Nuo Dancing：One of the Most Ancient Arts in the World
Thursday, August 16th, 2007 
Nuo Opera is a very ancient Chinese tradition that can still be seen today in some parts of the country. It is regarded as a living fossil of the early human civilization and folk arts.
The Nuo opera, a kind of drama featuring masked dancing, is popular with minority groups in the mountainous districts in China. In its developing stages, it was influenced mostly by shaman opera. It finally evolved into Nuo opera, and become an important branch of the opera family. To research the style of performance, Some people examines the complex connection between Nuo opera and shamanism, Taoism, and Buddhism. New evidence is provided to show how Nuo opera came into being, and developed as the result of religious sacrifices. It can offer the new proof on how Nuo opera was developed from religious sacrificial activities.
Nuo rituals were originally performed during the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays to expel evil spirits and pestilence. In recent decades, the ceremony is more a theatrical performance for entertainment and expresses farmers’ longing for good weather, bumper harvest and family prosperity. Nuo performers are often equipped with whips and dance to different mysterious tunes. They also wear masks painted in different colors –black, white and red — and bear varied countenances — some look amiable and others ferocious and frightening.
Nuo culture is a Chinese traditional culture which has influence on the world. Nuo dancing, the pith of the Nuo culture, is one of the most ancient arts. It has been existing in JiangXi Nanfeng for over two thousand years. The movements of Nanfeng Nuo dancing are simple but powerful, remaining their ancient characters. Nanfeng Nuo dancing, which has been mentioned as ‘The Active fossil of Chinese dancing Art’in the book entitled ‘ The collection of Chinese National and folk dancing from Jiangxi ’, is especially worth researching and developing. In 1996, Nanfeng county was called ‘The village of Chinese folk Art-Nuo Art’by Chinese culture Department. Shiyou Village locates to the north of Sanxi Village of Nanfeng County, and is 10 kilometers from the town. The Nuo dancing in this village represent the Nuo dancing of Nanfeng, it remains the original-state features. With mysterious ancient style, Nuo dancing has strong artistiic quality and appreciation, and has great reputation in the world.is a beautiful spot with simple cuotoms and many ancient Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings.There is a famous Nuo God temple in the village.(edited by Karinina)
Tags:art China culture Nuo
