Xuan dance (Guge Xuan dance)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Xuan dance (Guge Xuan dance)

Applicant: Zhada County, Tibet Autonomous Region

Item No.: 677

Project No.: Ⅲ - 80

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Tibet Autonomous Region

Type: new item

Applicant: Zhada County, Tibet Autonomous Region

Protection unit: Zhada County Culture and Tourism Bureau

Introduction to Xuan dance (Guge Xuan dance)

Applicant: Zhada County, Tibet Autonomous Region

Xuan dance is a unique folk dance in Tibet, which is mainly popular in Zhada County, located in the valley of the Sino Indian border. Its origin can be traced back to the period of ancient Xiangxiong civilization, and Xuanwu has been further developed in the period of Guge Kingdom, which has a history of more than 1000 years. The murals in the red temple hall of the Guge site clearly show the traces of Xuan dance. The murals show the grand ceremony held by the king of Guge to welcome the adixia master. Among them, ten women in gorgeous costumes are dancing Xuan dance. According to historical records, in 1042, Xuanwu performed as a ceremonial dance at the ceremony of welcoming adixia master in Tuolin temple.

Guge Xuanwu has the theory of "Thirteen Xuanwu", which is called "Guge Xuanwu" together with folk Xuanwu. It is a traditional dance integrating speaking, singing and dancing. As a ceremonial dance, Xuan dance can only be performed at a specific time and place by a specific actor in a specific dress, not in the folk. In addition to the "Thirteen Xuan Dances", other forms of Xuan dances are also popular in Diya, chulu Songjie and Sharang in arizada County of Tibet Autonomous Region. During the performance, a male dancer holds a leather drum, and the female dancer's arms are connected, singing and dancing with Xuanwu dance steps, and changing the line of "dragon body". The dance has strong rhythm, slow first, fast second, and step by step, with the unique steady style of Guge area. Singing at the same time with dancing is rich in content and strong in rhythm. Usually, one person starts to sing, others follow, and then move the pace in a counterclockwise direction. There is no limit to the number of people. There are 13 kinds of songs. If they are all finished, it will take ten days and ten nights.

Gugexuan dance is a combination of speaking, singing and dancing, which is highly ornamental. Dance vocabulary has typical local characteristics, has ethnological research value, and carries the historical and cultural information and original memory of Tibet Guge. At present, under the impact of foreign culture, there is no one to inherit Xuanwu, so the rescue and protection of Xuanwu has become an urgent task.