Mysterious mask

Author: Chen Ying / Chen Yimin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: Masks. As a cultural phenomenon, masks are still active around us today, primarily appearing during festivals, bringing a welcoming, celebratory, and lively atmosphere. It is in this festive atmosphere that we are drawn to masks, prompting us to focus on their history and development. After reading a large number of ancient texts, we came to know and understand the obscure Chinese character "nuo" and its connotations; after conducting field research on Nuo opera and Nuo masks in several provinces, we discovered that the vast land of China still preserves a rich tradition of masks and mask culture, which are important components of our excellent traditional culture. When we interacted with numerous mask collectors from around the world, we also learned that there are so many dedicated individuals who have devoted their lives to the art of masks. Cultural exchange is global, and mask culture is no exception. However, cultural exchange must, of course, be based on the culture of one's own nation. Without one's own culture, what is there to exchange? When other nations sought to apply for heritage status for the Dragon Boat Festival, the Chinese people were surprised. Yet when we type the character "duan" on a computer, the only suggested completions are "duanzheng" (proper) and "duanzhao" (examine closely), meaning that while we absorb foreign cultural products like computers, we have overlooked some of our own traditional cultures. Therefore, inheriting and promoting our nation's traditional culture is an extremely challenging task, and making the deep-seated essence of national culture more accessible to the general public, allowing more ordinary people to be nurtured by national culture through enjoyable reading, should be the original intention behind writing this book.