Qiangmu (aquangmu, Qude Temple)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Qiangmu

Applicant: Gongga County, Tibet Autonomous Region

Item No.: 125

Project No.: Ⅲ - 22

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Tibet Autonomous Region

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Gongga County, Tibet Autonomous Region

Protection unit: Gongga Qude Temple Management Committee, Gongga County, Shannan City

Brief introduction of Qiangmu (aquangmu in Qude Temple)

Applicant: Gongga County, Tibet Autonomous Region

"Aqiangmu" is a kind of religious dance performed by monks in gonggaqude temple, Gongga County, Shannan area.

Aquangmu in Qude Temple of Gongga was created by zongba Gongga Langjie in 1464, which has a history of more than 500 years.

Aqiangmu performs twice a year: the first is the "quzhuiddui Festival" (religious festival) in Qude temple on January 15 of the Tibetan calendar, and the second is the "cuoqusipang" (commonly known as the "treasure offering meeting") held in Lhasa on February 30 of the Tibetan calendar.

Achang's dancers are 16 and accompanied by a cymbal hand. During the performance, the dancers don't wear masks, only draw Black faces. There is no complicated plot and role for achangm. The dancers carry the big drum with large volume and heavy weight on their back, and dance while knocking. It is dignified and steady. There are only two kinds of performance formation: clockwise circle and vertical row, in which the double encouragements are interspersed.

There is a local saying that dancing aqiangmu can make the weather smooth and the family auspicious, and prevent and resist all kinds of natural and man-made disasters. Aquangmu in Qude temple, like other temple Qiangmu, is not allowed to perform at will, let alone impart it to laymen. It can only be performed by designated people at the specified time and place.