Tashi Ciren- Inheritor of Gar Dance in Tibet

Tashi Ciren (扎西次仁) is a prominent inheritor of Gar Dance (嘎尔), a traditional Tibetan dance, and a respected figure in the preservation and transmission of Tibetan cultural heritage. Born in January 1942 in Lhasa (拉萨), Tibet, he is recognized as a National Inheritor of Gar Dance, a vital part of Tibet’s performing arts tradition.

Inheritor Profile

  • Name: Tashi Ciren (扎西次仁)

  • Ethnicity: Tibetan (藏族)

  • Birthdate: January 1942

  • Gender: Male

  • Region: Lhasa (拉萨), Tibet

  • Cultural Heritage: Gar Dance (嘎尔)

  • Status: National Inheritor of Intangible Cultural Heritage

  • Project Number: III-85

Background and Early Training

Tashi Ciren’s passion for Tibetan traditional arts began at a young age. In 1951, at the age of 9, he was selected to join a professional artistic team where he trained under renowned masters of traditional Tibetan music and Gar Dance. Over the years, he mastered not only the Gar Dance but also various traditional Tibetan musical instruments, including the yangqin (扬琴), zhanyan (扎年), flute (笛子), Peking opera stringed instruments (京胡), erhu (二胡), biwang sanxian (毕旺三线), flute (长笛), and suona (唢呐), gaining a deep understanding of musical theory and notation.

His vast expertise in both dance and music has made him one of the most well-rounded traditional artists in Tibet.

Teaching and Contributions

Between 1983 and 1998, Tashi Ciren served as a teacher at Tibet University‘s College of Arts, where he taught Gar Dance to countless students, passing on his knowledge of both the dance and its accompanying music. During his tenure, he also published a music collection titled “Mibu Xiajiji” (密布暇集), contributing to the documentation and preservation of Tibetan cultural heritage.

After retiring, Tashi Ciren continued his dedication to the arts by publishing the Gar Dance music sheet titled “Quzhen Gari” (曲珍嘎瑞) and a music album titled “Traditional Tibetan Music” (藏族传统精品音乐). In 2000, he published “Tibetan Classical Music” (西藏古典音乐), further solidifying his role as a key figure in Tibetan music and dance preservation.

Recent Work and Legacy

Tashi Ciren’s commitment to his heritage did not end with his retirement. In 2013, he began teaching Gar Dance to colleagues from the Tibetan Opera Troupe (藏剧团). In 2014, he took further steps to preserve Gar Dance by organizing and recording music scores and lyrics, resulting in the release of the “Garlu Quzhen Gaduan” (嘎鲁曲珍嘎端) music collection and accompanying video material.

Since 2008, Tashi Ciren has continued to teach Gar Dance, Nam (囊玛), and Dui Xie (堆谐), opening his teachings to the public and allowing the next generation to learn these essential elements of Tibetan culture.

Key Achievements and Honors

  • 1951: Selected to join a professional artistic team and began learning Gar Dance.

  • 1983-1998: Taught Gar Dance at Tibet University.

  • 1998: Published the music collection “Mibu Xiajiji” (密布暇集).

  • 2000: Released the music album “Tibetan Classical Music” (西藏古典音乐).

  • 2013: Taught Gar Dance to the Tibetan Opera Troupe.

  • 2014: Recorded and published “Garlu Quzhen Gaduan” (嘎鲁曲珍嘎端) music collection and video materials.

  • 2018: Recognized as a National Inheritor of Gar Dance (嘎尔) as part of the Fourth Batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritors.

Tashi Ciren’s lifelong dedication to the preservation and transmission of Gar Dance and his influence on Tibetan arts make him an essential figure in safeguarding Tibet’s cultural heritage. His contributions have helped ensure that Gar Dance continues to thrive as an important aspect of Tibetan tradition.