6th-century flask showing a performer dancing the Sogdian whirl

The Sogdian Whirl dance or Sogdian Whirl (胡旋, Húxuăn, "Whirling Barbarian", also 胡旋舞, Húxuănwǔ, "Dance of the Whirling Barbarian", sometimes rendered as "Whirling barbarian"[1][2] but known as "Sogdian Whirl dance" or simply "Sogdian whirl" to Western scholars[3]) was a Sogdian dance imported into China in the first half of the first millennium AD. The dance was imitated by the Chinese and became popular in China, where it went on to be performed at court.

History

The Sogdian Whirl and other similar, imported dances were popular in China during the Tang dynasty, especially in Chang'an and Luoyang.[4][5]

The Sogdian merchant-dancers, who performed different dances[6] but were especially renowned for this dance, were very famed in China.[7] In the Sogdian Whirl, a young woman was spinning inside a circle.[4] The Sogdian Whirl became popular in China. It was performed both in the Chinese court and in China itself. Sources from the Tang dynasty such as the Old Book of Tang attest to it being performed at court. The dance was performed at court by, among others, the Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Yang Guifei.[3]

The Sogdian Whirl was depicted in the funerary art of Sogdians in China.[6] Further, it was depicted on many native Chinese tombs, which further shows its popularity in China.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ning, Qiang (2004). Art, Religion, and Politics in Medieval China The Dunhuang Cave of the Zhai Family. University of Hawaiʻi Press. p. 126. ISBN 9780824827038.
  2. ↑ Jeong, Su-il (2016). The Silk Road Encyclopedia. Seoul Selection. ISBN 9781624120763.
  3. 1 2 3 Furniss, Ingrid. "Retracing the Sounds of Sogdiana". Freer, Sackler - Smithsonian. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  4. 1 2 The Silk Road Encyclopedia. Seoul Selection. 2016. p. 778. ISBN 9781624120763.
  5. ↑ China Archaeology and Art Digest. Art Text (HK) Limited. 1997. p. 3.
  6. 1 2 Lerner, Judith A. "Sogdian Dancer". Freer, Sackler - Smithsonian. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  7. ↑ James C. Y. Watt, Prudence Oliver Harper, Jiayao An, Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.) (2004). China Dawn of a Golden Age, 200-750. Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 251. ISBN 9781588391261.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ Sullivan, Michael (1999). The arts of China by Michael Sullivan p.120. ISBN 9780520218765. Archived from the original on 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  9. ↑ Watt, James C. Y. (2004). China: Dawn of a Golden Age, 200-750 AD. Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 251. ISBN 978-1-58839-126-1.
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