Guozi Dance in Qüxü County, Lhasa

Guozi Dance (廓孜歌舞) is a traditional form of entertainment performed by Tibetan boatmen. This dance originates from Qüxü County (曲水县), located in the central part of Tibet Autonomous Region, where the Lhasa River (拉萨河) and Yarlung Tsangpo River (雅鲁藏布江) converge. The dance is considered one of China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritages.

  • Heritage Level: National

  • Heritage Category: Traditional Dance

  • Heritage ID: III-89

  • Approved Date: June 7, 2008

  • Declared Area: Qüxü County, Tibet Autonomous Region

Historical Origins

Origins of Guozi Dance

The Guozi Dance has its roots in the “Zhongzi” (牦牛舞), a dance representing the movement and characteristics of yaks. The name “Guozi” in Tibetan means “yak skin boat,” and the dance is often referred to as the “Yak Skin Boat Dance.” Junba Village (俊巴村), the main village in Qüxü County, is known as the only fishing community in the Lhasa area. The people of Junba traditionally relied on fishing for their livelihood.

The yak skin boat has been used for transportation and fishing since the Tubo Dynasty (吐蕃时期) over 2,000 years ago. These boats have appeared in historical records, such as murals in Samye Monastery (桑耶寺), the Potala Palace (布达拉宫), and Norbulingka (罗布林卡). The dance, which evolved from the daily fishing activities, became a form of entertainment for boatmen, with the boat also serving as a prop during the performance.

Artistic Features

Dance Structure

The Guozi Dance consists of four main sections:

  1. Shudao Bai (述道白): The dance begins with the lead dancer, A Re (阿热), giving an opening speech. The speech describes a mythical “Divine Cow” that roams the village, grazing on the mountain slopes and practicing combat in the cow pen.

  2. Zhongzi (牦牛舞) – The Yak Dance: The boatmen, in unison, perform the Yak Skin Boat Dance while chanting “Za Ang! Za Ang! Za Ang!” as the rhythm of the boat strikes. During this section, A Re sings a “Blessing Song” (祝福歌), a significant part of the performance.

  3. Chiao Khada (挑哈达) – Offering of Khada: A Re continues singing and presents a Khada (哈达) – a traditional Tibetan scarf. The dancers, while balancing their yak skin boats, bend forward to pick up the Khada from the ground using the boat’s upper corners.

  4. Blessing Song (祝福歌): The dancers sing a heartfelt “Blessing Song,” with lyrics that convey wishes for health and good fortune: “Today we meet here, and may we often meet again. To those we meet often, may you be blessed with good health.” After the song, A Re leads the group to bow to the audience and exits.

Dance Characteristics

The Guozi Dance is characterized by its energetic, forceful, and robust movements, often accompanied by chanting and rhythmic actions. The dancers move with precision, each action mirroring the collective strength of the Tibetan boatmen. A Re, the lead dancer, holds a Tata (塔塔) – a colorful flagstaff, while performing intricate steps and actions, often leading the group in synchronized movements. The rhythm of the dance is set by the boatmen’s rhythmic strikes on the boat, creating a dynamic and lively performance.

The dance displays a strong regional style, with movements that reflect the labor and vitality of the Tibetan boatmen. It incorporates various folk elements, with fast foot stamping and fluid hand gestures.

Inheritance and Protection

Cultural Significance

The Guozi Dance holds deep cultural and artistic value. It blends entertainment, art, and local customs and offers unique insights into the traditions of the Tibetan boatmen. The dance reflects an organic connection to the Tibetan people’s fishing culture, and its study is valuable for understanding Tibetan folklore, ethnology, and historical culture.

Current Inheritance Status

Despite its historical importance, the Guozi Dance is currently facing challenges in preservation. Only a few elderly artists in Junba Village can still perform the dance, and the difficulty of the performance, combined with the heavy props and the long training period, makes it difficult for younger generations to learn and practice. The dance is at risk of fading away and requires urgent protection.

Key Inheritors

Tashi (扎桑), born in August 1937, is one of the key inheritors of the Guozi Dance and has been recognized as a representative inheritor of the third batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage projects.

Protection Measures

In 2016, the Tibet Autonomous Region’s Folk Art Institute (西藏自治区群艺馆) completed a rescue project to record and preserve the traditional performance of Guozi Dance by Tashi.

In November 2019, the Cüxü County Cultural and Tourism Bureau (曲水县文化和旅游局) was officially designated as the protection unit for the Guozi Dance. In October 2023, this protection unit was evaluated and recognized as qualified.

Social Impact

Media Exposure

The Guozi Dance was featured in a 2020 episode of China’s Image and Local Chronicles on CCTV-10, showcasing the folk traditions of Qüxü County (曲水县) and its unique cultural heritage.