Lusheng dance of Lahu Nationality

Name of Chinese national intangible cultural heritage: Lusheng dance of Lahu Nationality

Applicant: Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, Yunnan Province

Item No.: 676

Project No.: Ⅲ - 79

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Yunnan Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, Yunnan Province

Protected by: cultural center of Lancang Lahu Autonomous County

Introduction to Lusheng dance of Lahu Nationality

Applicant: Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, Yunnan Province

Lusheng dance of Lahu nationality is a representative folk dance of Lahu nationality, which is popular in Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, Pu'er City, Yunnan Province. Lusheng dance is evolved from the original ritual of entertaining gods and praying for blessings. Its content is mainly to show Lahu's primitive religious rituals, production and life, simulate animals and show people's happy mood. Lahu people worship gourd and regard it as the mother symbol of the birth of their ancestors. The Lahu people put five bamboo tubes on the gourd to make Lusheng. They try the Lusheng dance every new year and Spring Festival to show their respect for their ancestors and hope for a happy life in the coming year. After hundreds of generations of Lahu people and folk artists, Lusheng dance has formed more than 100 routines.

During the Lahu traditional festivals, primitive religious activities or leisure time, people often get together with great interest and carry out Lusheng dance activities all night according to certain procedures to celebrate the harvest, thank the gods for their protection and wish peace and happiness in the coming year. In the Lahu residential area of Lancang, Lusheng dance has become a national social activity. Every man can play and dance Lusheng. When carrying out the Lusheng dance of Lahu nationality, the men played the hulusheng and danced in a circle, while the women joined hands to accompany the dance. The whole dance is characterized by stable rhythm, concise movements, beautiful melody, deep and firm style, free and easy dexterity, and simple charm.

Lancang is the only Lahu Autonomous County in China, where the population of the Lahu is the most concentrated and the traditional culture of the Lahu is the most complete. Lusheng dance is not only a typical representative of Lahu culture, but also a link to maintain Lahu national spirit. It plays an extremely important role in the study of Lahu history and culture. At present, due to the impact of modern culture, the routine of Lusheng dance of Lahu nationality is gradually losing, and the content of activities is shrinking. As the number of old Lahu artists who master Lusheng dance skills is decreasing, this valuable national dance is facing a serious survival crisis, which needs to be effectively protected.