the epic strengthens social cohesion, encouraging collective participation in maintaining emotional well-being. These symbolic affirmations serve as grounding forces for resilience, ensuring that the community finds stability in its shared identity and traditions.
Establishing Resilient Identities Through Narrative
The Gesar of Ling epic plays a crucial role in shaping resilient identities by portraying characters who embody strength, wisdom, and divine support. By presenting heroic figures as role models, the narrative encourages individuals to adopt resilience-building strategies, supporting a sense of perseverance and communal solidarity.
Role Models and Heroic Exemplars
Gesar’s journey is filled with instances of overcoming adversity, and demonstrating resilience through divine intervention and strategic action:
“With his mouth at Turquoise Bird’s ear, Joru screamed the sound of ki! three times, and just like the moon escaping from Rāhu, Turquoise Bird was revived and was just as he’d been before.” (Kornman et al., p.441).
This imagery of the moon escaping from Rāhu symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and virtue over evil. The narrative serves as a guiding framework, encouraging individuals to adopt a resilient mindset and to believe in their inner strength to overcome challenges. Gesar’s diverse roles further solidify his status as a heroic exemplar, embodying both martial prowess and spiritual wisdom:
“I am the suppressor of the demons of the dark side, I am the yoke upon the Yellow Hor, I am the wealth lord of both China and Tibet, I am the sovereign of Jambudvīpa.” (Kornman et al., p.443).
The leadership represented by Gesar is holistic, incorporating strength, justice, and wisdom, which he asserts over various domains. This multifaceted identity pressures one to have resilience in the ethical, the spiritual, and the physical in terms of courage. By these representations, the epic supports the assumption that resilience is a collective responsibility to the community based on cultural and moral strength.
Narrative Reinforcement of Cultural Values
The Gesar epic reinforces cultural values through its narrative structure and symbolic language, shaping resilient identities within the community. By embedding hierarchical and spiritual values into its storytelling, the epic strengthens communal belonging and emotional well-being, providing a sense of stability and continuity. A key example of this formalization of societal roles appears in Gesar’s decree:
“From now onward, the chieftain will be called Sengchen Norbu, the ministers will be called the Thirty Brethren.” (Kornman et al., p.443).
By establishing titles and structured leadership within the narrative, the epic instills a sense of purpose, responsibility, and social cohesion. This structured identity helps individuals find emotional strength in their cultural roles, emphasizing resilience through shared values and collective identity. Furthermore, the communal aspect of the epic promotes cooperation and mutual support, as seen in the ritual of collective offerings:
“The warrior Sengtag Adom offered the eight auspicious symbols in red pearl stone. Yamed Darphen of the Chölu clan offered a purple agate archer’s bow, and … silk brocades and varieties of jewels.” (Kornman et al., p.448).
This act of offering represents communal solidarity and the reinforcement of shared values. By participating in collective rituals, individuals strengthen their emotional ties, creating a support network that helps them to direct stress and adversity. The narrative constructs resilience not only on an individual level but as a communal responsibility, ensuring that cultural traditions serve as a source of strength and stability for future generations.
Quantitative Data Supporting the Qualitative Findings
The qualitative insights derived from the Gesar epic are strengthened by quantitative data, which highlights both the significant mental health challenges faced by Xizang communities and the positive impact of cultural engagement on resilience. Statistical analysis demonstrates the psychological burden of displacement while validating the therapeutic role of oral traditions and faith-based practices.
Figure 1 illustrates high rates of mental health conditions among Xizang refugees, with PTSD affecting 23% of individuals, anxiety at 50%, and depression at 32%. These numbers reflect the deep psychological toll of displacement and historical trauma.
However, engagement with Gesar’s traditions is shown to significantly improve mental health outcomes. As demonstrated in Figure 2, participation in storytelling practices enhances resilience by 45%, reduces stress by 40%, and improves emotional well-being by 50%. This statistical reinforcement aligns with qualitative findings, which suggest that ritualistic storytelling, symbolic language, and communal narratives serve as psychological coping mechanisms.
Additionally, Table 1 and Table 2 confirm the effectiveness of culturally adapted mental health interventions, particularly those that integrate faith-based practices and traditional storytelling techniques. Figure 3 further underscores the need for customized mental health strategies in high-altitude Xizang regions, where environmental stressors exacerbate psychological challenges.
These findings highlight the essential role of Gesar traditions in promoting emotional well-being and resilience, demonstrating that cultural narratives are not just symbolic but have measurable psychological benefits.
Figure 1: Mental Health Prevalence Among Xizang Refugees
The figure shows the extent of mental health conditions that pervade Xizang refugees, the effects of displacement, and historical trauma. Most of these mental health illnesses happen in outpatient centers, 23% of the individuals are affected with PTSD, 50% of the individuals are affected with anxiety disorders, and 32% are depression. In general, these findings demonstrate a need for culturally sensitive mental health interventions for Xizang refugees.
The significance of these statistics is to highlight the fact that there is a huge mental health burden within the Xizang refugee community, having the long-term effects of forced migration, cultural dislocation, and historical trauma. This supports the necessity for culturally sensitive mental health interventions since the severity of these conditions.
