Paper short abstract:

Dongbas in Naxi society are the inheritors and disseminaters of Naxi culture, as well as being senior intellectuals among the Naxi People. A central element to their ritual performance is dance. This paper describes the body language and meaningful gestures of the Naxi shaman dancer.

Paper long abstract:

Dongbas in Naxi society are the inheritors and disseminaters of Naxi culture, as well as being senior intellectuals among the Naxi People. A central element to their ritual performance is dance. Before dancing, though, there are the steps of burning incense to the divine, reading scriptures, and inviting deities in the sacrificial ceremony, as well as specific movements and gestures belonging to Dongba shamanic ritual. This ceremony is the content that one must master to be an accomplished Dongba. This paper describes the body language and meaningful gestures of the Naxi shaman dancer.