Perpetual motion
An elderly artisan keeps alive an ethnic dance listed as provincial intangible cultural heritage
Dong Xinglin was born in a remote village in Enshi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture in Hubei province. Last year, the elderly artisan set up a 25-person professional troupe in Xuan'en township in the prefecture to promote Xuan'en Shuashua, a Hubei provincial intangible cultural heritage. The art is the traditional Tujia ethnic dance, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) and enjoys wide popularity in Tujia settlements in Enshi. Dong, 78, is the fourth generation of his family to carry on the tradition. After years of performances in villages, the elderly artisan has moved to town to pass down the ethnic cultural trove to more people.
| Dong Xinglin (right) performs Xuan'en Shuashua in Xuan'en county, Hubei province, in the county's first intangible cultural heritage show. Photos by Song Wen / Xinhua |
| The Dong family must travel through rough terrain to arrive at performance venues. |
| Dong and his family have moved from his home village to government-run low-rent housing in the township. |
| Dong says it is his responsibility to pass down the art to younger generations. |
| Dong enjoys performing the ancient art with neighbors. |
(China Daily European Weekly 04/04/2014 page4)
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