The pastoral cultural dance drama "Namtso·Four Seasons Pastoral" from Damxung County
Successfully wrapped up its 2024 national tour!
With strong support from the Beijing Aid-Tibet Headquarters, and close cooperation from the Lhasa Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau, the Damxung County Party Committee and County Government, the Beijing Dongcheng District Culture and Tourism Bureau, the Beijing Dongcheng District Foreign Liaison Service Office, the Beijing Dongcheng District Federation of Trade Unions, and the Yangzhou Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau, the original pastoral cultural dance drama "Namtso·Four Seasons Pastoral" from Damxung County, following its performance in Hohhot, made stunning appearances at the Beijing Red Theater and the Yangzhou Opera Garden Theater on the evenings of October 27th and 30th, respectively. Its unique charm brought a visual and spiritual feast to the audience. Lhazein, Deputy Minister of the Lhasa Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department, Party Secretary and Deputy Director of the Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau, attended and watched the performance.
Damxung, meaning "chosen pastureland" in Tibetan, is Lhasa's only purely pastoral county. Namtso, one of Tibet's three holy lakes, graces this land. "Namtso·Four Seasons Pastoral" tells a love story set against the backdrop of the four seasons on the shores of Namtso Lake. The drama explores themes of "seasonal cycles," "harmony with nature," "animism," and "equality for all beings." It comprises six parts: "Prologue: Celestial Voices," "Spring: Melting Ice, Encounter," "Summer: Abundance, Acquaintance," "Autumn: Harvest, Love," "Winter: Searching, Yearning," and "Epilogue: Namtso Sings." Woven through the story are four emotional stages – encounter, acquaintance, love, and devotion – mirroring the changing seasons of the Damxung pastoral region. It sings praises to life and beauty with sincere and unadorned melodies, closely connecting the nomadic culture and yak spirit originating from the shores of Namtso Lake, bringing the mysterious nomadic life of the Tibetan people to the stage, unveiling the mysteries of the Tibetan Plateau, and allowing more people to understand the customs and traditions of the Tibetan people. The drama masterfully incorporates key elements of Tibetan culture, ensuring a captivating and informative experience.
The exquisite stage design, graceful dance moves, and heartfelt performances earned waves of applause from the audience. As the stage lights shifted, scenes of snow-capped mountains, Namtso Lake, and yaks transported the audience to a real Tibetan pastoral area. Young girls milking yaks and churning butter sang praises to nature. Young boys shearing sheep, weaving felt, and carrying salt expressed their love for life through song and dance, presenting the audience with a cultural and artistic feast.
And with that, the 2024 national tour of "Namtso·Four Seasons Pastoral" came to a successful close. As an important cultural achievement of Beijing's aid to Tibet, "Namtso·Four Seasons Pastoral" traveled far and wide, spreading Tibetan culture and national spirit across China. In the future, "Namtso·Four Seasons Pastoral" will continue to write new chapters in the inheritance and innovation of national culture with even more dazzling performances. This cultural treasure from the snowy plateau will continue to shine on the land of China, and we look forward to our next meeting with it.
