Kasdawen

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: kasdawen dance

Applicant: Heishui County, Sichuan Province

Item No.: 136

Project No.: Ⅲ - 33

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Sichuan Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Heishui County, Sichuan Province

Protection unit: Heishui County Cultural Center

Introduction to kasdawen Dance:

Applicant: Heishui County, Sichuan Province

Kasdawen dance is mainly spread in Heishui River Basin of Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Because the dancers wear "armor" to sing and dance, it is commonly known as "armor dance" in Chinese. "Kasidawen" is the dialect of Heishui, "kasidawen" means "armor", and "Wen" or "Gong" means "wear". "Kasidawen" is a folk sacrificial song and dance activity, in which the warriors prayed for victory and their relatives prayed for peace and auspiciousness.

According to the research, "kasdawen" may be the sacrificial ceremony of the ancient Qiang tribe in the process of nomadic and hunting. Before the Tang Dynasty, due to the continuous wars in the Heishui River Basin, it gradually evolved into a kind of war sacrifice activities held before the soldiers went to war. Up to now, it has become a kind of song and dance activities in festivals, celebrations, funerals and other sacrificial ceremonies.

In different areas of Heishui County, the contents and forms of kasdawen are slightly different.

Kasdawen in Zhuba village, zhawo Township, Heishui county mainly shows the content and form of hunting. "Kasdawen" in oen village, Hongyan Township, Heishui county mainly shows the content and related state of the campaign. "Kasdawen" in Weigu township of Heishui county mainly shows the ceremony of saying good-bye to men and women and holding funeral ceremonies for the dead warriors. It's worth mentioning that only at the funeral ceremony of the warriors here can they wear armor and dance to show their respect.

From the perspective of historical origin, "kasidawen" has the characteristics of the integration of ancient Qiang culture and Tubo culture, especially the ladder shaped dance culture phenomenon, which has important data value for the study of the history of Heishui nationality, linguistics, folklore and so on. Kasidawen's unique form of multi voice ritual song and dance also has important reference value for the study of tribal cultural and artistic characteristics in the ancient plateau gorge area. "Kasdawen" not only has unique artistic expression in music and dance, but also can provide important clues in folk activities and anthropological gene research of migratory ethnic groups.

Nowadays, the living environment of "kasidawen" is greatly impacted by the modern life style, which is in urgent need of rescue protection.