中英雙語話中國民風民俗 第146期:社火的歷史

The History of Shehuo

社火的歷史

Coming from the sacrifices of primitive Society, Shehuo has a historyof more than 5000 years. During the Dynasty of Shang and Zhou, specific ceremony was held by the royal court for driving devil away. Gradually, thus ceremony was introduced to civilian and shade into performance at temple fair to celebrate Chinese new year, to pray for rain, and to fete the god. The players made up like wearing a mask on the face. Audiences identified every individual mask to recognize what role the player acted. Afterward, people used the woody ladle painted with She Huo Mask to feed horses and cattle to prevent murrain, or hung the ladle-shape mask on the wall in their house to impetrate safety，harmony，and happiness.

社火始於原始社會的犧牲，有超過5000年的歷史。在商周的時期，特定的儀式由王室舉行驅邪。漸漸地，這樣的儀式被引入到民間和漸漸成爲廟會慶祝中國新年、祈求下雨、和宴請神的活動。表演者臉上像戴了面具。觀衆確認每個人的面具扮演的是什麼角色。後來，人們用帶有社火標誌的木質餵養馬和牛，以防止瘟疫，或把它掛在家裏的牆上祈求獲得安全、和諧和幸福。