A Research On The Culture Of The Mask In Chizhou Nuo Opera

Chizhou Nuo is an activity to pray in New Year whose main purpose is to thank God, to respect the ancestors, to get rid of the devils and to bless. It originated from Tang and Song Dynasty, and was prosperous in Ming and Qing Dynasty. It is still reserved in the New Year’s activities in the countries. A saying says that "where there is no Nuo Opera, there is no country." Some Nuo Opera clubs in the villages of Meijie County of Guichi District in the city of Chizhou celebrate ceremonious activities to perform Nuo Opera every first month of the lunar year. The core of Nuo Activities and Nuo Opera performances is Nuo Mask which is called "face" and "Bodhisattva" by villagers. No matter which is to be performed among Nuo Proprieties, Nuo Opera and Nuo Dance, the mask is necessary. This thesis is divided into four chapters, which explain the argument from four aspects separately including general situation, manufacturing technique, cultural function and inheritance.Chapter One:the overview of Chizhou Nuo Drama and the mask of Chizhou Nuo Drama. According to the traditional customs of the countries’ clubs and the requirements of the performances, Chizhou Nuo Masks are preserved in the clan’s ancestral temple, they can be taken out and used only when Nuo Activities are celebrated. According to the shape figures, Chizhou Nuo Mask can be distinguished into three categories:the portrait of supernatural beings, the portrait of beasts and the portrait of human beings, which separately indicate goodness, justice and evil.Chapter Two:the manufacturing technique and esthetic features of the mask of Chizhou Nuo Drama. The masks in Nuo Opera are not only "Qiemo" i.e. the scene and the property, but also are the tools of making up, which has unique manufacture techniques and aesthetic features. In each procedure from manufacture, preservation and use, Nuo mask shows the natural, pure beauty of folk art, which is also full of rich creativity. In the aspects of style and decoration, the mask of Chizhou Nuo Drama also represents abundant imagination, regional features and folk art charateristics. Chapter Three:the cultural function of the mask of Chizhou Nuo Drama. There are three main cultural functions of Chizhou Nuo mask:first, the identification of clans and families, it plays a role in uniting families; second, the symbol of divinity in Nuo activities, it represents the divinities in Nuo activities; third, the strengthening tool for the characters in the performances of Nuo Drama and Nuo Dance. The essential is to express the original and pure emotions in an exaggerated way, i.e. the respect to the mysterious power, the tribute to the nice, and the banishment to the evils.Chapter Four:thinking of the application and development of the mask of Chizhou Nuo Drama. With the development of the times, the time duration of Nuo activity is shorter and shorter. The villagers participating in are fewer and fewer. Nuo Opera is sung more and more simply. The ones who know the techniques of making masks are rare. Furthermore, most young people are not willing to know and learn this ancient art, which undoubtedly means the extinction of Nuo culture for Chizhou Nuo who cares so much of the family inheriting. Although there is no way to prevent this ancient art of becoming a cultural sign and phenomenon in the time current. However, it is necessary to record and preserve the manufacturing technique, video information and so on as much as possible. What is more, it is still very important to enhance the self-determination ability of Nuo mask in the culture inheritance.