Tashi- Inheritor of Qiangmu Dance of Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, Tibet

Tashi is a renowned inheritor of Qiangmu Dance (羌姆舞) at Tashilhunpo Monastery (日喀则扎什伦布寺) in Shigatse (日喀则), Tibet. He was officially included in the 5th batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritors in May 2018. Tashi began studying the art of Qiangmu Dance, a traditional Tibetan Gelug Sect (格鲁派) religious dance, after becoming a monk at Tashilhunpo Monastery in 1984. From 2010, he served as a Qiangmu Director (羌姆导演) at the Zigong Vajrayana Institute (孜宫密宗学院) in the monastery, where he systematically taught and promoted the dance.

His efforts to preserve and promote this art form include performances, public lectures, and other activities that aim to pass on this traditional dance to future generations. Tashi is deeply dedicated to the protection and living transmission of Qiangmu Dance, which is an essential part of Tibetan religious culture.

Inheritor Background

  • Name: Tashi (扎西)

  • Ethnicity: Tibetan (藏族)

  • Birthdate: February 1968

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

  • Project Number: III-22

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

Tashi has spent decades learning and practicing Qiangmu Dance, mastering its intricate history, cultural significance, performance techniques, and ritual processes. Under the guidance of his teacher Qiangbo (羌博), Tashi was able to perform in the annual Qiangmu Festival (羌姆节), gaining recognition for his talent and expertise in this traditional dance.

Social Contributions

Tashi has made significant contributions to Tibetan culture and Qiangmu Dance through teaching and public outreach. Since 2010, when he became the Qiangmu Director at the Zigong Vajrayana Institute, he has been dedicated to passing on his knowledge of the dance to younger generations. He has also been actively involved in social welfare activities, promoting the art form through performances and lectures, ensuring its cultural relevance and fostering a greater understanding of Qiangmu Dance among the wider public.

Through these efforts, Tashi has played a key role in spreading the legacy of Qiangmu Dance across Tibetan communities, while also preserving the dance’s religious and artistic expressions.

Qiangmu Dance and Intangible Cultural Heritage

Qiangmu Dance is a religious dance associated with Tibetan Gelug Sect Buddhist ceremonies. It was included in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage (国家级非物质文化遗产) in 2006, as a newly recognized cultural project. This form of dance is performed by monks at Tashilhunpo Monastery, and it is characterized by a fusion of religious rituals and artistic expression, with distinct ethnic and religious features.

Tashi, along with other prominent inheritors like Lama Mima (喇嘛·米玛) and Lama Tsering (喇嘛·次仁), continues to carry forward the Qiangmu Dance, ensuring its vitality and relevance for future generations. The dance is deeply embedded in the spiritual and cultural practices of the region, and it stands as an iconic example of Tibetan artistic heritage.