Dance of Sherpa Ethnic People in Dinggyê County, Shigatse

Sherpa Ethnic People who live in Chentang Town of Dinggyê County in Shigatse like dancing and singging.

Dance of Sherpa Ethnic People (陈塘夏尔巴歌舞) is a traditional folk dance of the Sherpa people, originating from the Chen Tang (陈塘) area in Dinggyê County (定结县), Shigatse (日喀则), Tibet. This dance, which reflects the rich cultural history of the Sherpa community, was recognized as part of China’s third batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011.

• Heritage Level: National

• Heritage Category: Traditional Dance

• Heritage ID: III-107

• Approved Date: May 23, 2011

• Declared Area: Tibet Autonomous Region, Dinggyê County, Shigatse

• Protection Unit: Dinggyê County Cultural and Tourism Bureau (定结县文化和旅游局)

Historical Origins

Origins of Sherpa Dance

The Chen Tang Sherpa Dance has its roots in the ancestral traditions of the Sherpa people, who migrated from the Kham Region (康区) in eastern Tibet and surrounding areas such as Sichuan, Qinghai, and Yunnan. Their journey brought them through Lhasa and Dinggyê before settling in the region where Chen Tang is located, near the border between Tibet and Nepal. Over time, the Sherpa people absorbed elements from both Nepalese and other Tibetan cultures, creating a unique and rich cultural blend that is distinctly different from their origins.

This integration of Kham, Nepalese, and Tibetan cultural influences is reflected in the Sherpa music, which combines characteristics from all three regions. Over centuries, this fusion has evolved into a unique musical style that is still prevalent in Sherpa songs and dances today, further refined by the Sherpa’s art, music, and life in Chen Tang.

Dance Features

Performance Attire

The Sherpa Dance is a participatory activity that can be performed at any time, whether during joyful celebrations, harvest festivals, or other significant occasions. The women performers, who are the primary participants, wear traditional Sherpa costumes. They typically dress in black woolen cloth, with flowers and peacock feathers adorning their headgear. Their necks are adorned with necklaces made from over 200 silver rings, and they wear silver pendants on their chests and silver waistbands. Their wrists are decorated with large white seashells, and they wear golden earrings (known as “A Long” 阿龙) and “Gawu” (嘎乌), gold and silver jewelry pieces.

As they dance, these accessories make jingling sounds, adding to the visual appeal and energy of the performance.

Dance Form

The dance primarily involves circle or semi-circle formations, focusing on hand, foot, waist, and hip movements. The dancers’ motions are fluid and expressive, with footwork that includes shuffling, stepping, and bending knees. The dancers twist, sway, and lift their shoulders, while their hands raise, shake, and swing. The dance emphasizes eye-hand coordination, with various basic steps and gestures, such as “stumbling steps,” “two steps with a stomp,” “hand-waving around the waist,” and “crossing hands in front.”

The song lyrics of the dance are a mix of traditional verses and new compositions, with traditional lyrics centered around ancient legends, agricultural practices, religious chants, and architectural techniques. The modern songs mainly focus on praising the beauty of nature and the themes of love, romance, and satirical humor. The lyrics are primarily in Tibetan, and the songs are often structured in 4, 6, or 8-line verses, with multiple verses and stanzas.

Participants in the dance are not restricted in number, though the performers are predominantly women. The music follows a traditional ecological vocal style, with clear, simple melodies that evoke daily life in the mountains. The performance begins with slow, lyrical dancing and singing, then gradually picks up speed into medium-tempo dancing, finally reaching a lively, fast-paced rhythm.

Community and Festival Celebrations

On the 4th day of the 6th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, the Sherpa people of Chen Tang gather in front of the Weisak Ling Monastery (会伟萨确林寺) to celebrate with their traditional song and dance. Participants form a circle to perform their dances, singing ancient songs that are passed down through generations. The men typically start the song, and the women join in, often adding foot stamping and linking arms. Traditional beverages are served in the center of the circle, and when participants tire, they sit down to rest, sometimes sleeping against stones or wooden railings after a long day of celebration.

Inheritance and Protection

Cultural Value

Sherpa dance is an embodiment of the Sherpa people’s spiritual and cultural heritage, intertwined with their life cycle events, from birth to death. The dance provides a strong cultural foundation, reinforcing a sense of community and connection to their roots, rituals, and history.

Inheritance Status

The transmission of Sherpa dance has faced challenges in recent years. Due to its complexity, learning the dance is difficult, and the younger generation lacks sufficient patience to engage with the art form. Additionally, the songs are sung in Sherpa Tibetan, which can be difficult for outsiders to understand. This has led to a decline in interest in its preservation, although efforts after 2011 have seen the dance begin to revive.

Key Inheritor

Langga (朗嘎), a prominent female performer, is the representative inheritor of Chen Tang Sherpa Dance, and she has been crucial in safeguarding and passing on this cultural treasure in Dinggyê County.

Protection Measures

To safeguard and promote the Sherpa Dance, in 2016, the Chinese government allocated 12 million yuan for the construction of a Sherpa Dance Training Center in Chen Tang. By the end of 2016, over 16.5 million yuan was invested in supporting the protection of intangible cultural heritage in border areas, with 1.9 million yuan specifically allocated for Chen Tang Sherpa Dance preservation.

In 2017, the construction of facilities to protect and utilize the dance was included in China’s “13th Five-Year Plan” for Intangible Cultural Heritage. The training center was completed in 2018, occupying an area of over 2,700 square meters. In 2019, the Dinggyê County Cultural and Tourism Bureau was officially recognized as the protection unit for the dance, and in 2023, it passed the evaluation for continued protection.

Social Impact

Artistic Influence

The Sherpa Dance remains a vibrant part of the Sherpa community’s cultural and spiritual life. In 2015, the Xinlianxin Art Troupe performed the “Harmonious Home” (和谐家园) at the Chen Tang Sherpa Dance performance, highlighting its continued relevance in Tibetan society.

The Chen Tang Sherpa Dance is not just a cultural performance, but also a living tradition that connects the Sherpa people with their history, spirituality, and community, fostering unity and celebrating their rich cultural legacy.