MUZI MUZIChinese Matrix

Tibetan Dance

Long sleeves flying, steps stamped into song

Introduction

Guozhuang, xianzi, reba, duixie and monastery cham, with the dances of the Qiang, Tu and Monpa

Tibetan dance covers the folk and monastery dances of the Tibetans of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, marked by long sleeves, stamping steps, circle formations and singing while dancing. The main forms are guozhuang (III-20), xianzi (III-19), reba (III-21), zhuo drum dance (III-39), xuan (III-80), Lhasa nangma (III-81), duixie (III-82), gar (III-85) and the masked monastery dance cham (III-22); the record also takes in the dances of the Qiang, Tu, Monpa, Sherpa and other plateau peoples. Histories record that Guge welcomed Atisha with the xuan dance in 1042, and in 1647 Tashilhunpo Monastery set down its exorcism cham.

Timeline

Mid-11th century to present
1042 · OriginHistories record that when Atisha reached Tholing in Guge in 1042 the xuan dance was performed as a ceremonial dance at his welcome, and a mural in the Red Temple at the Guge ruins shows ten women dancing the xuan to receive him.1647 · EvolutionIn 1647 the Fourth Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen, modelled on the Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava danced at Samye's Chözhu festival, set down the year-end exorcism cham 'Gutor' at Tashilhunpo; in 1862 the Seventh Panchen Lama built the full Semo Chenmo cham on it.1946 · EvolutionIn 1946 Dai Ailian staged the group dance Tibetan Spring, based on Khampa folk dance, in Chongqing; it won third prize for choreography at the Third World Festival of Youth and Students in 1951.2006 · ImpactIn 2006 xianzi, guozhuang, reba, the Tashilhunpo cham, the Changguo zhuo dance and others entered the first national ICH list; xuan, nangma, duixie, gar and a dozen more followed in 2008, and by 2021 the plateau dances counted more than thirty items.
  1. 1042OriginHistories record that when Atisha reached Tholing in Guge in 1042 the xuan dance was performed as a ceremonial dance at his welcome, and a mural in the Red Temple at the Guge ruins shows ten women dancing the xuan to receive him.History › Atisha Arrives at Tholing Monastery
  2. 1647EvolutionIn 1647 the Fourth Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen, modelled on the Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava danced at Samye's Chözhu festival, set down the year-end exorcism cham 'Gutor' at Tashilhunpo; in 1862 the Seventh Panchen Lama built the full Semo Chenmo cham on it.
  3. 1946EvolutionIn 1946 Dai Ailian staged the group dance Tibetan Spring, based on Khampa folk dance, in Chongqing; it won third prize for choreography at the Third World Festival of Youth and Students in 1951.
  4. 2006ImpactIn 2006 xianzi, guozhuang, reba, the Tashilhunpo cham, the Changguo zhuo dance and others entered the first national ICH list; xuan, nangma, duixie, gar and a dozen more followed in 2008, and by 2021 the plateau dances counted more than thirty items.

