Zhuo Dance
01 · Historical Records
According to legend the Sima Zhuo dance first originated in the Dagong area (the present-day border between Shannan and Nyingchi), reached Shannan in the eighth century, and later spread to the Shigatse area. The Sima Zhuo dance originated in totem worship and sacrificial activities. It carries the local Tibetan people's longing and remembrance for their ancestors, and is an important artistic expression of drum culture.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The Sima Zhuo is a recreational waist-drum dance performed by Tibetan folk artists, one of the kinds of zhuo dance; it takes its name from Sima Village, Jiachuoxiong Township, Sangzhuzê District, Shigatse City, Tibet Autonomous Region, where it is mainly transmitted, and it has a history of more than 1,300 years. Shigatse is the second largest city of Tibet and a national historical and cultural city. "Sangzhuzê" means "having one's wishes fulfilled". It lies in the eastern part of Shigatse at the northern foot of the Himalayas, with the Yarlung Tsangpo River running through it from east to west. Its climate is relatively mild and has both monsoon and arid plateau characteristics. The Sima Zhuo dance displays dance movements and places emphasis on the expression of emotion; its performance scenes are magnificent in momentum and the atmosphere is lively and ardent, sometimes gentle and flowing, sometimes wild and unrestrained. When gentle, the dancers sing while dancing and the drumming looks leisurely and contented; when wild, they dance without singing, the range of movement is wide, and the rolling drumbeats are like spring thunder, spurring people onward. The Sima Zhuo dance has seven male performers, of whom one is called the "zhuoben", that is the lead dancer, also called the "are". The format of the Sima Zhuo dance is relatively fixed, and the performance can broadly be divided into seven sections. The first section is called "Saxiningbu", that is, a prayer for favourable weather and a good harvest from the fields. The second section is called "Xiawutangjie", that is, the fawn running; the dancer imitates a fawn bounding towards the grassland. The third section is called "Boroduojizhui", that is, the crow's vajra steps; the dancer imitates the movement of a crow walking towards the offerings. The fourth section is called "Dizhu", that is, ardent and unrestrained; the dancer uses a feather mallet in the hand, whirling it, to mime the picking of peach blossoms. The fifth section is called "Sijiasalapowa", that is, the golden bird foraging; the dancer performs the movement of a yellow duck in flight. The sixth section is called "Maijilangqu", that is, a flame leaping into the air; the dancer circles the feather mallet in the hand above the head, imitating the way a flame leaps upward. The seventh section is called "Jiapusaladi", that is, hammering an iron nail; the dancer performs the movement of striking a side drum as a symbol of hammering in an iron nail. Not all of the seven sections have to be danced; they may be chosen according to the content and needs of the performance. The dance rhythm of the Sima Zhuo is comparatively rare among the waist-drum dances of Shannan, Lhasa and other areas, and it is a form of waist-drum dance distinctive within the Tibetan waist-drum dance tradition. By the time of the Fourth Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chogyi, the Sima Zhuo dance formally became the song and dance used to welcome and see off the Panchen Lama and to perform at large-scale celebrations held in Tashilhunpo Monastery. It is performed at the traditional festivals of every year. Its artistic expressiveness is strong, it gives people strength and hope, and it enriches the cultural life of the people; in achieving cultural identity, inspiring cultural confidence and promoting social harmony it plays a positive role.
The seven sections
Seven sections: blessing for good weather and harvest, the fawn's run, the crow's vajra step, fervour, the golden bird feeding, the leaping flame and the driving of an iron nail.
The zhuoben and seven dancers
Seven men perform, one of them the leader called zhuoben or are; any selection of the seven sections may be danced.
The feather stick and the rim drum
Dancers hold a feather-tipped stick: plucking peach blossom, whirling it overhead as a leaping flame, and striking the drum rim as if driving a nail.
The dance of Tashilhunpo
From the time of the fourth Panchen Lobsang Chokyi, the dance has served to welcome and farewell the Panchen and to grace great celebrations at Tashilhunpo.
The Dagon origin
The dance is said to have begun in Dagon on the Shannan-Nyingchi border, reached Shannan in the eighth century and later spread to Shigatse.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The Sima Zhuo has its core place of transmission in Sima Village, Jiachuoxiong Township, Sangzhuzê District, Shigatse City, and is also distributed among the villages and townships of the Shigatse area. Sangzhuzê means "having one's wishes fulfilled"; it lies at the northern foot of the Himalayas along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, where monsoon and arid plateau climates coexist. Since the time of the Fourth Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chogyi, the Sima Zhuo has been the song and dance used at large-scale celebrations in Tashilhunpo Monastery and for welcoming and seeing off the Panchen Lama.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Shannan Changguozhuo Dance · Zhuo Dance · Zhuo Dance.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
This project has been transmitted from generation to generation in the form of community transmission, and its clearly documented line of inheritance can be traced back six generations. To date there are more than 300 inheritors.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Suolang 02-0398
- Bianbaciren 02-0399
- Nima 05-2242
- Awangdunzhu
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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