The Nuo opera culture of the Shangzhaishi family is mainly spread in the Shangzhai Tujia Ethnic Township of Zhenyuan County, Guizhou Province and the border areas of the adjacent Cengong County. Shangzhai Township is located in the north-west of Zhenyuan County, 48 kilometers away from the county seat, with a total area of 75 square kilometers. The total population of the township is more than 7,200, of which 93% are Tujia. The Nuo opera and sacrificial Nuo in Shangzhai Township are ancient traditional cultural phenomena in my country and belong to the category of witch culture. Their purpose is to drive away ghosts and disasters, pray for a long life and a good harvest, the prosperity of livestock and crops, and eliminate disasters. Shangzhai local opera originated from the military Nuo of the Ming Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, Zhenyuan had 246 military settlements and military Nuo was popular. At that time, martial arts plays were mainly performed. The repertoires were mostly stories of the Yang Family Generals, stories of the Three Kingdoms, and stories about Yue Fei, praising the spirit of brave and loyal ministers defending their country. Shangzhai local opera can also combine the current situation to perform the heroes and deeds of the times. Although it is also wrapped in a mask, the content is new, with lyrics, dialogues, and actions. As the plot develops, gongs and drums sound together, and the actors (mages, etc.) turn up and down, hold their spears and jump on their horses, which is very spectacular, showing a spirit of patriotism and praising martial customs. Shangzhai wishing opera is a Nuotang opera also known as "Xinuo opera". The Tujia people in Shangzhai have a special custom. In order to realize their beautiful wishes, they like to make a wish to the sky: "God bless me to realize this wish! I must sing a big opera to thank you!" Over time, when the wish is realized, they will sing an opera to thank you. In order to fulfill the wish, the opera is called a wishing opera. The wishing opera has been passed down from generation to generation and combined with Taoism, it has more mysterious colors. The main instruments are also gongs, drums and cymbals. The sound is harmonious and pleasant, passionate and excellent. There is no fixed number of performers in each performance, with a minimum of one and a maximum of four. There are also gong and drum masters to cooperate and everyone to help. Tujia Nuotang Wish Opera is inseparable from Nuo Festival and Nuo Dance. There are many mysterious and bizarre witch altar worship rituals, and entertainment accounts for a considerable proportion. The actors are humorous and funny, which makes people laugh. The singing has a variety of tunes, with a strong flavor of Chu folk songs. The dance is simple and bright. Its movements mainly include running, jumping, shrinking legs, and scratching wrists. The body is mainly tilted and bent. It has both the imitation of production and life movements and the dance posture of boxing movements. The performance pays attention to the accompaniment of gongs and drums. At present, there are more than 100 kinds of masks in Shangzhai Tujia Nuotang Wish Opera, which are finely carved, exaggerated in shape, ancient and peculiar. The wish play is entertaining and makes people laugh. It is like a crosstalk sketch, with concise and humorous language, mysterious and funny dance, lyrics, dialogues, people sing on behalf of ghosts, and even children can understand it. It has turned the mysterious wish into a popular culture that everyone can accept, and is deeply loved and welcomed by the masses. Miaotun is a few kilometers away from Shangzhai. It was originally a village of Zhenyuanwei. Miaotun Nuo opera has wooden carved facial masks, costumes, props, and a script written in Chinese characters. During the performance, the actors sing and turn the script, step on the knife ladder, step on the red-hot iron plow mouth, and fish things out of the oil pan. There is a relaxed atmosphere in the dangerous performance. Miaotun Nuo opera includes visiting hell, talking about right and wrong, sending gods, praying for children, curing diseases, removing buildings, visiting Wugeng, opening caves, overturning cases, relieving disasters, worshiping gods, worshipping ancestors and other prayers related to life. Shangzhai Tujia Nuo opera focuses on dance, lyrics, dialogue, percussion and wind instruments. The lyrics and tunes are simple, so the audience can accept them. However, in terms of inheritance, it is relatively strict. Generally, it is hereditary. As a means of making a living, becoming a specialized magician or artist is respected by the people. Inheritance is passed on to men but not women, and to good but not evil. Tujia Nuo Opera is a sacrificial drama formed by the locals by integrating the ancient Chu people's witch music and sacrifices, and combining local customs, farming life, birth, aging, illness and death, joy, anger, sorrow and happiness. It has practical mystery and mass entertainment. It is a rare witch culture phenomenon. It is designed for fulfilling vows, praying for blessings, exorcising disasters and avoiding evil spirits, weddings and funerals, adding longevity, and seeking children. There is no fixed time for performances, and they are performed on a certain day at the request of the villagers. At present, cultural media such as television and movies have been popularized to every household in Shangzhai Township. Their entertainment level and scientific and technological knowledge far exceed the problems that Nuo Opera needs to solve. Moreover, film and television are closely related to the survival of the villagers and are more artistic. The advantages of Nuo Opera are no longer prominent. However, worshiping ancient customs, weddings and funerals, fulfilling vows, etc., cannot be replaced by film and television, so this kind of activity (performance) can still be carried out, but it is very weak. Information source: Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Center (no pictures yet, welcome to provide.) Information source: Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Center (no pictures yet, welcome to provide.)