Dabiya Folk Dance of Nu Ethnic Minority in Fugong County, Nujiang

The Dabiya Dance of the Nu ethnic group (怒族达比亚舞) is a traditional dance originating from Fugong County (福贡县), Yunnan Province (云南省). It is recognized as a national-level intangible cultural heritage.

The dance is deeply rooted in the Pihe Nu ethnic area (匹河怒族地区) and has evolved over centuries through the creativity and transmission of generations of Nu folk artists and community members. It is performed with the traditional Nu instrument Dabiya (达比亚), a triangular plucked string instrument.

Although the early versions of the instrument were coarse in appearance and inconvenient to carry, the sound has always been crisp, soft, bright, and rhythmically rich. Over time, both the instrument and the dance developed into a complete artistic form with a distinctive ethnic style.

On November 11, 2014, the Dabiya Dance was officially approved by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China and was included in the fourth batch of national intangible cultural heritage items, with the project number Ⅲ-129.

• Chinese Name: 怒族达比亚舞
• Declared Region: Fugong County (福贡县), Yunnan Province (云南省)
• Approval Date: November 11, 2014
• Heritage Number: Ⅲ-129
• Heritage Level: National
• Category: Traditional Dance

Historical Origins

The Nu people mainly inhabit Pihe Township (匹河乡), Fugong County (福贡县), Nujiang Prefecture (怒江州), which is China’s only Nu autonomous township, known as the “Hometown of Buckwheat.”

With nine administrative villages, 57 natural villages, and a population of 11,740, Pihe is rich in traditional culture, preserving valuable forms of folk music and dance. The Dabiya Dance is a representative cultural treasure of the Nu, passed down through generations as a reflection of their wisdom, emotions, and creativity.

The name “Dabiya (达比亚)” was standardized in written Chinese later, as the original Nu language had no script. Depending on village dialects, variants such as Dabiao (达表), Dabi (达比), Dabian (达变), Dabiao (达标) were used, almost all beginning with the “b” sound.

The Dabiya instrument itself is a traditional plucked string instrument of the Nu people. It is triangular in shape, with its music forming the basis for different dance melodies, giving rise to the Dabiya Dance.

Dance Characteristics

Performance Forms

Across Nu villages, the Dabiya Dance is performed in similar styles, though postures and steps vary. The main types include:

• Forward playing (instrument held in front of chest)
• Reverse playing (instrument placed on the back shoulder)
• Back-to-back playing (two performers together)
• Low playing (instrument held downward)
• Flat playing (instrument placed in front)
• High side playing (instrument placed on shoulders, head tilted to listen)
• Double playing (two people share one instrument, one holding and one plucking)

Movements require hand, foot, and mental coordination, showing the dancer’s skill.

The dance is not performed during funerals, but instead during festivals, weddings, and joyful occasions. It can be performed solo, in pairs, or in groups, usually forming circles or rows.

Themes and Styles

The Dabiya Dance reflects daily life, production activities, animal imitations, legends, and love stories. There are nearly 100 routines, including:

• Migration dances: “First Land-Seeking Dance,” “Second Land-Seeking Dance”
• Marriage customs: “Hand-on-Hip Dance,” “Visiting Relatives Dance,” “Proposal Dance”
• Legends: “Fertility Dance,” “Ancient Battle Dance”
• Love and courtship: “Lovers’ Dance,” “Teasing Dance,” “Skirt Hooking Dance”
• Production and life: “Hunting Dance,” “Weaving Dance,” “Rice Grinding Dance”
• Animal imitations: “Hen Laying Eggs Dance,” “Crow Drinking Water Dance,” “Dog Urination Dance,” “Eagle Flying Dance”

A unique feature is the integration of Nu folk songs, such as “O De De (哦得得)”, combining singing, instrumental accompaniment, and dance movements.

Musical Instrument – Dabiya (达比亚)

The Dabiya is triangular in shape and traditionally handmade by Nu folk artists.

• Early versions: coarse, plain, but with bright tone quality
• Modern versions: polished and decorated, with stronger sound
• Strings: originally 3, later 4
• Tuning: multiple methods, with at least 12 traditional tuning systems recorded, capable of producing diverse Nu folk melodies

The instrument’s expressiveness and versatility make it indispensable to the dance.

Transmission and Protection

Cultural Value

As the Nu are a small ethnic group without a written language, the Dabiya Dance is a living cultural gene of their heritage. It embodies their labor, wisdom, unity, and enthusiasm, passed down through collective performances.

Current Situation

The transmission faces difficulties:

• Religious influence: two-thirds of the Nu population now follow Christianity and no longer perform or make the Dabiya.
• Modern culture: younger generations rarely learn the dance or instrument, and skilled artisans are becoming scarce.

Protection Measures

• 2019: Fugong County Cultural Center (福贡县文化馆) was listed as a national-level protection unit for the Dabiya Dance.
• 2023: The project passed evaluation and continued under the protection of Fugong County Cultural Center.

Social Impact

Important Activities

On November 26, 2020, in Laomudeng Village (老姆登村), Pihe Nu Township (匹河怒族乡), Fugong County (福贡县), Nujiang Prefecture (怒江州), heritage inheritors Bo Jinshan (波金山) and Bi Shengyi (碧生益) performed the Dabiya and sang fire-safety songs in the Nu language at a popular guesthouse, showcasing the vitality of the tradition in modern life.