Dongba Damadeng

Dongba Damadeng is ranked among “Representative Projects of the First Batch of Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage”. Being made known extensively in Dongba Town, Gaochun District, Nanjing, Dongba Damadeng originated in the Tang Dynasty and prevailed in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. After thousands of years of inheritance, it can be called “A Special Talent in Jiangnan”.

Dongba Damadeng is a folk dance that imitates the shape of war horse. The “horse frame” made of bamboo, “horse skin” made of flannelette and saddle, bridle and bronze bell altogether make the vivid performance. The dance is generally composed of seven “horses” and seven children would play the roles of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Zhao Zilong, Huang Zhong and the cavalry reporter respectively, all characters in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Under the command of the drum, they whip the horse and gallop out. The horse team is arranged alternately and winded up in stepping the strokes of Chinese characters “天下太平” (meaning “peace in the world”). The whole performance is truly spectacular and magnificent.