Historical Origin of Knife Dance

The Jingpo long knife has a long history, and it is the main tool of production, as well as a weapon for protection in battle, and it has a pivotal position in the life of the Jingpo people. Therefore, the Jingpo people worship the long knife and regard it as the "knife of life". In the folklore, there are two proverbs: "The road of Jingpo Mountain is cut by long knives and brightened by bare feet". "Men will not play the long knife, can not go out; women will not weave tube skirt, can not marry", the man is to the body of the knife marks on the hero, knife skills, courageous men are often adored by girls and women.

In Dehong, Jingpo knife dance is very popular, widely distributed, most of the Jingpo men are able to jump knife dance, playing the knife can be seen everywhere. Dance long knife has "boxing Ga" "swinging fist Ga" points, boxing Ga heavy in martial arts, steady and solid footwork, dance posture low, transporting the knife chopping powerful, in and out of the attack and defense have a very strong combat sex. Pendulum boxing Ga means "dance knife flower", dance step light and flexible, transport knife fast, more wrist flower, and pay attention to the performance of emotional, smooth and beautiful movements, fun and cheerful, more ornamental.

The Jingpo knife dance now circulating has "single knife dance" and "double knife dance" two forms. According to the artists; earlier also popular three knife dance, four knife dance, up to ten knife dance, now no one will jump. General men play the knife, Jingpo language called "to the Muh", while the knife skills of those who play the knife is called "string song". Here there is a kind of "to bend", the dancer's left hand holding a shield made of boar skin, the right hand holding a long knife, sometimes forward into the cut, sometimes back to defend. The dancers dance before going on a journey and after returning from victory, and sometimes they also dance in the "Megumi Zongsong". To Muh, string song, to bend these kinds of knife dance, martial arts is strong, from the form, content, action show a strong military nature.