Divine dance
Interpreting the Dongba Origin Myth of Demon Subjugation, this dance reflects a cosmological view of cooperation between humans and deities. For example, the Shiluo Cuomo dance, which portrays the Dongba religion’s founder, Dingbashiluo, presents a relatively complete narrative: it begins with his mother defeating evil spirits and giving birth to him from her armpit, followed by scenes of him learning to walk, injuring his feet, battling demons, and leading 360 disciples from the heavens to the human world (including events such as meeting Dingbashiba and welcoming Dingbashiluo). The story ends with his discovery that his last wife was a demon in disguise, and after learning the truth, he kills her.
Animal Imitating dance
Animal-Imitating Dance: Originating from nature worship, it symbolizes the Naxi ancestors’ reverence for the spiritual essence of animals.
The Dongba animal-imitating dance is an essential part of Naxi Dongba culture and belongs to the category of ritual dances in Dongba religion. By mimicking the forms and movements of animals and integrating religious rites, it expresses themes such as nature worship and belief in deities. The Dongba dance manual (called Cuomu in Naxi) is one of the world’s oldest existing systematic dance notations, documenting detailed dance movements and ceremonial procedures.
Main animal figures: Include the roc, peacock, tiger, frog, etc. The movements range from vigorous and bold to elegant and flowing, blending religious sanctity with artistic expression.
Performance occasions: Primarily used in religious rituals such as sacrifices, funerals, and prayers for blessings; some dances are also performed during folk festivals.
War dance
Depicts ancient tribal conflicts and hero worship, such as the fierce movements of the god of war driving out evil spirits in the Youma Dance.
The Dongba war dance is a distinctive martial form within the ritual practices of the Naxi Dongba religion, rooted in the memory of ancient tribal warfare and the tradition of hero worship. In solemn religious ceremonies, Dongba priests wield ritual instruments such as sacred knives and bows, accompanied by intense drumbeats and the sound of conch horns. Through powerful movements like slashing and thrusting, they artistically reenact the battle between gods and demons and the triumph of justice over evil.
This type of dance not only preserves the martial spirit of the Naxi ancestors but also elevates warfare into a symbolic religious act of exorcism and protection. It reflects the profound philosophical idea in Dongba culture of “stopping violence with strength.”
Ritual Instrument Dance
Dongba Ritual Dance with Sacred Instruments is a highly symbolic form of dance within the Naxi people’s Dongba religious ceremonies, using various ritual instruments as the core of its performance to embody the unique communication between humans and deities. In solemn sacrificial rituals, Dongba priests wield sacred items such as bronze bells, ritual drums, and demon-subduing scepters, performing choreographed steps and gestures to construct a sacred and symbolic religious art space.
The crisp ringing of the bronze bell symbolizes a celestial summons, the deep resonance of the drum represents the earth’s response, and the sweeping of the scepter signifies the exorcism of evil spirits. These dances transform practical ritual instruments into expressive artistic media, preserving the sacredness of primitive religious rites while developing a distinctive dance vocabulary. Through its precise, codified movements and rich symbolism, Dongba Ritual Dance with Sacred Instruments fully reflects the Naxi belief in the animacy of all things and their philosophical worldview of cosmic resonance between heaven and humanity.
Dongba Ritual Narrative Dance
Dongba Ritual Narrative Dance is an integrated performance art that combines religion, literature, and visual expression, representing one of the most comprehensive forms within the Naxi Dongba culture. As a vital component of Dongba religious rituals, these dances vividly interpret classic Dongba epics such as Genesis and The Battle Between Black and White through stylized body movements, ritual instruments, and musical accompaniment.
In performances like the “Sacred Path Dance”, which guides souls across the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead, Tibetan Bon influences merge seamlessly with local Naxi mythology. Dongba priests use dance steps as brushstrokes to sketch the mythological cosmos: spinning motions symbolize the creation of heaven and earth, leaping represents battles between gods and demons, and slow, measured walking evokes the transcendence of souls.
This unique “dance–chant–music” trinity not only adheres strictly to the ancient choreography preserved in the Dongba Dance Manual, but also allows for personalized interpretation by the priest, making each performance a living bridge between past and present.
Such ritual dances preserve the Naxi people’s philosophical reflections on the origin of the universe and the cycle of life. Through dynamic storytelling in sacred ceremonies, they construct a visible, audible, and tangible sacred space—an embodiment of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage and its living wisdom.