Songs and Dances
The Hand-Waving Dance of TuJia People

With intense sacrifice color, The Hand-waving Dance is the most popular ancient dance in TUJIA people. In the past, the Hand-waving Dance was a martial dance and used in fighting with enemy. The Hand-waving Dance expresses origin, immigration and historic events of TUJIA groups. When the Hand-waving Dance is getting on, TUJIA people dances accompanied at drums and gangs. It is grand that hundreds or thousands people perform the dance.

MaoGuSi Dance, Tujia Ancient Opera

MaoGuSi means men with a lot of fur in TuJia language. The dance originated from sacrifice ceremony of ancient Tujia people. The experts thought it as the live fossil of Chinese operas. The dance expresses TuJia ancestors exploring new lands, farming, fishing and hunting. All players dress clothing made from straw.

DaYong Yang Opera

Yang Opera named YangHuaLiu is a performance on the street. It became popular two hundreds years ago. In Yang Opera, the actor's words are common. The main contents include comedy, family stories and tragedy.

Tujia Nuo Opera

Tujia Nuo Opera originated from sacrifice ceremony of Nuo God. In the ceremony, everyone make vow to Nuo God and performance Nuo Opera. Tujia Nuo Opera, Tima Songs, Maogusi Dance and Hand Wave Dance formed the old and special Nuo Culture. It is valuable for Tujia history and art.

Tima Songs

In Tujia language, Tima means Old Tusi or the pontiff. Tusi mastered annual sacrifice ceremony of Tujia people. In the ceremony, Tusi sing worship songs named Tianma Songs. Tianma songs describe origin, reproduction and wars of Tujia people. With knowledge of music, literature, language and folk customs, it is treasure of Tujia culture.

Sangzhi Folk Songs

With rich lyric, beautiful rhythm and special voice, Sangzhi Folk Songs show intensive traditional and country styles. Local people express different feelings by folk songs. There are diversified songs, such as: high songs, graceful love songs, cheerful Huadeng and grand work songs. The famous songs are Lamp On The Mulberry, Blossom in Four Seasons, Hua Sister, Digediao, Beautiful Xinankapu, Small Girl, Suona Qian, Gululu and Tree Flowers.