Shen Yun Performing Arts
  • About Shen Yun
    New to Shen Yun?
    9 Characteristics of Shen Yun
    Our Story
    Challenges We Face
    Classical Chinese Dance
    Symphony Orchestra
  • Artists
  • Videos
  • What’s New
    What’s New
    News
    Blog
  • 5,000 Years
    Chinese Dance
    Music
    Vocal Music
    Shen Yun Costumes
    Digital Projection
    Shen Yun Props
    Stories and History
    Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
  • FAQ
  • Reviews
  • Newsletter Support Employment Search
    English
  • 中文正體
  • 中文简体
  • 日本語
  • 한국어
  • Česky
  • Deutsch
  • Español
  • Français
  • Indonesia
  • Italiano
  • Nederlands
  • Polski
  • Português
  • Pусский
  • Română
  • Svenska
  • Việt
  • עברית
  • Tickets & Info
    Menu
    Shen Yun Logo
    Tickets
    What’s New
    Menu
    • About Shen Yun
      • New to Shen Yun? 9 Characteristics of Shen Yun Our Story Challenges We Face Classical Chinese Dance Symphony Orchestra
    • Artists
    • Videos
    • What’s New
      • What’s New News Blog
    • 5,000 Years
      • Chinese Dance Music Vocal Music Shen Yun Costumes Digital Projection Shen Yun Props Stories and History Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
    • FAQ
    • Reviews
    • Shop
      • Shen Yun Creations
      • Shen Yun Dancer
      • Shen Yun Gift Shop
    Shen Yun 9 Characteristics Link Image

    What Makes Us Unique?

    DISCOVER THE 9 CHARACTERISTICS
    • Employment
    • Support
    • Subscribe
    • Search
    Language
    • 中文正體
    • 中文简体
    • 日本語
    • 한국어
    • Česky
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Indonesia
    • Italiano
    • Nederlands
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Pусский
    • Română
    • Svenska
    • Việt
    • עברית
      Explore
      Back Explore > Qiang Ethnic Dance

    Qiang Ethnic Dance

    A
    A

    Ancient Chinese scriptures record that the legendary ruler Yu the Great came from the Qiang tribe. That was over 4,000 years ago, implying that the Qiang ethnic group may be nearly as old as Chinese civilization itself.

    During the Han dynasty, the Qiang (pronounced chyang) population increased, and many of the originally mountainous Qiang migrated to lower plateaus of the Yellow River. And yet, in spite of intermingling with the majority Han people for thousands of years, even to this day Qiang people in Sichuan province have preserved some of their ancient customs and rites.

    The Qiang have three types of traditional dance: joyous, religious, and ceremonial dances.

    One of the most common Qiang dances is the Salang. Whenever the Qiang people observe a major holiday, wedding, harvest celebration or even, perhaps surprisingly, a funeral, they dance the Salang. In this type of dance, the men line up in front of the women. Then, holding hands in a long formation, each group draws a semicircle around a bonfire.

    Qiang usually dance the Salang without instrumental accompaniment. Rather, while performing many intricate leg and hip movements, their voices provide the music by singing.

    Shen Yun’s 2012 Dance of the Qiang People, features a celebration of a bountiful harvest, characterized by free-swinging movements and lively steps to a catchy beat.

    • Chinese Ethnic Groups
    • Chinese Dance
    • Regions

    May 7, 2012

    Previous

    The Yang Clan and Mu Guiying - China's Amazons

    Next

    Yang Zhi Sells His Sword

    Tags

    • Chinese Ethnic Groups
    • Chinese Dance
    • Regions
    Shen Yun logo golden
    Shen Yun logo golden

    Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world's premier classical Chinese dance and music company, established in New York in 2006. It performs classical Chinese dance, ethnic and folk dance, and story-based dance, with orchestral accompaniment and solo performers. For 5,000 years, divine culture flourished in the land of China. Through breathtaking music and dance, Shen Yun is reviving this glorious culture. Shen Yun, or 神韻, can be translated as: “The beauty of divine beings dancing.”

    About
  • New to Shen Yun?
  • Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra
  • Challenges We Face
  • Shen Yun & Spirituality
  • Meet the Artists
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Videos
  • Latest & Featured
  • About Shen Yun
  • Meet the Artists
  • Reviews
  • News & Blog
  • What’s New
  • Featured
  • News
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • Explore
  • Chinese Dance
  • Music
  • Vocal Music
  • Shen Yun Costumes
  • Digital Projection
  • Shen Yun Props
  • Stories and History
  • Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
  • Interact with us:
    Sign Our Guestbook
    Get to Know More about Shen Yun
    on Our Streaming Platform
    Arts Proficiency Assessment Center
    Keepsakes and Premium Collections
    Inspired by Shen Yun
    Shen Yun Dancer
    Shen Yun Performing Arts Official Website Copyright ©2023 Shen Yun Performing Arts. All Rights Reserved.
    Contact us Terms Privacy Site map