Zhu Ma Zhen
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Zhu Ma Zhen is an exclusive parade formation of Tuan Temple, Tuku Village, Xinying District, Tainan City. It’s a parade formation that consists of nanguan music and the 12 Chinese zodiac signs.[1] in 2007, after the assessment by the Ministry of Culture and Tainan City Government, Zhu Ma Zhen was approved as a traditional performing art in Tainan. It is also the first parade formation that was registered in the category of traditional performing arts.
Introduction
It is said that Zhu Ma Zhen dates back to 1732, when a shifu of Zhu Ma Zhe brought the golden statue of Tien Tu Yuan Shuai (Chief Marshal Tien) all the way to Shandong, and then to Pingtung, Taiwan. In the end, the shifu settled in Tuku Village, Xinying District, Tainan City with Tien Tu Yuan Shuai, whom he worshipped. Tien Tu Yuan Shuai was illustrious and efficacious and thus became the tutelary deity of Tuku, and the villagers built Tuan Temple to worship the deity.[2] [3]
Performing Form
Zhu Ma Zhen is a comprehensive cultural activity that involves religion, art, music and drama.[4] It is composed of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs and the traditional accompanying band of wenwuchang (string, wind, and percussion instruments). In the early days, the props for the twelve animals were woven by bamboo, pasted with color paper, painted, and then worn by the performers.[5]
While performing, each animal represents different characters. Since the horse (ma) takes the lead of the parade formation, it is thus called “Zhu Ma Zhen” (literally means bamboo horse parade formation). It is also said that the character of horse represents an intellectual on a white horse. Under the influence of Confucianism, which sees intellectual as the best among all lines of work, the parade formation was therefore named as “Zhu Ma” (bamboo horse). [6]
Nowadays, the techniques of making the bamboo-woven models had been lost. As a result, the costumes that can represent each character are used to replace the bamboo models, and the performers put on headwear or get face painted according to the characteristic of each animal. Zhu Ma Zhen consists of 12 all-male actors. Apart from seeking blessing and counteracting evil force, with nanguan music, body movements and singing style of Liyuan opera, it is also a local downtime entertainment. [6]
Unfortunately, Zhu Ma Zhen can only be taught to the locals, and only to the males. Presently, there are no more than 10 existing performers, whose average age is over 60, putting Zhu Ma Zhen in the danger of being lost.[2]
References
External links
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