Nuo theatre
Characterized by its special features such as ferocious masks, unique dresses and adornments, the strange language used in performance, and mysterious scenes, Nuo theatre has been selected[by whom?]
The purpose of Nuo theatre is to drive away devils, disease and evil influences, and also to petition for blessings from the gods.
Some famous repertoires of Nuo theatre include Lady Mengjiang, Seizing the Yellow Devil, and Story of Mount Liang.
Nowadays, it still remains popular among rural areas in China, such as Guizhou, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
[6] The primitive form, dating back to antiquity, of Nuo theatre is Nuoji (simplified: 傩祭; traditional: 儺祭), which is a special sacrificial ceremony.
[citation needed] It became a masked drama enacted by a priest performing an exorcism, and has been described as "theater with a presentational aspect, a festival, and the idea of gatherings to establish ties and norms.
[7] Around the Song dynasty (960–1279), people started to perform with masks during Nuoji; thus Nuo theatre was basically formed.
[5] Today, the popularity of Nuo theatre has declined and it can normally only be seen during the Spring Festival and other important traditional Chinese holidays, in remote mountainous areas, such as Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Anhui provinces.
The only two occasions for the performance of Nuo theatre are at the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) and at the middle of the 7th lunar month, the time of the rice harvest.
[11] In 1996, Nanfeng county was called "The village of Chinese folk Art-Nuo Art" by National Culture Department of China.
[citation needed] The origins of Nuo culture in Chizhou areas is one of the most ancient and can be traced back over thousands of years to the neolithic period.
The complete stage performance must be mixed with dramatic plot, role-playing, type of role, and qiemo (settings, scene and props).
[citation needed] The dance, which has a strong local flavor, continues in many villages in Guichi County of Chizhou today.
Surrounded in the mist of incense and smoke, Nuo dancers, colorfully dressed, walk on stilts and wear masks while performing, expressing their wishes of sacrifice to their ancestors, praying for blessing and dispelling evil.
While performing in mountainous villages, dancers have to put masks on their foreheads, letting the audiences who are standing on the surrounding slopes to see them clearly.
To accompany the dancing, the music instruments range from drum, bell, earthen bowl, bamboo flute and Suona.
Some of the well-known repertoire of Chizhou Nuo are "Liu Wenlong", "Meng Jiangnü", "Fan Silking" and "Zhang Wenxian" etc.
On the morning of the performance, young dancers will have the leopard pattern painted on their backs, hands, feet, and belly in black, white, red, and yellow colors.
[3] In the film Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles directed by Zhang Yimou, Yunnan Nuo is prominently depicted and featured.
The art, selected materials, colors and applications of Nuo masks vary among the regions, ethnic groups, culture and aesthetic interests.
[12] Nuo theatre involves many acrobatic performances, such as getting into a hot pot, holding burned stones, crossing a fiery pit, swallowing and blowing fire, and stepping on a mountain of swords.
[citation needed] The masks can appear valiant and martial, stern and tough, or gentle and kind, and they come in various styles to represent different figures.
For instance, since the responsibility of valiant gods is to emit awe and dispel ghosts and devils, their masks usually have horns and buckteeth, with a very ferocious countenance.
People in Nuo culture circles, who regard the masks as symbols and carriers of gods, observe various rules and conventions.
