Nuo ceremonies mark the initiation of Nuo rituals, colloquially referred to as "Kaitan" (opening the altar) by Nuo opera masters. Aside from the sacrificial elements, Nuo dance is also integrated into the process.
The master of the altar first strikes a token three times on the main altar table, then, holding divination blocks and paper money, kneels before the Nuo hall to silently recite why the host family made the Nuo vow and what livestock they plan to offer to thank the gods. Next, three divination blocks are cast (both sides facing down is a yin divination, both sides facing up is a yang divination, and one side up and one side down is a winning divination). When the three divinations align with the family's wishes, the master stands up, burns paper money, and blows the ox horn three times, scattering beans in all five directions. Then, standing at the main threshold, in front of the Nuo hall, or outside the gate (depending on the master’s teachings), the master strikes the sacred gong while chanting: "Master! First, I invite the Primordial Lord, second, I invite the Lord of Virtue, third, I invite the Lingbao Heavenly Lord. With blessings from the 33 Heavens, and the Jade Emperor, I humbly request: it is for the family’s well-being (for birth blessings, life extension, resolving difficulties, or warding off disasters) for one full hour." Next, the master greets the Door Gods and the local Earth God, informing them of the ritual. Half-chanting, half-reciting: "Master! Left Door God, Qin Shubao, Right Door God, Yuchi Gong, unlock the gate, unbolt the locks, don't make it hard for the King's soldiers, the local Earth God, take this seriously, prepare the grain and feed the horses, for the ritual disciples are rising up..." Turning, the master strikes the gong while spinning and dancing, "sweeping" the Nuo hall and welcoming the divine soldiers into the hall. The master then puts down the sacred gong and, while singing, dons the ritual garments—headgear (crown), an apron, and a headpiece adorned with paper flowers. Wielding the ritual sword and ox horn, a ceremonial sash (ancestral master plaques made by unmarried girls using colorful strips of cloth) is draped over the shoulders, and a whip is placed on the back. Dancing and singing, the master invites the Three Primordials (Upper, Middle, and Lower Yuan) to the Nuo hall to manifest divine presence...
Uniting the five seas: all the righteous gods are invited into the Nuo hall, while evil spirits are strictly prohibited.
Expelling evil: As the righteous gods enter the Nuo hall, disguised evil spirits may attempt to sneak into the hall or the host's house. The master uses rituals (using hand gestures) to bind all the evil spirits, handing them over to the Five Fierce Soldiers for confinement (represented by a pair of small mountain gods under the altar).
Stepping on the Nine Provinces: On a bamboo mat in front of the Nuo altar, the master steps sequentially on characters representing Qian, Kan, Gen, Zhen, Dui, Li, Kun, and Shun, while chanting: "Master, first step into the first province of Kan, then over the Nanyang Palace of Li, the left foot vibrates a thousand continents, and returns to the west beams of Gen, Qian is also the diagonal state capital, and then comes to Kun in the middle palace..."
Offering incense: Incense is offered to the gods while chanting: "Master, this incense rises green and high, as all six nations come to honor Han... speaking of this incense, six mountains were cut to make this bamboo incense, the incense seller walks the streets, the host family buys it with sincere money, no other matter, the incense is burned before the divine altar." Then the master chants and offers incense to the five directions (east, south, west, north, and center).
Summoning the Five Directions’ Soldiers: The master holds the divine flag outside the main gate and summons the soldiers of the five directions (east, south, west, north, and center) while chanting: "Master! In the east, nine times nine is eighty-one, eighty-one brave soldiers, eighty-one thousand men and horses, eighty-one thousand horses and flags, all soldiers return to their thrones, all horses return to the altar to receive the incense smoke, return to the throne, receive the incense smoke, all deities are summoned swiftly."
Welcoming the Gods to Dismount: "Master! The soldiers disarm, the horses remove their saddles, cast the divination blocks to get two yang blocks for peace." (Cast winning and yang divinations)
Inviting the Gods: "Master! Whom should we first invite to dismount? Whom shall we invite down the sacred mountain? May the Thirty-Three Heavens first dismount, the Supreme Jade Emperor descend the sacred mountain, the Eastern Sage please dismount, the Southern Matron descend the sacred mountain..." The master completes the invitation of the gods (Jade Emperor, Three Dynasties and Six Altars, Dilu Small Mountain, Family Altar Fire, the ancestors of the host family).
Removing Makeup: Once all the gods have been invited into the Nuo hall, the makeup must be removed. First, tea and wine are offered to the gods, then the master sings: "Master! Soldiers must drink wine, horses in the Nuo hall need a taste; the soldiers remove golden armor in the hall, horses remove their golden saddles in the front hall... This wine has a deep origin; millet grows tall, like Guan Yu's blade; wine brewed in the ninth month of autumn, first served to the two lords (Nuo Lord and Nuo Lady)..."
