Nuo opera (Nuo opera of Gelao nationality)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Nuo opera (Nuo opera of Gelao nationality)

Applicant: Daozhen Gelao and Miao Autonomous County, Guizhou Province

Project No.: 233

Project No.: Ⅳ - 89

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: Traditional Drama

Region: Guizhou Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Daozhen Gelao and Miao Autonomous County, Guizhou Province

Protection unit: Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance and protection center of Daozhen Gelao and Miao Autonomous County

Nuo opera (Nuo opera of Gelao nationality)

Applicant: Daozhen Gelao and Miao Autonomous County, Guizhou Province

Nuo opera, also known as "Nuotang opera" and "Duangong opera", is a form of local opera formed on the basis of folk sacrificial rites, which is widely popular in Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Hebei and other provinces. Nuo opera originated in ancient times. As early as in the pre Qin period, there were witch songs and Nuo dances that entertained both gods and people. At the end of Ming Dynasty and the beginning of Qing Dynasty, all kinds of local opera flourished. Nuo dance absorbed the artistic factors of opera and developed into Nuotang opera and Duangong opera. During the reign of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, Nuo opera appeared in Western Hunan, and then entered the Yangtze River from the Yuan river. It spread rapidly and merged with folk art in various places, forming a variety of different schools and styles. For example, Nuo opera in Hunan and Hubei (mainly popular in Hefeng and Enshi) was formed by absorbing the performance skills of Huagu opera.

Nuo opera of Gelao nationality was introduced into Daozhen Gelao and Miao Autonomous County of Guizhou Province at the latest in Yuan and Ming Dynasties, and began to spread in the local area. It takes witchcraft as its core, and combines with Guizhou regional culture and Gelao culture, forming a special form of the combination of Buddhism and witchcraft, Taoism and witchcraft, Qing Dynasty and Confucianism and witchcraft. At present, there are more than 50 altar classes and more than 630 people engaged in Nuo ceremony activities in Daozhen.

Daozhen Gelao Nuo opera aims at praying for blessing and greeting auspicious. It is performed by folk artists called "Mr. Daoshi". It has more than 130 forms of expression, such as chongnuo, dabaofu, Yangxi, Zitong opera. It is accompanied by gongs, drums, cymbals, suona and other musical instruments, with songs and dances, or singing, and the interaction of Zhuang and harmonic. It pays equal attention to both culture and martial arts Nuo mask. The performers ranged from one or two to more than ten, and the time ranged from one or two hours to several days and nights. The content varied according to the purpose of believers and the sect. The whole performance process showed the characteristics of the combination of God entertainment and people entertainment, and the integration of sacrifice and art. At present, there are more than 8 million words recorded in Nuo opera of Gelao nationality in Daozhen. According to preliminary estimation, it takes about two months to demonstrate all Nuo opera.

Gelao Nuo opera is an important carrier of Gelao culture and Guizhou wunuo culture, which has important research value in religion, history, folk custom, music, literature, education and so on.