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As a long-time enthusiast of Nuo culture, I've always had a special affection for Nuo music, an ancient art form. Whenever Nuo music is mentioned, **I envision dancers wearing grotesque masks and colorful costumes, leaping to the sound of drums**. This unique art form is not only one of China's oldest performing arts but also an integral part of Chinese culture.
## What is Nuo Music?
Nuo music, in essence, is a musical and dance activity from ancient China used for **exorcising evil spirits, avoiding disasters, and praying for blessings**. Originating in the pre-Qin period, it has been passed down through the ages, becoming a "living fossil" of Chinese culture. As a comprehensive art form, Nuo music incorporates various artistic elements such as music, dance, and drama, while also blending religious, folkloric, and historical cultural connotations.
## The Core Concept of Nuo Music
**The core idea of Nuo music is "exorcism"**. In ancient Chinese belief, misfortunes like epidemics and disasters were caused by evil spirits. To drive away these invisible "bad things," our ancestors devised a unique method: wearing frightening masks, dressing up more fiercely than ghosts, performing strange dances, and beating loud instruments to **intimidate and expel** these spirits. This seemingly simple approach was quite effective in the social environment of the time, not only soothing people psychologically but also uniting social forces to collectively cope with various disasters and challenges.
## The Artistic System of Nuo Music
During my years of research in Dachen, China, I discovered that Nuo music is not just a single performance form, but a complete artistic system. It encompasses music, dance, drama, mask-making, costume design, and more. Performers wear various masks, **some resembling humans, some animals, and others imaginary deities and monsters**. Dressed in colorful costumes and holding various props, they sing and dance to lively music, often creating a spectacular scene.
## The Historical Evolution of Nuo Music
Through studying ancient texts, I learned that Nuo music was initially organized by officials. The "Zhou Li" records "Fang Xiang Shi," officials specifically responsible for Nuo dance activities in the Western Zhou period. These Fang Xiang Shi "**wore bear skins, had four golden eyes, black clothes, and red skirts, wielding halberds and shields**," leading over a hundred people in Nuo dance performances in the imperial court to drive away plague demons. This officially organized Nuo music activity continued into later dynasties, developing into an important court activity during the Han Dynasty.
Every year in the twelfth lunar month, the emperor would organize large-scale Nuo dance performances involving hundreds of participants. They performed not only in the palace but also "paraded" through the streets, allowing ordinary people to enjoy this grand performance. This practice not only reflected **the rulers' respect for folk traditions but was also a governance strategy** to appease the people and consolidate power.
## The Spread and Diversification of Nuo Music
Over time, Nuo music gradually spread from the court to the common people. In this process, people in various regions adapted and innovated Nuo music according to local customs, forming distinctive local Nuo music styles. For example, the "Duo Ye Nuo" in Guizhou Province, China, the "Nuo Opera" in Sichuan Province, China, the "Nanchang Nuo" in Jiangxi Province, China, and the "Taoyan Nuo" in Hunan Province, China, are all representative Nuo music performance styles. These local Nuo music forms not only retain the basic characteristics of Nuo music but also incorporate local cultural elements, making this ancient art form present a rich and diverse appearance in different regions.
## The Cultural Significance of Nuo Music
In my view, Nuo music is not just a performing art, but a crystallization of ancient wisdom. Through this special form, our ancestors expressed **their longing for a better life, resistance against evil forces, and reverence for nature**. It embodies the spiritual strength of the Chinese nation and is our precious cultural heritage.
## The Challenges Facing Nuo Music
However, with social development and the impact of modern civilization, Nuo music faces the danger of disappearing. In my field research, I found that many young people lack interest in Nuo music, considering it too "rustic" and "superstitious," and are unwilling to learn and inherit it. Meanwhile, the older generation familiar with Nuo music is gradually passing away. How to protect and inherit this ancient art has become an urgent problem to solve.
## The Importance of Preserving Nuo Music
I believe that protecting and inheriting Nuo music is of great significance. Firstly, **Nuo music is an important part of Chinese culture**, recording our ancestors' way of life and ideological concepts, serving as an important window to understand ancient Chinese society. Secondly, Nuo music demonstrates the creativity and imagination of the Chinese nation and is an important foundation for our cultural confidence. Lastly, in this fast-paced modern society, the idea of exorcising evil and praying for peace embodied in Nuo music might **bring psychological comfort to people**.
## Personal Experiences with Nuo Music
During my research, I have participated in Nuo music performances many times. Each experience has left me deeply impressed. When I put on those fierce masks, wear the brightly colored costumes, and dance those peculiar steps to the beat of the drums, I feel as if I've traveled back a thousand years. The feeling of **communicating with nature and deities**, and the sense of sacred mission to exorcise evil and avoid disasters, have all left a profound impression on me.
I still remember once in a remote mountain village in Guizhou Province, China, I was fortunate to participate in a complete Nuo music ceremony. From preparing offerings and setting up the venue to the formal start of the performance, the entire process lasted a full day and night. The local Nuo masters were fully immersed in the performance, with every movement and expression full of power. The surrounding villagers watching were also fully engaged, as if truly believing that this performance could **drive away evil spirits and bring good luck**. This scene made me deeply feel the vitality of Nuo music among the people and strengthened my determination to protect and inherit this cultural heritage.
## Challenges in Preserving Nuo Music
However, protecting and inheriting Nuo music is no easy task. First, we need to change people's stereotypes about Nuo music and make more people recognize its cultural value. I believe we should take a multi-pronged approach to protect and inherit Nuo music. Firstly, we should strengthen academic research on Nuo music, deeply explore its cultural connotations, and provide theoretical support for its protection and inheritance. Secondly, we should **encourage artistic innovation**, supporting artists to combine Nuo music with modern art forms to create new works that have both traditional foundations and conform to modern aesthetics.
## Conclusion
Finally, I want to say that although Nuo music may seem "strange," it is an indispensable part of Chinese culture. It not only records our ancestors' way of life and ideological concepts but also demonstrates the creativity and imagination of the Chinese nation. In this fast-paced modern society, perhaps we **need this ancient art form more to dispel the "evil spirits" in our hearts and regain inner peace**.
Author: Dachen
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