Heritage Listings

  1. 2006National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage1st batch · Ⅲ-19 Xianzi dance (Markam · Batang) · no. 122 · nominated by Tibet Autonomous Region and Batang County · Sichuan
  2. 2006National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage1st batch · Ⅲ-20 Guozhuang dance (Dêqên · Chamdo · Yushu zhuo) · no. 123 · nominated by Dêqên · Yunnan · Tibet · Yushu · Qinghai
  3. 2006National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage1st batch · Ⅲ-21 Reba dance (Dêngqên · Biru Dinga) · no. 124 · nominated by Tibet Autonomous Region
  4. 2006National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage1st batch · Ⅲ-22 Cham of Tashilhunpo Monastery · Shigatse · no. 125 · nominated by Tibet Autonomous Region
  5. 2006National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage1st batch · Ⅲ-33 Kasdawen (armour) dance · no. 136 · nominated by Heishui County · Sichuan
  6. 2006National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage1st batch · Ⅲ-34 Cuo mask dance · no. 137 · nominated by Jiuzhaigou County · Sichuan
  7. 2006National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage1st batch · Ⅲ-39 Changguo zhuo dance of Lhoka · no. 142 · nominated by Tibet Autonomous Region
  8. 2006National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage1st batch · Ⅲ-40 Tu people's wutu (tiger) dance · no. 143 · nominated by Tongren County · Qinghai
  9. 2008National list extension2nd batch · Ⅲ-19 Xianzi dance (Yushu yi dance) · Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture · Qinghai
  10. 2008National list extension2nd batch · Ⅲ-20 Guozhuang dance (Garzê · Manai · Chindu Bailong zhuo · Nangqên zhuoganma) · Sêrxü · Yajiang · Xinlong · Dêgê and Jinchuan · Sichuan · Chindu and Nangqên · Qinghai
  11. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-62 Qiang sheepskin-drum dance · no. 659 · nominated by Wenchuan County · Sichuan
  12. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-66 Dêrong xueqiang · no. 663 · nominated by Dêrong County · Sichuan
  13. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-68 Boba sengen · no. 665 · nominated by Li County · Sichuan
  14. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-80 Xuan dance (Guge · Putuiba) · no. 677 · nominated by Zanda and Maizhokunggar · Tibet
  15. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-81 Lhasa nangma · no. 678 · nominated by Lhasa · Tibet
  16. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-82 Duixie (Lhazê) · no. 679 · nominated by Lhazê County · Tibet
  17. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-83 Xieqin (Lhasa Naru · Namling Tubjia) · no. 680 · nominated by Chengguan · Lhasa · and Namling · Tibet
  18. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-84 Axie (Dabu) · no. 681 · nominated by Biru County · Tibet
  19. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-85 Gar ceremonial dance · no. 682 · nominated by Tibet Autonomous Region
  20. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-86 Markam three-string dance · no. 683 · nominated by Markam County · Tibet
  21. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-87 Tingri luoxie · no. 684 · nominated by Tingri County · Tibet
  22. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-88 Danga jiaxie · no. 685 · nominated by Saga County · Tibet
  23. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-89 Kuozi (yak-hide boat dance) · no. 686 · nominated by Qüxü County · Tibet
  24. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-90 Duodi dance · no. 687 · nominated by Zhugqu County · Gansu
  25. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-91 Balang drum dance · no. 688 · nominated by Jonê County · Gansu
  26. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-92 Tibetan chi-drum dance · no. 689 · nominated by Xunhua Salar Autonomous County · Qinghai
  27. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · Ⅲ-93 Zerou (Shangyou) · no. 690 · nominated by Guide County · Qinghai
  28. 2011National list extension3rd batch · Ⅲ-22 Cham (Lhakang Gya · Drigung Gar · Chödé Monastery A) · Lhozhag · Maizhokunggar and Gonggar · Tibet
  29. 2011National list extension3rd batch · Ⅲ-83 Xieqin (Nyima township) · Baingoin County · Tibet
  30. 2011National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage3rd batch · Ⅲ-102 Tiao caogai (Baima mask dance) · no. 1091 · nominated by Pingwu County · Sichuan
  31. 2011National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage3rd batch · Ⅲ-105 Xierong zhongzi (wild-yak dance) · no. 1094 · nominated by Qüxü County · Tibet
  32. 2011National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage3rd batch · Ⅲ-106 Burang guorzi · no. 1095 · nominated by Ngari Prefecture · Tibet
  33. 2011National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage3rd batch · Ⅲ-107 Chentang Sherpa song and dance · no. 1096 · nominated by Dinggyê County · Tibet
  34. 2011National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage3rd batch · Ⅲ-108 Badang dance · no. 1097 · nominated by Min County · Gansu
  35. 2011National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage3rd batch · Ⅲ-109 Anzhao (Tu circle dance) · no. 1098 · nominated by Huzhu Tu Autonomous County · Qinghai
  36. 2014National list extension4th batch · Ⅲ-21 Reba dance · Dêqên · Yunnan
  37. 2014National list extension4th batch · Ⅲ-22 Cham (Samye · Monpa Ba cham · Jianglo Dechen Chöling nuns' cham · Nyingchi Mina) · Dranang · Cona · Shigatse and Nyingchi · Tibet
  38. 2014National list extension4th batch · Ⅲ-39 Zhuo dance (Qonggyai Jiuhe) · Qonggyai County · Tibet
  39. 2014National list extension4th batch · Ⅲ-80 Xuan dance (Zanda Karma) · Ngari Prefecture · Tibet
  40. 2014National list extension4th batch · Ⅲ-82 Duixie (Garzê tap dance) · Garzê County · Sichuan
  41. 2014National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage4th batch · Ⅲ-123 Dengga ganzhou (panda dance) · no. 1276 · nominated by Jiuzhaigou County · Sichuan
  42. 2014National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage4th batch · Ⅲ-130 Guowa (Yushu warrior dance) · no. 1283 · nominated by Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture · Qinghai
  43. 2021National list extension5th batch · Ⅲ-20 Guozhuang dance (Gannan) · Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture · Gansu
  44. 2021National list extension5th batch · Ⅲ-39 Zhuo dance (Reting chuzhuo · Sima zhuo) · Lhasa and Shigatse · Tibet