Nuo opera of Jiangxi

Jiangxi (江西) Nuo is usually called Gan Nuo as Gan (赣) is the abbreviation of Jiangxi Province. Nuo opera is most popular in the counties of Nanfeng and Shangli in Jiangxi. From late Qing Dynasty to now, there were about 150 Nuo opera performing groups. A temple for the Nuo god, which was built in the Ming Dynasty, is still in good function today for people to worship the Nuo god. About 80 Nuo opera programs date from the past still exist today.

The number of Nuo opera masks in Jiangxi is over 2000, and there are approximately 2000 professional Nuo opera performing folk artists. In Shangli county, a popular saying goes that in ancient times, there was a Nuo god every five kilometers. Therefore, Shangli county conserves over 20 Nuo god temples.

Nuo dancing, one of the most ancient arts and a necessary element in Nuo opera, has existed in Nanfeng, Jiangxi for over 2000 years. The movements of Nanfeng Nuo dancing are simple but powerful, retaining their ancient characters. Nanfeng Nuo dancing was even regarded as "The Active fossil of Chinese dancing Art". In 1996, Nanfeng county was called "The village of Chinese folk Art - Nuo Art" by National Culture Department of China.

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