Introduction to National Dance: Pingxiang Nuo Dance

Well, this word is still quite strange to many modern people. But if we go back to the ancient or even primitive society hundreds or even thousands of years ago, it plays an important role in people's lives. In the minds of the ancients, each mask represented a god. When Nuo God's mask is put on his face, his role seems to have changed, and he has the power of the gods to expel all kinds of ghost diseases. Throughout the dynasties, Nuo sacrifice became a fixed ceremony. From the imperial court to the people, grand Nuo ceremonies are held regularly every year.

Pingxiang Nuo dance still retains the legacy of Nuo sacrifice since ancient times. The villagers not only used Nuo dance to celebrate festivals, pray for blessings and collect money, but also kept a large number of ancient Nuo temples and masks.

Walking into Shidongkou Nuo Temple in Shangli County, which was built in the Ming Dynasty, you will find the position of Nuo and Nuo mask in Pingxiang people's minds, but such Nuo temples are all over rural villages.

In fact, to really understand the loudness of Nuo dance, it depends on men's Nuo dance. In ancient times, women not only could not dance Nuo dance, but also could not touch the mask. Yes, maybe a man wearing an exorcism mask can better represent the masculinity and strength of the gods. In the blending of the power of god and fire, in the sound of gongs and drums resounding through the sky, with such simple and powerful movements, no ghost epidemic can be scared away! After a long historical development, the religious color of Nuo dance is getting weaker and weaker. Now Pingxiang people dance Nuo dance, which is more of a folk custom and holiday entertainment.

Nowadays, although the religious color of Nuo dance has faded, it still retains the ancient legacy, and the dance steps of Nuo dance clearly reflect this feature. Nuo dance has always retained the style of ancient dance, and is called "the living fossil of China dance".