Da Fan

In the Shiwandashan Mountains of southern Guangxi, a grand ritual known as “Xiū Dàfān” is held each year during the ninth and tenth months of the lunar calendar. Lasting four days and four nights, this solemn ceremony is performed to absolve transgressions, pacify wandering spirits, and offer prayers for favorable weather, national harmony, and the well-being of the people.

This documentary records the unfolding of the ritual in vivid detail, capturing ceremonies such as “Inviting the Spirit Armies,” “Ascending the Mountain of Blades,” and “Crossing the Sea of Fire.” Interwoven with these rites are dance and theatrical performances that reveal a remarkable confluence of traditions—drawing from Buddhist, Daoist, and shamanic practices, as well as elements of Zhuang opera and Nuo ritual theatre.

The result is a living cultural tapestry of striking artistic value, one that continues to resonate deeply with the local community and remains cherished by the people who sustain it.

2021

Duration: 1:09:40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkrhdQ1Hniw