Nuo Temple

The time of building Nuo Temple in Pingxiang is not definite, whether it was built in Tang, or Song or Yuan Dynasty is unknown. To build temples for the God of Nuo is a characteristic of the Nuo culture in Pingxiang. With the distinguishing feature, Nuo temples here are not only numerous in quantities and widespread but also are large-scaled and multifunctional. There is a saying that is Five miles a temple of General and Ten miles a Nuo Temple. There must be a Nuo Temple if there is the God of Nuo existing. Since 1950s, there were 52 temples, 20 temples survived now. Nuo Temple here has a distinguishing feature of Jiangxi. It is generally composed by three parts of antechamber, center hall and back hall. In the center of the Center Hall displayed the altar, incense burner table and Nuo altar, sacrificing the Nuo masks.

Every year on December 24th and January 15th in lunar calendar is the most lively and busiest time for the Nuo temples. For the Nuo temples and troupes of Nuo Dance are belonged to each clan, they should pray in the ancestral hall before dancing Nuo Dance, and then they can request for the God of Nuo out of the altar in the temple. On the day of January 15th in lunar calendar, there will be Nuo Dance performances all night long.