The Mysterious Tujia Ethnic Minority

Mao Gu Si Dance

Every lunar January, Tujia villagers dress in straw costumes and perform stories of primitive fishing and farming to honor their ancestors and seek blessings for safety and abundant harvests. This performance, known as Mao Gu Si, primarily showcases the production and lifestyle of their ancient ancestors. It is organized by villages or clans on a rotating basis, lasting between five to nine days, with segments including "production," "hunting," "fishing," "wedding," "studying," and "receiving guests."

 

The performance is conducted entirely in ancient Tujia language, some of which is no longer translatable. The movements are primitive and humorous, vividly depicting the Tujia people’s historical development. Typically involving 10 to 20 participants, one person, dressed as "Old Mao Gu Si" representing the ancestors, leads the ancestral worship and performance, while the rest, as "Young Mao Gu Si," represent descendants. They wear straw costumes, go barefoot, and cover their faces with straw hats, with four single braids representing oxen.

 

The performance includes segments such as "sweeping the house" (to drive away diseases and evil spirits), "ancestor worship," "offering to the gods of grain," "demonstrating strength" (showing family survival and reproduction), and "seeking wishes for everything to go well," each with detailed rituals.

Nuo Opera

Nuo Opera, also known as Ghost Dance, is an ancient ritual dance that prays for health and wards off disease. Shamans use special talismans for healing and to drive away evil spirits. They lead the rituals and ensure blessings.

 

Nuo Opera is an important folk tradition that combines dance, drama, and acrobatics, reflecting local culture and beliefs, and bringing joy to the Tujia people.

It typically includes three main parts:

Nuo Ritual: A ceremony where offerings are made to deities to seek protection and health.

Nuo Performance: Actors perform ancient stories and myths through dance and drama. Popular plays include The Dragon King's Daughter and The Seven Fairies, which are simple but full of meaning.

Nuo Skills: Acrobatic feats like walking on blades, demonstrates balance and courage.Crossing a fire pit, tests heat resistance and bravery,and walking on plow heads, showing the performers' acrobatic skill.

 

Tima Master

In ancient times, the Tujia people believed in both spirits and gods. They thought that gods brought protection and good fortune, while ghosts were seen as sources of trouble and disaster. Because of this belief, they treated gods and ghosts differently: they worshipped gods with respect and used magic to drive away or eliminate ghosts.

 

The ritual specialists, known as Tulaosi or Tima in Tujia, played a key role. During the Tusi era, Tulaosi had significant authority. They were responsible for village rituals, exorcisms, making and fulfilling vows, conducting marriages, seeking children, asking for rain, resolving disputes, healing illnesses, divination, and handling funerals.

 

Tulaosi used various ritual tools, including a ceremonial sword, a cleaver, bronze bells, a cowhorn, and a colorful willow stick. They wore a phoenix crown, a floral robe, and an eight-panel skirt.

 

The Tujia believed in different types of harmful ghosts, such as the Mayang Ghost, Grass Ghost, Water Ghost, and Passing Tiger. These ghosts were thought to bring misfortune, illness, and even death.