Chizhou Nuo Opera Aesthetic And Cultural Perspective

As an important part of Chinese Nuo culture, Chizhou Nuo opera isChizhou Nuo opera, an important component of Chinese Nuo Culture, is an aged folk culture evolving from Nuo Sacrificing and dancing, in which people offer sacrifices to their ancestors, make a blessing and have entertainment as well. Chizhou Nuo opera serves as both a kind of group activity for sacrificing and, meanwhile, a sort of culture and artfor recreation. Closely associated with the local cultural, economic and political backgrounds, Chizhou Nuo opera integrates various elements ranging from natural worship, religious beliefs, local customs, economic and political developments, as well as cultural influences. Chizhou Nuo opera, based on the natural worship suggested in the ancient Nuo opera, develops with lots of new ideas and cultural meanings and also represents thepsychological needs by humans in different phases. On the other hand, the local culturalcircumstances in different periods are reflected in Chizhou Nuo opera in return. Thus, it’s meaningful to make a comprehensive study of Chizhou Nuo opera.This thesis focuseson the analysis of both profound meanings and aesthetic features of Chizhou Nuo operafrom the perspective of aesthetics and historical anthropology with three chapters. The first chapter gives a general picture of its history and evolution via real pictures to reproduce the uniqueness of Chizhou Nuo opera as much as possible which enjoys lots of regional features. Chapter One also discusses the process how it transforms from the initial form of sacrificing to the current drama. The continuous development and even the variation of art forms of Chizhou Nuo opera constitute its history of both art and humans. Chapter Three helps people to understand the implied cultural meanings of Chizhou Nuo opera through detailed interpretation of symbols used in this opera, which is of significance to review Chizhou Nuo opera in an era of globalization.