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Tian Heng

unknown authorsecond half of 20th century

Museu do Oriente

Museu do Oriente
Lisboa, Portugal

Dixi mask portraying general of Chu kingdom, Tian Heng.
In China, masks are used in Nuoxi, an ancient ritual performed in temples dedicated to exorcist gods during New Year's Eve festivities. The dancers masquerade and represent deities or deified historical characters. The dance is performed to demonstrate the power of the gods and chase away evil spirits. In Jiangxi Province, dancers are compared to mediums. It is they who ask the Three Great Generals, who are placed at the top of an altar, to invoke a heavenly military expedition, made up of other gods, that comes to ward off evil. The most important is Kaishan, "which opens the mountains." After performing the temple dances, follows the procession of the dancers incarnating the celestial military. These go from house to house spreading protection against disease and calamity. In Guizhou Province, the exorcist ritual Nuoxi takes on another designation, Dixi. It features a sung theater, as well as dances and procession and represents historical plays whose heroes are incarnations of stellar forces. The face and top of the Dixi masks are carved from one piece of wood. On the top, the masks have star or planet symbols of the deity they incarnate.

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  • Title: Tian Heng
  • Creator: unknown author
  • Date Created: second half of 20th century
  • Location: China, Guizhou
  • Physical Dimensions: 30,2 x 21,5 x 8,3 cm
  • Type: mask
  • Rights: Fundação Oriente - Museu do Oriente
  • External Link: http://www.museudooriente.pt/
  • Medium: Wood, glass and unknown fibers
  • Photographer: Hugo Maertens / BNP Paribas, Fundação Oriente - Museu do Oriente
Museu do Oriente

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