Nuo dance (Shaowu Nuo dance)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Nuo dance (Shaowu Nuo dance)

Applicant: Shaowu City, Fujian Province

Project No.: 110

Project No.: Ⅲ - 7

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Fujian Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Shaowu City, Fujian Province

Protection unit: Shaowu Cultural Center

Introduction to Nuo dance (Shaowu Nuo dance)

Applicant: Shaowu City, Fujian Province

Nuo dance is a primitive dance with the nature of sacrificial rites in traditional society, which has a long history. It is said that there were the titles of "Da Nuo" and "Xiang Ren Nuo" in the Zhou Dynasty, which gradually became an important part of the national orthodox ritual system after the Han Dynasty. Nuo dance aims at driving away pestilence and praying for peace, which has strong participation of the masses. During the performance, the dancers wore masks, shouting and chasing, which attracted many followers, and the scene was very lively. Nuo dance is widely spread all over the country, especially in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui of the Yangtze River Basin and Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu and Hebei of the Yellow River Basin. Among the minorities in Southwest China, there are many kinds of exorcism instruments and Exorcism dances with various forms and complicated functions.

Shaowu Nuo dance is an ancient dance form in Shaowu City, Fujian Province. It is popular in DABUGANG, Heping, xiaojiafang, Guilin, Jinkeng and other towns in Shaowu. According to the stone tablet records in 1835 of the Qing Dynasty, Shaowu Nuo dance began in the Song Dynasty and has a history of more than 1000 years. Local people do not use the name of "Nuo dance", but use the specific program names such as "Tiao fan Seng" and "Tiao Ba man". The time of Nuo dancing and the God worshiping in each village are different.

Shaowu Nuo dance retains the original image of Exorcism in sacrificial music and dance. It has no storyline or rap. It has the lingering charm of ancient Nuo in mask, costume and dance action. In addition to retaining the original content of expelling diseases and ghosts in the Central Plains, Shaowu Tiao Nuo also added such contents as praying for health and safety, having more children, and achieving academic success. During the performance, the dancers wear masks and a piece of red cloth suffixed on their heads. They dance and sing in the open land with drum music. The dance movements are complex and show a simple and rough temperament.

Shaowu Nuo dance is the product of the intersection of Central Plains culture, Chu culture and ancient Yue culture. It integrates Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and folk beliefs. It has rich connotation and is unique in various local Nuo cultures in China. It has research value in history, culture, religion, folk custom and art. In recent years, the original Nuo dance classes are withering day by day, the old artists have died or are old, facing the problem of lack of successors. The modern cultural life is increasingly colorful, but also to the Nuo dance of this ancient culture to heavy damage.