Xianshan Shidongkou Xuanyang Nuo Temple

Xianshan Shidongkou Xuanyang Nuo Temple

Xianshan Shidongkou Xuanyang Nuo Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The origins of the Nuo culture at Shidongkou can be inferred from the local Du family genealogy, which states that “Nuo began in the Zhou Dynasty,” suggesting that the Nuo culture here has continued for over two thousand years throughout history.

Existing Nuo temples at Shidongkou, as recorded in the family genealogy, were first built in the 11th year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1329 AD) through the initiative and fundraising efforts of Du Chuanfang, son of Du Guizhen, who was then the magistrate of Pingxiang County. This makes them 622 years old to date, with several renovations carried out over the years.

Nuo masks are the most distinctive symbols of Nuo culture. Over the course of history, their meanings have grown richer and their applications broader—from originally driving away plague demons to encompassing the expulsion of evil, exorcism, disaster prevention, refuge, suppression of malevolent forces, divination, healing, fertility, wealth-seeking, blessings for rank, and more. With the emergence of Taoism, the introduction of Buddhism, and the gradual development of human thinking, the imagery of Nuo masks has also become increasingly diverse. Figures from Taoist and Buddhist mythology, deities, historical heroes, characters from folk stories and legends have all enriched the gallery of Nuo mask personas. Gradually, these masks have evolved toward religiosity, secularization, humanization, and realism. According to Taoist scriptures left behind by an elderly Taoist priest involved in Nuo rituals at Shidongkou, there were over 600 types of Nuo deity masks during the Ming and Qing dynasties, including celestial gods, earthly gods, underworld deities, historical figures, and warrior heroes. These Nuo deities were not only densely enshrined in temple shrines but also commonly worshipped in homes across Shidongkou—nearly every household had one or two, or even three or four, Nuo deity masks displayed on their home altars. Truly, every home had an altar, and every household had a Nuo deity.

The Nuo dance of Shidongkou (formerly known as “worshipping the Nuo deity,” “stepping on the Nuo deity,” or “dancing the Nuo deity”) has been celebrated throughout Pingxiang since ancient times and gradually evolved from a divine entertainment into a cultural activity for people. During the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era, a magistrate of Pingxiang named Xu Shengwu wrote a poem titled “Bamboo Branch Song” about the Nuo: “Each corner of the town stages a welcoming spring performance every year, keeping both townsfolk and outsiders busy. Fortunately, there’s something to do in this peaceful time—just follow along and join the Nuo dance.” The Nuo dance of Shidongkou features archaic music, rugged dance movements, and a mysterious color palette, displaying traces of development across different levels and historical periods. It not only possesses profound cultural meaning and high aesthetic value, offering inspiration and reference to modern art, but also serves as a valuable living resource for the study of religion, ethnology, history, art, anthropology, and even Eastern culture.

Since its rediscovery in the late 1980s, the Nuo culture of Shidongkou has been selected for exhibitions and performances at the First China Folk Culture and Art Exhibition, the “Hundred Wonders of China” Expo, the Nan Daihe “Wanbo Cultural City” Exhibition, the Hong Kong International Nuo Mask Exhibition, and the Fifth International Folk Art Festival. It has contributed significantly to raising the domestic and international profile of Pingxiang. In previous years, it was invited to participate in the Hakka Culture Month on Taiwan, where the Nuo dances “The Land God Bestows Blessings,” “Zhong Kui Exorcises Evil,” and “Monks and Taoists Read Feng Shui” caused a sensation across the island. Fourteen media outlets spoke highly of the Nuo dance performances from Shidongkou. The Nuo dance of Shidongkou has been a pioneer in cross-strait folk cultural exchanges.

Since the early 1990s, multiple groups of Nuo studies scholars and experts from France, Spain, Japan, the United States, Canada, and other countries have visited Shidongkou for research and exploration. Many domestic experts in Nuo studies have also made special trips here. Both Chinese and foreign scholars agree that Shidongkou is truly a treasure trove of Nuo culture and a sacred site of the “Three Treasures” (Nuo temple, Nuo mask, and Nuo dance).

Shidongkou enjoys a prime location, just five kilometers from downtown Pingxiang. It forms a triangular tourism layout alongside the Autumn Harvest Uprising Square and the Anyuan Memorial Hall.

Currently, the Nuo culture of Pingxiang has been developed into a national AAAAA-level cultural heritage landscape.