Shiyao Nuo God Temple

Shiyao Nuo God Temple

The Shiyao Nuo God Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

Shiyao Village is about 30 kilometers from Nanfeng County and is a natural village with a population of nearly 2,000, primarily from the Wu family clan. Near the village lies a widely renowned Nuo God Temple dating back to the Ming Dynasty. Research indicates that this is the oldest existing Nuo God Temple in China.

The Shiyao Village Nuo God Temple is situated at the southwestern entrance of the village. It is a three-bay building constructed during the Qing Dynasty using blue bricks. The Nuo God Temple has a history of over 500 years and features architectural styles from the Yuan Dynasty. According to the village genealogy, the temple was first built during the Ming Dynasty but was destroyed in the 40th year of the Jiajing reign (1561). It was rebuilt in the 46th year of the Qianlong reign (1781) during the Qing Dynasty and relocated from Shengtou Mountain in the north of the village to its current site. During the Spring Festival of 1985, a fire broke out in the temple, destroying the Nuo God statues and masks, leaving only the stone-carved temple gate. Later, villagers pooled funds to restore it to its original appearance.

The Nuo God Temple seen today features a bright red gate flaring outward, with the three black characters “Nuo God Temple” on a red background carved above it. On either side are a pair of brick carvings depicting warrior figures — one holding an axe and the other a hammer, both standing on lion-shaped auspicious beasts with feathered flags on their backs. Along the eaves are smaller brick carvings of civil officials, each holding vertical plaques inscribed with “Peace and Joy” and “Heavenly Official Bestows Blessings.” Below the eaves on the outer side are two more pairs of figure carvings, possibly depicting scenes from operatic stories. Beside the gate is a stone couplet: “It may resemble a play, but it is not a real play; it is the national Nuo, thus the grand Nuo.”

The interior of the temple is about 30 square meters. At the center is an altar where the Nuo God Prince sits, his face coated with gold powder, lips curled in a smile, wearing a golden crown and dragon robe, appearing young and handsome. Behind the Nuo God Prince is a red curtain, usually lowered but lifted on the evening of the 16th day of the first lunar month during the Nuo God Search ceremony. Behind the curtain are small statues of twelve Nuo Gods (with two of the major deities), corresponding to eleven mask roles. In the center sits a small puppet figure with movable limbs, known as the “Nuo Baby,” with a white face, red lips, golden crown, and red robe — also very strikingly beautiful. On the far left is a Guanyin statue added by villagers in recent years. Above the altar hangs a plaque inscribed with “Mighty Spirit Illuminates the Heavens,” beneath which is a brocade banner reading “The True Dharma Endures Forever.” To the left and right of the altar are statues of the ancestral patriarch Taiyin Gong of the Wu clan and the Earth God. On either side of the hall are side rooms — the east room stores stools, meditation cushions, and other miscellaneous items, while the west room is where the temple keeper resides. The masks are usually stored on the altar and taken out and hung above the Nuo God Prince during Nuo performances. Daily tasks such as cleaning and incense offerings are managed by the temple keeper. The Nuo God of Shiyao Village is regarded as highly efficacious by people in the surrounding areas, with many worshippers coming to offer incense, make vows, and divine their fortunes. As a result, popular deities like Guanyin and the Tathagata are not widely enshrined here. Instead, the Nuo God has become the main deity worshipped by the people of Shiyao Village and nearby communities, with incense burning year-round. Aside from expelling disease and evil, the Nuo God Prince and Nuo Baby also symbolize fertility and are regarded as child-giving deities. The Nuo Gods of Shiyao Village include the Nuo God Prince, the Nuo Baby, and the masks. Villagers respectfully refer to the masks as “sacred images,” of which there are thirteen in total. The villagers believe that the Nuo Baby is the proxy of the Nuo God Prince, while the sacred images are Nuo Gods of lower status. All are under the command of the Nuo God Prince, just as a military campaign has a commander and generals. The placement of the masks follows strict rules — in the Nuo God Temple, the Nuo God Prince sits on the altar, and the thirteen masks are hung in two rows above him.

Shiyao Village: Shiyao Village is located in the western part of Nanfeng County, 10 kilometers from the county seat and 7.5 kilometers from the seat of Sanxi Township. National Highway “Rao 3” runs through the village. The village currently has 288 households, with a population of 1,102. The arable land area is 980 mu, and the forested area spans 14,700 mu. The villagers of Shiyao are predominantly from the Wu family clan, along with other surnames such as Luo and Liu. They have lived here for generations, making a living through farming, and are known for their simple and honest folk customs.

Shiyao is famous both domestically and abroad for its Nuo dance and is honored as the “Hometown of Chinese Folk Art (Nuo Dance).” The Shiyao Nuo dance has a long history and is primitive and mysterious. The Nuo dance ceremony includes “Initiating the Nuo, Performing the Nuo, Searching the Nuo, Concluding…” More detailed information about Shiyao Village ++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangxi Province