3 replies to this topic

[snowybeagle]

Social dancing ... where you got people dancing in a ballroom or some dance floor with each other for pleasure rather than performing for spectators ... seemed practically non-existent in the Han culture.

The closest I seemed to find was the sword-dance, but it was also more performed for spectators.

The ethnic minorities from the north, west and south though, seemed to have no shortage of such dances where though the people sat and watched, the dancers were dancing more for their own enjoyment, more akin to ballroom dancing or social dancing of today.

Why the apparent dearth of dancing as a form of personal enjoyment in the Han culture?

[General_Zhaoyun]

Social dancing ... where you got people dancing in a ballroom or some dance floor with each other for pleasure rather than performing for spectators ... seemed practically non-existent in the Han culture.

The closest I seemed to find was the sword-dance, but it was also more performed for spectators.

The ethnic minorities from the north, west and south though, seemed to have no shortage of such dances where though the people sat and watched, the dancers were dancing more for their own enjoyment, more akin to ballroom dancing or social dancing of today.

Why the apparent dearth of dancing as a form of personal enjoyment in the Han culture?

Actually, there are folks dance among han-chinese, although they are not common as what you describe 'social dance'. I've seen the so-called "Tu Fen" (Earth Wind) dance which is a common folks dance among han-chinese. Basically, many people will dance in a community in special festival or for celebration.

As for the 'social dance' as what you will probably see (in western social dance), there is a lack in ancient han culture, for a number of reasons:

1. It was a Taboo for men to hold the hands of girls or touch their body in ancient China. Heck, when even holding a hand was seen as a form of molest, how do you expect a conservative culture to allow social dance (where a guy is suppose to hold the hand or hug a girl)?


2. Dance was often seen as a form of "art" and for "performance" rather than as a tool for socializing in ancient China. That accounts for the reason why dance in China never develops as a form of social dance.

[snowybeagle]

Actually, there are folks dance among han-chinese, although they are not common as what you describe 'social dance'. I've seen the so-called "Tu Fen" (Earth Wind) dance which is a common folks dance among han-chinese. Basically, many people will dance in a community in special festival or for celebration.

Yes, but these aren't dancing for socialising or personal enjoyment per se.
It's like - dancing only on the stage.

1. It was a Taboo for men to hold the hands of girls or touch their body in ancient China. Heck, when even holding a hand was seen as a form of molest, how do you expect a conversative culture to allow social dance (where a guy is suppose to hold the hand or hug a girl)?

This could be one reason, though there are several dance forms around the world where physical contact are not as intimate, like the indigenous dances among the South East Asian communities.

2. Dance was often seen as a form of "art" and for "performance" rather than as a tool for socializing in ancient China. That accounts for the reason why dance in China never develops as a form of social dance.

I recalled watching one scene in the serial for Romance of the Three Kingdoms on how Liu Bei was enjoying himself after being married to Sun Quan's sister.

Besides drinking wine and viewing sceneries in the garden, Liu Bei and his new wife performed sword dances together.

I wonder if that bit is totally historically inaccurate.

[General_Zhaoyun]

I would reckon the nearest form of 'social dance' in ancient chinese culture was the sword dance.