Sinan Tujia Lantern not only has a long history, but also has a variety of performances. At first, it was a "duet", in which the dance movements such as doorway, eagle spreading its wings, fish playing in the water, flowers on the knees and Su Qin's negative sword were very representative and touching. In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, there appeared three people, one male and two female called "Twin Peaks and Chaoyang", or "Two males and one female called" Double Lion Play Ball ". In some places, two men and two women are called "double lights". Dan Jiao, also called Yao Mei, disguised as a man, wore a fake braid, a headscarf, a flowered skirt, a silk folding fan in her right hand and a colored towel in her left hand. Clown, also called brother gan, wears a fur coat, a belt, a melon hat on his head and a big cattail leaf fan in his right hand. Brother gan revolves around his sister, singing and dancing with each other. Gange's dance movements are colorful and humorous.
By the end of Qing Dynasty, Sinan Tujia Lantern Festival had developed into Gao Tai Opera, which was a great leap in the history of Lantern Festival. During the light years of the Qing Dynasty, the Sinan Tujia Lantern Festival changed from an indoor performance to a low-level performance in the courtyard dam, which Tujia people called a low-level drama. In Guangxu 18 of Qing Dynasty, Luo Fanglin, a native of Sinan, returned to his hometown from Yunnan, and set up a formal stage in Luojiaba, his hometown, putting the short stage play of Tujia people on the high platform. Gao Tai Opera House got its name from this. The formation of Gao Tai Opera with strong national characteristics immediately shocked the whole county and even crossed the county boundaries. Regardless of weddings, funerals and celebrations, people are scrambling to invite the troupe to play.
Sinan Tujia lanterns are rich in content and complicated in programs. There are more than 20 kinds of traditional lanterns, such as "setting lanterns", "making money", "Everything is fine", "talking about twelve sisters in the garden", "burning incense", "playing Liangshan" and "worshiping children". The content mostly reflects Tujia people's happiness and auspiciousness, celebrating the Spring Festival, borrowing the past to compare the present, persuading people to be honest, industrious and rich, chanting flowers and plants, and giving things to express their feelings.
After the founding of New China, Sinan Tujia Lantern Festival developed rapidly. 1956, the county people's government organized a lantern festival. 1958, the Lantern Troupe was established on the basis of enrichment and expansion. No woman has ever participated in Sinan Tujia people singing lanterns. 1956, the county lantern festival, asking women to play the leading role. Tian Yingxi, an old Tujia artist, mobilized everywhere and finally invited two girls, Xu Chaozhen and Xu Yifu, from Xujiaba 15. Tian Yingxi also changed the singing method of "husband and wife" from ancient times to "brother and sister". This "brother and sister" singing method has been maintained until now. 1958 participated in the provincial cultural performance, and the large-scale song and dance "Socialism is Good" created by Tian Yingxi and others was highly praised by provincial leaders and experts. 1995, the lantern drama "Welcome" and the lantern dance "Dragon and Phoenix Flower Candle" participated in the whole province's lantern exhibition, and both won the excellent program performance award and the creation award.
1993 xujiaba town in sinan county was named "hometown of lantern art" by the provincial people's government. Author: Tian Yonghong Source: Guizhou Daily