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Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright Manage No EE00000017 Country Bhutan ICH Domain Performing Arts Address The Black Hat Drum Dance is normally preformed during the Tshechu (Annual Mask Dance Festivals) and Drub or Drub-chen (Grand Ritual Ceremonies) are conducted in various heritage sites, especially Dzongs (fortresses), monasteries and temples in Bhutan. Year of Designation 1971
| Description | The name Zhana Ngacham comes from the zhana, black hats, worn by the dancers and the use of the ngachung, a small drum, during the Cham performance. It is another form of Zhana Cham, or black hat dance. Usually, the dance is performed by monks thus falls under the category of Tsun Cham, monks dance. Such dance is exhibited normally in fortresses, monasteries and temples during Tshechu, annual mask dance festivals and also during Drubchen, large ritual ceremonies. However, sometimes the monastic dancers are replaced by lay people if there are no suitable monks in the community. The dance falls under the category of Tsun cham, or monastic mask dance performances. The dancers wear a long brocade robe called phoe-gho with long and wide sleeve ends, a dorji gong, a crossed vajra collar, over the shoulder, and two phoe-cho or phoe-tog, bevels attached to either side of the hips that helps the robe turn smoothly and elegantly as the dancers twirl. The distinctive feature of the Black Hat dance is the black, spherical hat with decorations of stylized human skulls and peacock quills, and Thro-pang, an angry face wrapped around the front of the abdomen. Zhana Ngacham is usually performed by twenty-one dancers under the direction of Cham-pon, dance leader, and Cham-jug, deputy leader. In the seventeenth century, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651) gave more importance to the performance of such dances and including them in the curricula of the central monastery under the title Gar-thig-yang-sum, putting mask dances alongside mandala proportions and ritual intonation, to their cultural significance in Bhutan. |
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| Social and cultural significance | The dance of the black hat is one of the most esoteric and powerful practices of Vajrayāna Buddhism. Tantric Buddhism, based on Mahāyāna Buddhism, rests on a theory of altruism to lead all sentient beings to liberation. However, Vajrayāna is also endowed with extraordinary expedient methods, masters of the Vajrayana tradition employ skillful means to overcome the poisonous and contagious suffering that hinders the accomplishment of Buddhism. They sometimes use jarring or violent representations to tame unruly beings, in a show of ruthless compassion. The Black Hat Dancer represents a master of Tantric or Vajrayāna Buddhism who possesses the spiritual power to subdue a demonic force and transform the negative energy into a positive one. The performance of this particular dance is believed to pacify the elements of earth, water, fire, making them fertile and supportive of the local interactions. The dancers beating their drums proclaim victory over the evil spirits. Zhana Nga Cham depicts this process of the victory of good over evil. The sound of the drums represents religion and the subtle form of the Buddha's teachings. |
| Transmission method | The transmission of the mask dance is based on embodied learning and memorization of the choreography. Today, monks who are selected for the mask dance must attend the Gar-cham mask dance course, as it is one of the main curricula of the Central Monastic central Body. The lay people who are to perform this particular dance at their local festivals learn either from an experienced monk or Cham-pon, mask dance leader, who is available in their community. |
| Community | The performers are mostly monks who have participated in Masked Dance Performances, Gar cham, and are in the Monastic Centers. Data collected by: Mr. Yeshi Lhendup, NLAB |
Keyword
Information source
National Library and Archives of Bhutan
https://www.library.gov.bt/archive/Materials related to
Photos
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PI00006819
Zhana Ngacham
The name Zhana Ngacham comes from the zhana (black hats) worn by the dancers and the use of the ngachung (small drum) during the Cham performance. It is another form of Zhana Cham (black hat dance). Usually, the dance is performed mainly by monks in dzongs (fortresses), monasteries and temples during Tshechu (annual mask dance festival) and also during Drubchen (large ritual ceremonies). However, sometimes the dancers are replaced by lay people if there are no monastic facilities in the community. The dance falls under the category of Tsun cham (monastic mask dance performances). The dancers wear a long brocade robe called phoegho with long and wide sleeve ends, a dorji gong (a crossed vajra collar) over the shoulder, and two phoe-cho or phoe-tog, a horn-like tool attached to either side of the hips that helps the robe turn smoothly and elegantly as the dancers twirl. The distinctive feature of the Black Hat dance is the black, spherical hat with decorations in the shape of a human skull and peacock quill, and Thro-pang, an angry face wrapped around the front of the abdomen.
Bhutan Wed -
PI00006818
Zhana Ngacham
The name Zhana Ngacham comes from the zhana (black hats) worn by the dancers and the use of the ngachung (small drum) during the Cham performance. It is another form of Zhana Cham (black hat dance). Usually, the dance is performed mainly by monks in dzongs (fortresses), monasteries and temples during Tshechu (annual mask dance festival) and also during Drubchen (large ritual ceremonies). However, sometimes the dancers are replaced by lay people if there are no monastic facilities in the community. The dance falls under the category of Tsun cham (monastic mask dance performances). The dancers wear a long brocade robe called phoegho with long and wide sleeve ends, a dorji gong (a crossed vajra collar) over the shoulder, and two phoe-cho or phoe-tog, a horn-like tool attached to either side of the hips that helps the robe turn smoothly and elegantly as the dancers twirl. The distinctive feature of the Black Hat dance is the black, spherical hat with decorations in the shape of a human skull and peacock quill, and Thro-pang, an angry face wrapped around the front of the abdomen.
Bhutan Wed -
PI00006817
Zhana Ngacham (Black Hat Drum Dance)
The name Zhana Ngacham comes from the zhana (black hats) worn by the dancers and the use of the ngachung (small drum) during the Cham performance. It is another form of Zhana Cham (black hat dance). Usually, the dance is performed mainly by monks in dzongs (fortresses), monasteries and temples during Tshechu (annual mask dance festival) and also during Drubchen (large ritual ceremonies). However, sometimes the dancers are replaced by lay people if there are no monastic facilities in the community. The dance falls under the category of Tsun cham (monastic mask dance performances). The dancers wear a long brocade robe called phoegho with long and wide sleeve ends, a dorji gong (a crossed vajra collar) over the shoulder, and two phoe-cho or phoe-tog, a horn-like tool attached to either side of the hips that helps the robe turn smoothly and elegantly as the dancers twirl. The distinctive feature of the Black Hat dance is the black, spherical hat with decorations in the shape of a human skull and peacock quill, and Thro-pang, an angry face wrapped around the front of the abdomen.
Bhutan Wed
