Private Project

The performer of Nuo Opera

Meishan Nuo is an important branch of Chinese Nuo cultural system. It is hosted by local Nuo artists (known locally as Shi Gong or Taoist priest), and constitutes the trinity mode of "ancestors, God of Nuo and Master of Nuo". It was conceived in the ancient hunting times to deal with the expulsion of beasts witchcraft, rooted in nature worship, totem worship, ancestral worship and Wicca fertile soil. Ghosts and gods enjoy offering Nuo drama. People get the protection of ghosts and gods to eliminate disasters and deal with disasters. People find a way of self-healing in the spiritual world. Through field research, it is found that there are still some large Nuo ceremonies in ShangMeishan. These ancient historical and cultural living objects are the largest and most valuable intangible cultural heritage resources in Xinhua County. The existence of witchcraft teachers is indispensable to the local villagers. The documentary takes a master of Witchcraft as the target. He is a ritual inheritor, an intermediary between ghosts and spirits in the mind of local villagers, and an epitome of the integration of several religious cultures, including teachers, Tao, witches and Confucianism. He is responsible for praying for people to eliminate disasters and meet the spiritual needs of self-healing. In A DOCUMENTARY WAY, HE RECORDED THE FUNERAL CEREMONIES presided over by HIS master in a few months, the ceremony of "respecting the King of Han and rewarding the King's wishes" and some work to exorCise evil spirits and eliminate disasters for the people. It shows the master's reverence for ghosts, gods, ancestors and respect for traditional rituals. In addition, the film also reflects the mutual help between teachers and younger students, patient teaching of apprentices, feeling the ancient and mysterious traditional culture of Meishan, feeling the local cultural scenery and in-depth exploration of its hidden deep cultural connotation.

  • Feng yu jing
    Director
  • Feng yu jing
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    39 minutes 55 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 17, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    Chinese
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Minzu University of China
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Beijing
    China
    18/11/2022
    world premiere
    The third National Film and Television Anthropology Works Exhibition was shortlisted.
Director Biography - Feng yu jing

Director Feng Yujing is a postgraduate student majoring in audiovisual at School of Journalism and Communication, Minzu University of China. She has filmed feature films, documentaries and propaganda films for many times. Among them, the documentary "Knot" of the Beijing style cheongsam intangible cultural heritage technology and the documentary "I Am Li Shan" of a stand-up comedian from Beijing Xiaotuo Comedy, which I co-shot with the team, both won the second prize of the short film unit in the 7th China Dream · Youth Video Ceremony. In addition, I also filmed a documentary about Tanka in Lingshui, Hainan called "Sister Tanka", which was shortlisted in the third Ethnic Film and Anthropology Exhibition.

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Director Statement

Just came to Hunan Xinhua strange countryside, due to the local dialect, no people know, a little helpless. But when I gradually got to know the Nuo culture of Meishan and the local people, as well as my hero Zeng Yuanhui, everything became clear. Therefore, I began to do field research for several months and recorded the exorcism ceremony held by the sorcerer. His respect for ghosts and gods and his earnest teachings to his apprentices made me very impressed