Ciyang- Inheritor of Qiangmu Dance of Jiangluo Deqing Chöling Monastery in Shigatse, Tibet

Ciyang is the prominent inheritor of Qiangmu Dance (羌姆舞) at Jiangluo Deqing Chöling Monastery (江洛德庆曲林寺) in Shigatse (日喀则), Tibet. She was officially included in the 5th batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritors in May 2018. A highly respected female lama (女活佛), Ciyang has devoted her life to reviving the tradition of nunneries’ Qiangmu (尼姑羌姆) that had been interrupted for many years.

Her dedication to the art of Qiangmu Dance has allowed her to restore and perform eight segments of Qiangmu and nine segments of Galu Dance (嘎尔舞), both of which are performed during “Fire Offering” (火供) ceremonies, an important Tibetan Buddhist ritual. Ciyang herself is an accomplished performer of these sacred dances, and she also leads the prayers during these ceremonies, ensuring the ritual’s religious significance and effectiveness.

Her influence in the region and within Tibetan communities is significant, as she plays a pivotal role in the cultural and religious life of her community.

Inheritor Background

  • Name: Ciyang (次央)

  • Ethnicity: Tibetan (藏族)

  • Birthdate: 1975

  • Intangible Cultural Heritage Category: Traditional Dance (传统舞蹈)

  • Project Number: V-23

  • Region: Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区)

Ciyang’s Journey

Ciyang was born in 1975 and, upon her selection as the lama of Jiangluo Deqing Chöling Monastery, she worked tirelessly to restore the Qiangmu Dance tradition, which had been interrupted for many years. She succeeded in bringing back the eight segments of Qiangmu and nine segments of Galu Dance to their original forms. These traditional dances are now regularly performed during the “Fire Offering” ceremonies at the monastery.

Ciyang herself leads these dances and chants the sacred mantras, ensuring that the religious and spiritual elements of the dance are preserved. Her role is essential—without her chanting, the dance would lack its intended religious effect. This makes her a central figure in the Jiangluo Deqing Chöling Monastery and the surrounding area.

Honors and Recognition

Ciyang’s contributions to preserving and revitalizing Qiangmu Dance have been recognized at the national level. In December 2017, she was recommended as an Inheritor of National Intangible Cultural Heritage, and in May 2018, she was officially included in the 5th batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritors.

Her work in ensuring that the traditions of Qiangmu Dance are passed down to future generations has made her a respected and influential figure, not only in Shigatse but across the Tibetan Plateau.

Qiangmu Dance and Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Qiangmu Dance at Jiangluo Deqing Chöling Monastery is a religious dance that plays an important role in the ceremonies of the Gelug Sect (格鲁派) of Tibetan Buddhism. It has been included in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006 and is performed by the nuns of the monastery. The dance, which blends artistic expression and religious ritual, is a significant cultural asset for the Tibetan people.

The restoration of this traditional dance, under Ciyang’s leadership, ensures that the Qiangmu Dance continues to thrive as an essential part of Tibet’s spiritual and cultural life.