International Journal Of Literature And Languages
94
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijll
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue07 2025
PAGE NO.
94-96
10.37547/ijll/Volume05Issue07-25
Uzbek Folk Tale “Bulbuliguyo”: Plot
and Symbolism
Dilrabo Igamuratova
Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Uzbek Language, Literature, and Folklore, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Received:
31 May 2025;
Accepted:
29 June 2025;
Published:
31 July 2025
Abstract:
This article is devoted to the Uzbe
k folk tale “Bulbuliguyo.” It examines the plot, symbolic images, and
magical motifs through which important moral ideas are revealed. Special attention is given to how the storyteller,
within the oral tradition, conveys values characteristic of the Uzbek people
—
such as humanity, selflessness,
courage, and nobility.
Keywords:
Tale, shah-tyran, tree, Bulbuliguyo, younger prince, symbol.
Introduction:
“Bulbuliguyo” is one of the classic Uzbek
folk tales, belonging to the three-part narrative type,
where events unfold in a logical sequence, gradually
becoming more complex and revealing deeper
meanings. The tale combines magical motifs, trials, and
the struggle for justice, which serves as the central
moral concept. Through the characters' actions,
traditional notions of good and evil are revealed: good
is associated with qualities such as courage, honesty,
and self-sacrifice, while evil is characterized by
selfishness, envy, and betrayal.
The tale begins with an order from a tyrant shah who,
over the course of seven years, collected taxes from his
subjects to create a marvelous tree: its trunk was
carved from rubies, its branches from emeralds, its
leaves from pearls, and its fruits from precious stones.
One day, the shah notices that a leaf has disappeared
from the tree and commands that it be guarded and the
thief found. Whoever finds the thief will be rewarded;
those who fail will be executed. Every day, forty young
men guard the tree, yet each day another leaf goes
missing. Eventually, the task of guarding the tree falls
to the shah’s th
ree sons. They take turns, but even the
elder princes fail to prevent the theft. Only the
youngest prince succeeds in uncovering the truth: the
thief is a magical bird named Bulbuliguyo.
The elder brothers set out first in search of the bird. A
few days later, the youngest prince has a prophetic
dream and asks his father for a blessing to begin his
journey. He catches up with his brothers and joins
them. Together, they continue the quest for
Bulbuliguyo. Along the way, they come across a fork in
the road with three paths, each symbolizing a different
fate: the first promises return, the second warns of
misfortune, and the third foretells no return. The eldest
prince chooses the first path; the middle prince initially
takes the second but, fearing misfortune, turns back
and joins his older brother. The youngest prince
chooses the third
—
the most difficult and perilous
path.
On his journey, the prince meets a monkey and shares
his last flatbread with her. In gratitude, she offers him
her help. The monkey guides him to the magical bird
Bulbuliguyo’s sanctuary. However, upon hearing her
enchanting song, the prince faints and ends up
imprisoned. The ruler of the palace where Bulbuliguyo
is kept gives him a difficult task: if the prince brings him
a princess from a distant land, he will receive the bird.
The prince and the monkey continue their journey.
They find the princess but fall into another trap and are
forced to complete a new challenge
—
to obtain the
magical horse Karakaldirgach, which belongs to the
sorcerer Arzak.
With the monkey’s help, the prince manages to escape
the trap and captures the horse. Following her advice,
the prince keeps the horse. The monkey, as previously
agreed, transforms into a horse, and the prince
presents her to the ruler while taking the princess with
him. When they return to the shah who owns
Bulbuliguyo, the prince prepares to hand over the
princess in exchange for the bird. The monkey, who
transforms back from a horse, now appears as a
beautiful young woman, whom the prince gives to the
International Journal Of Literature And Languages
95
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijll
International Journal Of Literature And Languages (ISSN: 2771-2834)
shah
—
thus finally obtaining Bulbuliguyo. As a result,
the prince becomes the owner of the magical horse, the
enchanted bird, and the beautiful princess.
On the way back, the prince is invited by the monkey to
her magnificent palace. She reveals her true identity as
the daughter of the peri (fairy) shah. Cutting a lock of
her hair, she gives it to the prince and promises to come
to his aid whenever he is in trouble.
On the return journey, the youngest prince finds his
brothers, who have lost everything and become
servants. Along the way, the brothers grow envious of
the youngest. Plotting against him, they get rid of him
and, assuming he is dead, return home. They present
the bird, horse, and princess to the shah. But the bird
falls silent
—
harmony is lost. The prince, using the
fairy’s hair lock, calls for her help. Disguised as a
wanderer, he returns to the palace. Recognizing the
poor stranger as the true prince, Bulbuliguyo begins to
sing and reveals the truth.