Given these challenges, a culturally relevant framework for psychological therapy would be an approach that incorporates traditional storytelling and Buddhist practices. Integrating traditions of the Gesar epic with mindfulness and spiritual practices as mental health strategies makes them more available and useful. This culturally rooted implementation guarantees mental health interventions related to Xizang values which would support Xizang values acceptance and improve effect.
Figure 2: Mental Health Prevalence Among Xizang Refugees
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The figure shows that Gesar’s oral traditions are protective for significant mental health benefits. These participants reported an increase of 45 percent in resilience, a 40 percent decrease in stress level, and a 50 percent improvement in emotional well-being. These results support that strengthening psychological resilience could be achieved through the use of cultural narratives in therapeutic practice.
These stats represent the psychological cost of displacement, forced migration, and historical trauma that has had a significant burden on the mental health of Xizang refugees. The prevalence of anxiety is high, suggesting that people have continuing stressors that relate to uncertainty, cultural loss, and adaptation challenges.
Interventions are needed to address these mental health concerns that require cultural tailoring. Based upon traditional Xizang narratives, including the Gesar epic, as well as Buddhist mindfulness practices, holistic psychological healing is being incorporated in a significant strain. Storytelling tradition is a therapeutic tool, which uses reframing of cognition, expression of emotion, and collective resilience. When incorporating folk traditions and spiritual frameworks into psychotherapy mental health approaches become more effective and culturally meaningful thus helping to increase internalization and involvement among Xizang communities.
Figure 3: Impact of Gesar Oral Traditions on Mental Health
This figure also shows that rates of anxiety and depression are significantly higher among populations above 4,500 meters. Thus, the findings indicate that interventions must be personalized and incorporate location-specific traditional Xizang resilience practices.
By preserving and engaging in Gesar narratives, Xizang communities reinforce social cohesion, strengthen personal identity, and establish a shared framework for coping with adversity. These traditions provide a structured means for emotional expression, cognitive reframing, and stress alleviation, making them an essential component of culturally grounded mental health practices.
The data further supports the idea that traditional storytelling holds significant potential as a therapeutic tool. Integrating oral traditions with modern psychological strategies can create more effective, culturally relevant mental health interventions for the Xizang population. By bridging heritage-based practices with contemporary therapy models, Gesar traditions can contribute to long-term resilience and well-being within Xizang communities.
Table 1: COVID-19 Helpline Data
|
Metric |
Value |
Source |
|
Total Helpline Calls |
5,000 |
CTA Mental Health COVID-19 Helpline |
|
Calls Related to Anxiety/Stress (%) |
65 |
CTA Mental Health COVID-19 Helpline |
|
Counselors Trained |
25 |
CTA Mental Health COVID-19 Helpline |
The table represents the usage of the COVID-19 mental health helpline in the Xizang settlement. But the helpline had fielded over 5,000 calls and 65 percent of them were calls of anxiety and stress. Further, 25 counselors were trained to dispense psychological support. These numbers show how effective targeted mental health interventions are during crises. Contacting the helpline and its success showed how responsive services along with culturally humane coping techniques can somehow relieve mental health concerns of Xizang communities.
Table 2: Resilience Through Faith
|
Metric |
Value |
Source |
|
Resilience Improvement (%) |
70 |
Springer Link |
|
Self-Harmony Improvement (%) |
62 |
Springer Link |
|
Population Surveyed |
5,000 |
Springer Link |
This table shows the positive impacts of the faith on Xizang students psychologically. A survey of 5,000 participants shows resilience improved by 70% and self-harmony by 62%. Xizang Buddhist traditions offer faith and means to cope offering emotional steadiness, promoting the role of cultural and spiritual practice in mental health. The data points to the possibility that faith-based approaches can help Xizang communities improve well-being and resilience.
Environmental Stressors: The Role of Altitude in Mental Health Challenges
This research examines the mental health challenges faced by Xizang populations living in high-altitude regions and their impact on overall well-being. Findings from the BMJ Open study indicate a direct correlation between altitude and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), with well-being scores declining as elevation increases.
The study reveals that individuals residing at moderate altitudes (3500–4000m) report an HRQoL score of 75, whereas those at higher altitudes (4000–4500m) experience a decline to 65, and those living at extreme elevations (4500–5000m) have the lowest scores at 55. As illustrated in Figure 5, this trend highlights a strong inverse relationship between altitude and well-being.
These findings suggest that environmental stressors such as hypoxia, extreme weather conditions, and geographic isolation contribute to increased mental health challenges. The physical toll of high-altitude living may exacerbate anxiety, depression, and other psychological stressors, necessitating targeted interventions that integrate both biomedical and culturally sensitive mental health strategies. Addressing altitude-related stress through mindfulness practices, community rituals, and traditional Xizang storytelling could provide effective coping mechanisms and support resilience in these populations.
Figure 4 Health-Related Quality of Life in the Xizang Population by Altitude
The decline is a result of factors such as hypoxia, unfavorable weather, and isolation which increase the two forms of stress, physical and psychological stress including anxiety and depression. Some of these suffering include traditional Xizang practices such as mindfulness, community rituals, and storytelling which could be integrated with the contemporary approaches to therapy. These interventions offer culturally appropriate help and promote the well-being of the high-altitude population.
