Over 300 Nuo Masks Exhibited in Changsha
 2016-12-20 18:04:23  

The 1st China (Hunan) Nuo Culture and Art Week was launched at Changsha’s Dalu Antique Town on Oct. 10, 2016. More than 300 Nuo masks were displayed, telling about history of mysterious Nuo culture. 

This is the largest ancient Nuo mask exhibition in the world, according to the organization committee. 

Nuo wooden mask exhibition and Nuo opera shows would be staged after the launching day. More than 300 wooden masks made in the Ming and Qing Dynasty (1368-1912), collected from over 11 provinces such as Hunan, Guizhou, Fujian and Sichuan, were exhibited. 

The Nuo masks, often used in Nuo opera, are mostly made of wood. Nuo performers wear the masks to communicate with the gods, which makes Nuo culture mysterious and distinctive. Nuo opera has being popular in the countryside of Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, Jiangxi and Sichuan, being reputed as a “living fossil of Chinese opera”. Over 20 years have been spent in collecting and preserving these time-honored and to be extinct Nuo masks. The best ones were chosen to be displayed in this exhibition. 

This Nuo Culture and Art Week is a part of the 16th Hunan International Cultural Relics Expo which will be held from Oct. 10 to 16 in Changsha, organized by the Department of Culture of Hunan Province, and Hunan Bureau of Cultural Relics. Colorful activities will greet citizens, including Market Stall Culture Festival, and Cultural Relics Exchange.

Exquisite Nuo masks in varied styles exhibited at the event.

A Hunan-made Nuo mask of Han Xin, a military general who served Emperor Gauzu of Han and contributed greatly to the founding of the Han Dynasty.

A Nuo mask of Zhang Fei, a military general who served under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period.

A Nuo mask of lion head.

Citizens look for treasures at the market stalls outside Dalu Antique Town.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Source: Hunan Official Web Portal