Ritual Dances
Yunnan Volum: Attacking An Ox Dance of the Dulong Ethnic Group
Attacking
An Ox Dance is a ritual dance of the Dulong Ethnic Group in Yunnan
Province
and has existed up till today as a traditional ceremony. "attacking an
ox to sacrifice the heavens" which usually lasts from three days to seven or
nine days and during which this dance must be done everyday.
The movements of this dance are mainly done by the dancer's legs which are
naturally followed by his torso in all directions, thus forming the unique style
of its own.
Yunnan Volume: Tiaopanwang of the Yao Ethnic
Group
Tiaopanwang is a ritual dance redeeming a vow to the Panwang in Yunnan
Province. According to the historical record of the Yao people like
"Pingwangquandie" or the ancient song "Piaoyangguohai" (Crossing the Sea),
Panwang is both the ancestor of the Yao and a great hero as well, whose spirit
still helps the Yao by his personal appearance and solving their problems even
after his death. In order to commemo-rate his kind deeds, the Yao people have
developed a ritual as an every three and five years' tradition as "Redeeming A
Vow to Panwang", at which, this dance is performed.
Yunnan Volume: Jinzhaizhai of the Jingpo Ethnic
Group
Jinzhaizhai is an old traditional ritual dance for
funerals of the Jingpo ethnic group in Yunnan Province and the dancers are naked
with wild rattans and leafs circling their waists and capping their heads while
some of them covering their heads with pig's bladders only with some holes to
give space to their eyes, noses, and mouths. The naked parts of their bodies are
painted with black and white patterns and the dancers masquer-ade themselves as
male or female birds or animals.
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