Shang Yang dance

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Shang Yang dance

Applicant: juancheng County, Shandong Province

Item No.: 646

Project No.: Ⅲ - 49

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Shandong Province

Type: new item

Applicant: juancheng County, Shandong Province

Protection unit: juancheng Cultural Center

Introduction to Shang Yang dance

Applicant: juancheng County, Shandong Province

Shangyang dance is an ancient folk dance. It originated in the northern part of juancheng County, Shandong Province, and spread around lijinstang town and old town, especially xinghuagang village in lijinstang town. According to research, this dance originated in the Shang and Zhou dynasties, matured in the spring and Autumn period and Warring States period, and reached its peak in the song and Ming Dynasties. At first, it was an activity of praying for rain that ancient people imitated the action of Shang sheep. Over time, the activity of praying for rain was combined with the traditional sacrificial ceremony. After the sublimation and perfection of juancheng ancestors, it gradually formed a complete set of dance mode, which has been handed down from generation to generation since Shang and Zhou dynasties. There is a Sanguan temple in xinghuagang village, an old town of juancheng County, with statues of Yao, Shun and Yu inside. Every year when there is drought and lack of rain, people gather in front of the temple to dance the Shang sheep dance and pray for rain. In addition to the rain when the weather is dry, the Shang sheep dance is usually performed on the third day of the third lunar month.

Shangyang dance is a kind of collective dance, with 12 to 16 dancers, half male and half female. During the performance, the performers with willow rings on their heads, barefoot trousers and bell rings on their wrists and ankles dance with the accompaniment of the band. They imitate the actions of Shang Yangniao while holding the castanet to strike rhythmically, making a crisp sound. The dance style is simple, elegant, cheerful and clear.

Rich in local characteristics and folk characteristics, Shang Yang dance is the representative of juancheng traditional culture. It involves all aspects of juancheng festival customs and has important anthropological and folkloric research value. Due to the changes of the times, there is no successor for Shang Yang dance, which is difficult to survive and needs to be protected.