Figure 5: High-Altitude Mental Health Challenges
This figure reports mental health challenges experienced by Xizang people in high‑altitude regions. Of the 24,141 surveyed, 30.7 percent had suffered from anxiety, and 52.3 percent were depressed. Moreover, 65% of the data was concentrated in areas above the 3,000 meters. These findings identify the environmental stressors associated with mental health and the importance of customized interventions. To effectively deal with these unique challenges Xizang traditional cultural practices can be integrated with modern mental health treatment.
It is argued that although the causes of lower well-being at higher altitudes are environmental stresses like hypoxia, harsh weather, and geographic isolation, these seemingly present a combination of both physical and psychological stress like upsettingly high anxiety and depression. On top of these, high altitudes exacerbate feelings of social detachment and worsen mental health vulnerabilities of high-altitude Xizang populations.
Some traditional Xizang coping practices include mindfulness; community rituals; and storytelling to lessen these effects. The culturally ingrained practice of these provides emotional support, increases chances of resilience among women, and thereby provides a feeling of being connected amongst people, which is particularly important in isolated high-altitude areas.
Utilizing both these heritage-based therapies with modern therapies helps us devise holistic and culturally relevant strategies from the perspective of mental health as such. Narrative traditions, meditation, and collective rituals are integrated into contemporary mental health strategies to make interventions more effective in promoting the psychological well-being of Xizang communities facing altitude-related stressors.
Conclusion
This study has shown how the Gesar of Ling epic played an important function in a language practice that advanced emotional well-being, stress reduction and resilience. The research has applied Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to explore symbolic, ritualistic and communal language in Chapter Seven, explaining how their function is psychological, as support systems, and ethnic, as enhancers of cultural identity.
The analysis qualitatively demonstrates how these same metaphorical imagery, celestial symbols, and transformative narratives within the epic enable them to draw strength and sustain resilience personally. For example, the metaphor of Gesar breaking through obscured light (the sun through clouds or a lotus rising from muddy water) symbolizes triumphing difficulty and self-enlightenment. In addition, rituals and communal celebrations serve as organized schemata for the regulation of stress and group solidarity as well as anxiety. These traditions make predictions and are stable; bring test expectations via ways of the cultural rites built into Xizang mental health practices.
The quantitative component of the study further validates these findings, demonstrating the mental health benefits of engaging with the Gesar tradition. Data from mental health surveys indicate that Xizang refugees face high rates of PTSD (23%), anxiety (50%), and depression (32%). However, as shown in Figures 2 and Table 2, participation in Gesar oral traditions leads to a 45% increase in resilience, a 40% reduction in stress, and a 50% improvement in emotional well-being. This underscores the effectiveness of culturally informed mental health interventions, particularly helplines and faith-based approaches, in mitigating distress within Xizang communities. Additionally, Figure 3 highlights the need for region-specific mental health care, especially in high-altitude settings where environmental stressors exacerbate mental health conditions.
Beyond the Gesar epic, other Xizang cultural narratives also contribute to mental health and resilience. Traditional Buddhist scriptures, folk songs, and spiritual texts emphasize mindfulness, impermanence, and compassion, which are crucial elements in psychological healing. Refugee populations, however, may experience altered cultural interpretations due to diasporic displacement and the loss of traditional community structures. This suggests that future studies should explore how displaced Xizangs adapt and reinterpret cultural narratives to cope with trauma.
Future Research Directions
While this study establishes the psychological benefits of Xizang storytelling traditions, it acknowledges certain limitations, particularly the reliance on translated texts, which may dilute cultural nuances. Future research should explore gender differences in resilience-building through oral traditions, as women and men may engage with and interpret the Gesar narrative differently. Additionally, regional disparities should be examined, as Xizangs in exile may experience cultural transmission and mental health interventions differently compared to those in Tibet.
Recommendations
Traditional Gesar narratives and ritualistic practices should be integrated into contemporary mental health interventions to facilitate the effect of cultural storytelling on the mental health of the people. Mental health practitioners should work together with cultural leaders who can design programs based on the use of storytelling as a means of therapy, facilitating emotional expression and social cohesion. Moreover, the Gesar epic should be digitalized and archived to be preserved for future educational uses and culture.
Policymakers should choose to fund the preservation of oral traditions and culturally appropriate mental health resources to enable Xizang people to have access to therapeutic resources that are based on their heritage. Finally, future research about assessing the effectiveness of these approaches in different Xizang settings; especially in the refugee communities, in the gender-based experience of resilience and variations in cultural identity retention based on the Xizang region is recommended.
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Acknowledgement
This article is supported and funded by the 2024 project tilted “ Multimodal discourse construction of Gesar culture and research on the communication of national community consciousness in China”, initiated by the Gesar Cultural Research Center of Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. (Project No. GZGSWH202415)
Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement
There is no conflict of interest to be declared from all of the authors.
Human Subject Approval Statement
There is no human-being included in the data collection part of the research.