TheFaraway Tsardom is an undefined realm ofEast Slavic folklore into which the hero fell or separated from the ordinary world by an impenetrable dense forests, abysses, seas or other obstacles.[1] In Russian language it is referred to asТридевятое царство ( literally "Thrice-ninth Tsardom"[a]), тридесятое царство ( literally "Thrice-tenth Tsardom"; the wordтридцать ("thirty") is a contraction of archaic "тридесять").
Some fairy tales use the phrase "In distant lands..." (За тридевять земель...). Example : "In distant lands in the faraway tsardom, beyond the fiery river livesBaba Yaga" (За тридевять земель в тридесятом царстве, за огненной рекою живёт баба-яга) (s:ru:Народные_русские_сказки_(Афанасьев)/Марья_Моревна)
In this distant land, a proud and domineeringprincess reigns,serpents, thefirebird, golden-maned horses live, rejuvenating apples grow, springs with living and dead water flow. Sometimes this realm is located underground, but it can also be located on a mountain or under water.[3]
The firebird is always golden in her hot feathers. This feature, as well as its golden cage, is connected with the fact that the bird arrives from another, "Thrice-ninth tsardom", from where everything painted in golden color comes.[4][5]
The hero comes to this realm for a stolen beauty, for curiosities, rejuvenating apples and living and healing water, which give eternal youth and health.In some tales, Thrice-ninth Tsardom is located underground. There are gardens with fruitful trees. It is also connected with the horizon, thunder can be heard in it.[6][7]
In the opinion of the Russian folkloristVladimir Propp, Thrice-ninth tsardom is associated with the views of theSlavs about theother world.[8]
Often, the purpose of the hero's journey to the Thrice-ninth tsardom is to obtain or return a bride to himself. On his way, the hero of a folktale almost always encounters an obstacle in the form of a "dark and dense" forest. In many tales, in the forest there is ahut on chicken legs. Sometimes the faraway realm is separated from the familiar world by a fiery river with a bridge, sea or abyss.[9]
FromThe Blue Suite Sewn to the Left by Belarusian folklore[10]  | Як бегчы, дык бегчы — забег у трыдзевятае царства. | If run, then run; so he run into thethrice-ninth tsardom. |