Na - Cha Studio of Folk Art

Photo source: The official website of Na-Cha. (All rights reserved)

More photos: http://album.blog.yam.com/nc2006

The Na - Cha studio of folk art was founded in 1995 by Mr. Kao Chih-hung, who has been a performer of religious ceremony (zhen-tou in Mandarin Chinese) since his childhood. The Na-Cha Studio includes traditional folk artists, dancers, and workers in the theater and music fields who‘d like to devote themselves to folk arts and also desire for personal development. The troupe members believe that folk arts and customs reflect the unique culture of Taiwan and represent a portrait of the local people’s lives.



Vedio source: Blog of Na-Cha. (All rights reserved)

Zhen-tou, derived from Han culture, is preserved the most in Taiwan. On the birthday of gods every year, temples will have the stature of gods travel around the whole island or some specific area for preying a better next year (Taiwanese tend to worship various gods). Zhen-tou precedes the gods to scare away bad spirits. Usually people in zhen-tou are like the generals or protectors of gods. They can’t talk after they make up because they are regards as gods then. There are serious rules and regulations about clothes, the way they walk, make-up, etc.

The real zhen-tou takes time to finish the whole ceremony. To have more people know and enjoy the unique culture. Na-Cha combines several different parts. They’ve performed in New York (2001), Korea (2002, 2005, 2006), Singapore (2004, 2005), and Japan (2005, 2006) so far. I am very proud of them. And hope they can make more and more people around the world know the beauty of Taiwanese folk culture.

If you have the chance to watch it in person, please don't go through from the middle of their line. That's very impolite and sometimes even rude. And also, take a look at the make-up on their faces. You will see different colors and symbols of animals. Each of the colors and animals represents different meanings.



(Performance of another group)