There’s an art to scaring evil spirits
Print Edition
IN ancient China, trouble-making demons were banished in a ritual featuring grotesque masks and war-like dances. In some remote regions of southwestern China, where superstitions have survived for millennia, the year-end Nuo ritual, thought to exorcize evil spirits and bring luck, is still practiced.
Jiading Museum and Guizhou Nationalities Museum are co-hosting an exhibition of Nuo opera and masks that opened on April 30. It’s the largest Nuo culture exhibition ever held in Shanghai.
The Chinese believed that demons caused disease, pestilence and death and to ward off evil spirits, wore masks and performed the dances at the beginning or end of the year.
The 5,000-year-old ritual is all but unknown in modern urban China, but in the remote villages of southwest China, the rites are still practiced.
Nuo was listed among the first national intangible culture heritages in 2006.
The exhibits include swords, seals, ox horns used as props in Nuo ritual and Nuo masks from Tibetan, Miao, Zhuang, Tujia and Maonan minorities.
The exhibition will last till June 26. Children who visit are invited to paint their impressions of Nuo masks.
Date: Through June 26,
8am-4:30pm (Painting activity is held every Saturday during the exhibition; reservation required)
Tel: 5992-8800
Venue: Jiading Museum
Address: 215 Bole Rd
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