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Performing Arts: A perfect pivot for furtherance of India-China cultural relations Performing Arts: A perfect pivot for furtherance of India-China cultural relations both art forms are used as a pivot in the intensification of bilateral relationship beyond the barriers. J. Sankar Ganesh Performing arts The art forms, which are suitable to perform on the stage in group or in solo and capable to stir a kind of emotion in the mind of the Introduction audience or listener are called performing arts. Performing art forms China, Chinese, I think they really have a long history of civilization, rich mirror the creativity and inheritance of a society. These art forms culture. -Dalai Lama have no boundaries and reflect the social and chronological enormity India and China are not mere societies; they are civilizations with of a country. These art forms are very powerful medium capable to resemblance in cultural inheritance. From the prehistoric period the reach the mind of people without any discrimination. It is established bilateral cultural exchange between China and India was in practice that performing art forms including dance, music, drama, mime, and it is evident through various earlier Indian literatures. It is martial arts etc… are very much successful in manifesting the difficult to describe exactly when the cultural elemental exchange cultural and traditional strength of a nation which they belong to. has started. In his work Arthasastra by Chanakya of Maurya dynasty Performing art forms are very special art forms which are capable (350-283 B.C.) referred to Chinese silk as chinamsuka and Chinese silk enough to address and attract the attention of entire society from bundle as chinapatta. The Mahabharatha, one of the great epics of mass to class. Classical performing art forms are naturally very India, has references about China. Similarly, it is clearly perceptible attractive and powerful in inspiring the mind of people and making through some earlier Chinese literatures that both India and China them to have a high regard for it. Performing art forms are always shared and exchanged their scientific knowledge bilaterally universally used to carry sociable messages to maintain good through centuries ago. Indian astronomer Aryabhata's astronomical relationship between nations. Performing art forms are inseparable signs were translated into Chinese in the book Kaiyuan Zhanjing from the historical and conventional influences of a country. Both compiled by Gautama Siddha, an astronomer of Indian descent who India and China have many colorful and vibrant performing art lived in Chang'an in the 8th century A.D. It is also believed that he forms manifesting their historical and conventional background. translated the Indian Navagraha based calendar into Chinese. India has one of the world's largest collection of songs, music, dance, theatre, folk traditions, performing arts, rites and rituals, paintings Both India and China grew similar and shared their cultural traits and writings that are known as the 'Intangible Cultural Heritage' bilaterally since the beginning of human history. The practice of (ICH) of humanity. Similarly, China also has a huge number of great sharing art, culture and scientific knowledge has been continuing till traditional art forms such as Chinese operas, Chinese dragon dance, now. Surmounting all bilateral barriers and disputes both the Lion dance, traditional theatre of China and classical dances of countries has successfully engraved their significance and China, etc… The Indian performing art forms are brilliantly used to supremacy on the global map in various arenas. Both the countries develop their relations with China in recent times. This paper is are capable of influencing the Globe and also playing a significant mainly focusing on the dance and music of China, its similarity with and remarkable role in the growth of global cultural platform. This Indian art forms and how it is used as a pivot for the furtherance of paper is mainly focusing on the features of performing art forms bilateral relationship. particularly in dance and music arena of India and China and how Performing art forms of China and India J. Sankar Ganesh According to the earliest records, Chinese performing arts including Assistant Professor, Department of Performing Arts, S.V.University, Tirupati 517502 dance and theatre arts of China, found their origin in their religious E-mail: [email protected] 116 Area Studies, Vol.9(2), July-December 2015, pp. 116-135 Area Studies 117 Performing Arts: A perfect pivot for furtherance of India-China cultural relations Performing Arts: A perfect pivot for furtherance of India-China cultural relations both art forms are used as a pivot in the intensification of bilateral relationship beyond the barriers. J. Sankar Ganesh Performing arts The art forms, which are suitable to perform on the stage in group or in solo and capable to stir a kind of emotion in the mind of the Introduction audience or listener are called performing arts. Performing art forms