The
Mask dance----The General That Killed the Tiger shows the production and
life of the ancestors of the Tu nationality in the animal husbandry production
period, and reveals the indomitable struggling spirit of the Tu nationality's
ancestors to fight against the nature.
This dance is the last
one in Nadun, in which the main roles are the general, two tigers, one
monkey, two cattle, of course, all of them are actors. The general stands
on a ladder, which is carried on ten young guys’ shoulder. He wears a
mask, holds a sword in the right hand, a fan in the left hand. The tigers
and cattle wrestle, then the tigers win and eat the cattle. Next, two
seniors ask for the general killing the tigers.
At that
time, the drum rhythms get faster, the general dances quickly, boldly,
while the tigers and monkeys retreat. After several goes-around, the general
killed the tiger and monkeys run away.
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