Changes

In that ancient period, the ritual was led by an exorcist called Fang Xiang Shi; the meaning of this term is debated and remains unclear. In the [[Han Dynasty]], the Grand Nuo came to be performed at the end of the lunar year, and the Fang Xiang Shi was joined by 120 young palace [[eunuchs]] (age 10-12), who wore black tunics and red scarves. Carrying hand-drums, they performed a ritual calling on twelve animal spirits to drive pestilence out of the Palace, and to devour evil spirits, demons and ghosts as they were driven out. The young boys danced the roles of the animal creatures, and passed torches used in the rites to horsemen who drowned the torches in the river.

In that ancient period, the ritual was led by an exorcist called Fang Xiang Shi; the meaning of this term is debated and remains unclear. In the [[Han Dynasty]], the Grand Nuo came to be performed at the end of the lunar year, and the Fang Xiang Shi was joined by 120 young palace [[eunuchs]] (age 10-12), who wore black tunics and red scarves. Carrying hand-drums, they performed a ritual calling on twelve animal spirits to drive pestilence out of the Palace, and to devour evil spirits, demons and ghosts as they were driven out. The young boys danced the roles of the animal creatures, and passed torches used in the rites to horsemen who drowned the torches in the river.

In the [[Sui Dynasty|Sui]] and [[Tang Dynasty|Tang]] Dynasties, the twelve animal spirits were replaced with twelve officials in red robes and carrying leather whips.

In the [[Sui Dynasty|Sui]] and [[Tang Dynasty|Tang]] Dynasties, the twelve animal spirits were replaced with twelve officials in red robes and carrying leather whips. It was during this time that the Nuo rite became prominently performed in the Japanese Court, as well as in the royal court of [[Koryo Dynasty]] Korea.<ref>Min, 359n38.</ref>

During the [[Song Dynasty]], Nuo began to merge with other musical and performance forms, including ''sanyue'', ''zájù'' (雜劇), and ''nánxì'' (南戲), becoming somewhat secularized and dramatized (i.e. becoming more a theater form and less a religious ritual form), coming to be known alternatively as ''nuóxì'' (儺戲). The Fang Xiang Shi was replaced by [[Zhong Kui]] or one of a number of similar supernatural figures from folk religion, as were the twelve animal spirits.

During the [[Song Dynasty]], Nuo began to merge with other musical and performance forms, including ''sanyue'', ''zájù'' (雜劇), and ''nánxì'' (南戲), becoming somewhat secularized and dramatized (i.e. becoming more a theater form and less a religious ritual form), coming to be known alternatively as ''nuóxì'' (儺戲). The Fang Xiang Shi was replaced by [[Zhong Kui]] or one of a number of similar supernatural figures from folk religion, as were the twelve animal spirits.

==References==

==References==

*Min Tian, "Chinese Nuo and Japanese Noh – Nuo’s Role in the Origination and Formation of Noh," ''Comparative Drama'' 37:3/4 (2003-04), 343-360.

*Min Tian, "Chinese Nuo and Japanese Noh – Nuo’s Role in the Origination and Formation of Noh," ''Comparative Drama'' 37:3/4 (2003-04), 343-360.

[[Category:Religion]]

[[Category:Religion]]