|
Northern barbarian was the joint name of the tribe’s except the Han people in ancient China. They were usually referred to the nomads in Northern and Western China. Everyone looks closely at the figurines. They all have the feature of long nose, deep eyes, and plump check with beard, completely different from the Han people on the three-color riding drum-beating figurines of Tang Dynasty. The five figurines are different in acts from each other while are harmonious and unified. It seems that they are dancing a kind of dance together. Among the five figurines, four are extremely alike in dance movement. Though they wear distinctive expressions, some raising eyebrows, some warping the lower jaw, some looking around and staring, all share the features of long nose, deep eyes, and beard. They also wear same hat and dress similar clothes. All of them are wearing peaked cap, dressing turtleneck gown with wide sleeves which is knee-length. Their movements are harmonious and unified. Some rise up left arm with the elbow bending, some rising up right arm with the elbow bending. The long sleeves fly upside-down as the arms switch. The hem of the gown also winds left or right as the body moves, presenting a string sense of dynamic. Their legs are standing in T-shape on the pedal in a tao-like form, which is similar to the movement of modern tap dance. Among the five figurines, the most distinctive one is this figurine. He is distinctive with big eyes and bushy eyebrows, wearing a closely fit round cap with streams of curls showing under the brim of hat. He dresses a collarless front-opening shirt with plackets but joint in the front and a cover-knee skirt. The skirt hem flies afterwards, standing with right root before and left foot behind in T-shape in the tap-like form. His left shoulder turns back and shrugs, right shoulder leans forward lower. But, it is a pity that his arms have broken. Shi Shuqing looked carefully at each wood figurine, pointed at the hats on the figurines' heads and said: this is the unique peaked cap of northern barbarian." And pointed at the figurine's movement, determining with certainty that the dance they are dancing is Huteng Dance in Western China. As a cultural property appraiser, Shi Shuqing possesses abundant experience on appraising cultural property, particularly that on the northern barbarian figurines of Tang Dynasty. Accordingly, Shi Shuqing determined that the age of the five wooden dancer figurines in the Jiaozuo Museum should be Tang Dynasty.
The carving technique of these wooden northern barbarian dancer figurines of Tang Dynasty is very excellent. The vivid appearance and fluent lines represent the facial features, dressing and resolute dancing postures of the actors performing Huteng Dance in Tang Dynasty.
At that time, in Chang'an, Capital of Tang Dynasty, music and dance were very popular. With opening of the Silk Road, the dance with music in the Western Regions began to come into Central Plains in a large number. It infused new vitality to the song and dance of prosperous Tang Dynasty.
According to historical records, Emperor Taizong of Tang was very fond of exotic dance with music. Till period of Emperor of Xuanzong of Tang, the emperor became crazier about the music and dance from the Western Regions. Among the dances with music from the Western Regions, a kind of solo male dance, Huteng Dance, was deeply favored by the royal family of Tang Dynasty. It became fashionable for a time. The Huteng Dance is not only vigorous and rapid, resolute and unrestrained, but also elegant and natural, humorous and interesting. The main movements of dance include hooking hand, stirring sleeve, swinging head, twisting crotch lifting knees and jumping and etc. When performing Huteng Dance, the actors also need flute, stringed Chinese lute and other stringed and woodwind instruments for accompaniment.
From the modeling of these five wooden northern barbarian dancer figurines, we can see the typical movements of Huteng Dance.
Through these cultural relics preserved, we can see that dancing Huteng needs you to turn around while jumping. It is bold and lively vivid. Only people with vigorous skills can finish these movements. However, among the officials of Tang Dynasty, there was such a fat person who danced Huteng Dance very well. He was An Lushan, who created the An Shi Rebellion. The audiences who watched him dancing were Emperor Xuanzong and Lady Yang.
An Lushan was originally surnamed Kang. It's said his father was a northern barbarian. His father died at his childhood. He followed his mother since then and grew up in the prairie of Western Regions. Later, his mother married a person from Central Asia surnamed An. An Lushan was surnamed An following his step-father since then. Since mother danced very well, An learned the dances of Western Regions from his mother since childhood. In "Old Book of Tang", there had been text record about An Lushan was good at Huteng Dance. Till his middle age, An Lushan became fat with a very big belly. But in order to contend for emperor's love and trust, he always danced Huteng dance before Emperor Xuanzong and Lady Yang, regardless of his fatappearance. It's said though An Lushan was fat, he jumped and turned around freely while dancing. Even Emperor Xuanzong and Lady Yang could not help clapping their hands for him. And An Lushan was appointed as Military Governorship of Three Towns in charge of massive forces. Thus it can be seen the degree of Royal Family's love toward Huteng Dance in Tang Dynasty.
With time passing away, the quick, bold and unstrained Huteng Dance in Tang Dynasty can not been seen by us now. However, through this group of wooden northern barbarian dancer figurines of Tang Dynasty, we have a deeper understanding in the development of ancient Chinese dances and songs.
Search the web for more information here:
|