In the end, the shah punishes the elder sons, marries
the youngest prince to the princess, and passes the
throne to him.
In the final part of the tale, the moral strength of the
youngest son is emphasized: despite his brothers
’
betrayal, he refuses to seek revenge. Seeing his
nobility, the shah rewards him with trust and passes the
throne to him. This episode reflects a common motif in
Eastern folk tales
—
forgiveness as the highest virtue,
and the granting of power as a deserved reward for
moral resilience and compassion.
The symbolism embedded in the tale serves as an
essential tool for uncovering its deeper meanings and
reflects the worldview of the folk culture. The magical
tree, crafted from precious stones, represents more
than wealth and power
—
it is a symbol of the fragility of
order. Despite its outward brilliance and strength, it
proves vulnerable, as a single leaf vanishes each day.
Thus, the tree embodies the dual nature of wealth and
authority: desirable yet unstable, and subject to decay
if not guarded by justice and moral principles.
The three roads, from which the youngest prince
chooses the most perilous, represent an archetypal
motif of moral choice. Each road is not merely a
physical path but a symbol of a life journey: easy,
difficult, or deadly. The youngest prince’s choice of the
hardest path highlights his readiness for self-sacrifice
and true heroic calling. This motif is closely tied to the
folkloric idea that only good which endures trials is
worthy of reward.
The monkey’s image is a variation of the widely
-known
motif of the magical helper in folk tales. The monkey is
a magical creature not only endowed with supernatural
powers but also with a kind heart, loyalty, and wisdom.
She plays a key role in the princ
e’s fate, acting as his
guide and savior
—
repeatedly rescuing him, offering
direction, and helping him overcome obstacles. Her
journey alongside the prince is a path of self-sacrifice:
she gives herself up, turning into a horse, then a
princess; she arrives at crucial moments to help; and
remains with the prince out of pure friendship. Thus,
she becomes a symbol of true loyalty, wisdom, and
hidden strength, her role much deeper than it might
initially appear.
The image of the bird Bulbuliguyo plays a central role in
the tale. She is not merely a songbird but a symbol
bearing deep allegorical meaning. Her song is
associated with harmony, truth, and the restoration of
justice, while her silence reflects moral disorder, deceit,
and lawlessness. Through this image, the folk motif of
the “voice of truth” is realized—
capable not only of
exposing lies but also of restoring balance to the world.
Bulbuliguyo acts as a moral indicator of the state of
society: when good prevails, she sings; when evil
triumphs, she is silent. When the youngest prince
becomes a victim of his brothers’ treachery, harmony is
lost, and the bird falls silent
—
a metaphor for the
absence of justice and order. The prince’s return and
the bird’s resumed song symbolize the restoration of
justice and moral equilibrium.
“Bulbuliguyo” is more than just a tale—
it is a living
example of Uzbek folk tradition. Its key symbols
—
the
tree, the three roads, the monkey, and the bird
—
are
deeply interconnected, creating a rich tapestry of
meaning. Through magical imagery and trials, the tale
conveys important life lessons. These reflect our
understanding of good and evil, moral choices, justice,
and spirituality. The symbols do not merely drive the
plot; they also pass down essential moral teachings
from generation to generation. At the heart of the story
lies the idea that good always triumphs over evil, and
that a true hero’s strength lies in honesty, courage, and
the ability to help others. The tale teaches the value of
loyalty, bravery, and justice, and reminds us that true
happiness and strength come only through hardship
and overcoming obstacles.
The story also reflects features of social injustice typical
of its time: tyranny, abuse of power, intrigue, and
inequality, as well as strained family dynamics. The
image of the youngest prince embodies the figure of a
hero-victim, ready to endure trials not for personal
gain, but for the sake of restoring justice and achieving
the common good. His journey symbolizes the moral
superiority of inner virtue over external circumstances.
The tale conveys the message that power should serve
the people, and that injustice and betrayal lead to the
breakdown of harmony in society. This folk narrative
International Journal Of Literature And Languages
96
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijll
International Journal Of Literature And Languages (ISSN: 2771-2834)
remains relevant today, reminding us of the
importance of justice, honesty, and
the individual’s role
in maintaining balance and harmony in the world.
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