Devil Dance

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Devil Dance is a Western description from the early 20th century for the Tibetan Buddhist ritual dances known as 'cham.[1] They are also known as Chhaam.[2] 'Cham are often performed by monks in costume, and it is from these costumes that the description “devil dance” derives.[3]

'Cham are performed to purge, cleanse, combat evil, and bring good fortune, as well as to serve as a means of meditation for the participants.[4]

One iteration of this dance is performed on the eve of Losar, the Tibetan new year to commemorate the assassination of the cruel Tibetan king, 'Langdarma' in the 9th century CE. It is a dance symbolising the victory of good over evil.[5]

Two dancers in masks and costumes perform
Two dancers during a "devil dance" at a temple in Beijing, 01 March 1919

References

  1. ↑ Schrempf, Mona (1995), "From 'Devil Dance' to 'World Healing': Some Representations, Perceptions, and Innovations of Contemporary Tibetan Ritual Dances", in Korom, Frank J.; Steinkeller, Ernst, Proceedings of the 7th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies: Graz 1995, vol. 4, Wien: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, pp. 91–102, ISBN 370012659X, OCLC 37538399 
  2. ↑ "Lossar Festival". Archived from the original on 2008-01-20. 
  3. ↑ Schrempf, Mona (1995), "From 'Devil Dance' to 'World Healing': Some Representations, Perceptions, and Innovations of Contemporary Tibetan Ritual Dances", in Korom, Frank J.; Steinkeller, Ernst, Proceedings of the 7th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies: Graz 1995, vol. 4, Wien: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, pp. 91–102, ISBN 370012659X, OCLC 37538399 
  4. ↑ Schrempf, Mona (1995), "From 'Devil Dance' to 'World Healing': Some Representations, Perceptions, and Innovations of Contemporary Tibetan Ritual Dances", in Korom, Frank J.; Steinkeller, Ernst, Proceedings of the 7th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies: Graz 1995, vol. 4, Wien: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, pp. 91–102 [97], ISBN 370012659X, OCLC 37538399 
  5. ↑ "Lossar Festival". Archived from the original on 2008-01-20. 

[Category:Nepalese culture]]


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