Chama

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Chama

Declaration area or unit: Alxa League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Project No.: 654

Project No.: Ⅲ - 57

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Type: new item

Declaration area or unit: Alxa League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Protected by: Alxa Left Banner Cultural Center

About Chama:

Declaration area or unit: Alxa League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Chama was originally a kind of primitive religious ceremony held by Tibetan Buddhism in order to promote Buddhism, spread doctrines, strengthen faith and prevent evil temptation. Later, it gradually evolved into a comprehensive religious art including dance, music, poetry, art, oil sculpture, puppet and so on. With the introduction of the Yellow religion founded by zongkaba into Inner Mongolia, it has a history of more than 400 years.

Chama has the movements of dancing, singing, reciting and beating. Only after the living Buddhas and eminent monks have examined and approved the works, can they dance publicly. "Chamaben" is chamaben's first dance. Wearing a gold helmet and holding a variety of weapons, Chama shows his martial arts with the "9981" combat action, with a strong fighting atmosphere and heroic momentum. After that, it dances the animal and bird dance, Feng dance and other dance paragraphs that imitate the animal and bird action and life mode. Finally, it dances a kind of comprehensive dance with the ritual of offering sacrifices to ghosts. It dances with various crisp and complex rhythms by kicking, stepping, leaping, stamping and other actions.

The vast majority of monasteries in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are performed by lamas once a year. The forms of performance include "Jingtang Chama", "milachama" and "square Chama". Square Chama is popular because of its strong dance, fixed program, standardized movements and large number of participants. Chama is generally composed of 13-15 dance paragraphs. In Inner Mongolia, the most representative of Chama are Guangzong temple, Wushenzhao and Xianghuang Banner. Among them, Chama of Guangzong temple was created by the first generation living Buddha of Guangzong temple in Alashan, which is mainly spread in all temples in Alashan area. The purpose of the performance is to eliminate disasters, protect the safety of life and pray for the world's health and auspiciousness.

There are 14 sections of Chama dance in Guangzong temple, which takes 60 minutes to complete. The whole dance is completed with the circle as the line. It can be roughly divided into three dance forms: Praise Dance, joy dance and bird and animal dance. Among them, 36 Chama gods are played by 36 people. Dancers have strict appearance order and their own fixed positions and movements, which should not be violated. Chama band is composed of 15 people, including 5 people playing Yingshen music and 10 people playing positioning accompaniment. In the performance, the method is flexible and the change is obvious. The main musical instruments used by the band include two French drums, two Cang (cymbals), two French trumpets, two Ganden and four bishigur.

Chama in Guangzong temple has a strong color of primitive religion, which has a significant impact on the development of Mongolian Dance and music, and has research value in religious teaching, folklore, art and other aspects. During the two hundred years from 1778 to 1960, Chama of Guangzong Temple never stopped in the major temples of Alxa, creating a group of Chama masters. At present, there are few masters who can master Chama. This comprehensive folk primitive religious art is on the verge of being lost and is in urgent need of rescue.