China, Chinese, I think they really have a long history of civilization, rich mirror the creativity and inheritance of a society. These art forms culture. -Dalai Lama have no boundaries and reflect the social and chronological enormity India and China are not mere societies; they are civilizations with of a country. These art forms are very powerful medium capable to resemblance in cultural inheritance. From the prehistoric period the reach the mind of people without any discrimination. It is established bilateral cultural exchange between China and India was in practice that performing art forms including dance, music, drama, mime, and it is evident through various earlier Indian literatures. It is martial arts etc… are very much successful in manifesting the difficult to describe exactly when the cultural elemental exchange cultural and traditional strength of a nation which they belong to. has started. In his work Arthasastra by Chanakya of Maurya dynasty Performing art forms are very special art forms which are capable (350-283 B.C.) referred to Chinese silk as chinamsuka and Chinese silk enough to address and attract the attention of entire society from bundle as chinapatta. The Mahabharatha, one of the great epics of mass to class. Classical performing art forms are naturally very India, has references about China. Similarly, it is clearly perceptible attractive and powerful in inspiring the mind of people and making through some earlier Chinese literatures that both India and China them to have a high regard for it. Performing art forms are always shared and exchanged their scientific knowledge bilaterally universally used to carry sociable messages to maintain good through centuries ago. Indian astronomer Aryabhata's astronomical relationship between nations. Performing art forms are inseparable signs were translated into Chinese in the book Kaiyuan Zhanjing from the historical and conventional influences of a country. Both compiled by Gautama Siddha, an astronomer of Indian descent who India and China have many colorful and vibrant performing art lived in Chang'an in the 8th century A.D. It is also believed that he forms manifesting their historical and conventional background. translated the Indian Navagraha based calendar into Chinese. India has one of the world's largest collection of songs, music, dance, theatre, folk traditions, performing arts, rites and rituals, paintings Both India and China grew similar and shared their cultural traits and writings that are known as the 'Intangible Cultural Heritage' bilaterally since the beginning of human history. The practice of (ICH) of humanity. Similarly, China also has a huge number of great sharing art, culture and scientific knowledge has been continuing till traditional art forms such as Chinese operas, Chinese dragon dance, now. Surmounting all bilateral barriers and disputes both the Lion dance, traditional theatre of China and classical dances of countries has successfully engraved their significance and China, etc… The Indian performing art forms are brilliantly used to supremacy on the global map in various arenas. Both the countries develop their relations with China in recent times. This paper is are capable of influencing the Globe and also playing a significant mainly focusing on the dance and music of China, its similarity with and remarkable role in the growth of global cultural platform. This Indian art forms and how it is used as a pivot for the furtherance of paper is mainly focusing on the features of performing art forms bilateral relationship. particularly in dance and music arena of India and China and how Performing art forms of China and India J. Sankar Ganesh According to the earliest records, Chinese performing arts including Assistant Professor, Department of Performing Arts, S.V.University, Tirupati 517502 dance and theatre arts of China, found their origin in their religious E-mail: [email protected] 116 Area Studies, Vol.9(2), July-December 2015, pp. 116-135 Area Studies 117 J. Sankar Ganesh Performing Arts: A perfect pivot for furtherance of India-China cultural relations beliefs and customs. It is portrayed that magnificently costumed Heaven, Earth, Gods, Ancestors or Legendary figures. Dawu was a male and female 'Shamans' (equal to priests who sang and danced major thematic dance among the six which was generally describing according to musical accompaniment, drawing the heavenly spirits the military exploits of King Wu of Zhou and this dance form was down to earth) are the earlier source of Chinese dance forms. performed with martial weapons such as sword, javelin etc.. The Characteristic folklore (oral and textual), the shaman songs have above six dances formed part of the system of 'court music and dance' come into vogue with little improvisations on traditional methods which was first established during the Western Zhou in the name of used to lure or imitating animals. This type of dance which is also Yayue. Classical Dance of China is a highly varied art form, consisting seen in the early Indian literature was called Devarattam or Samiattam.