Quanzhou Chest Slapping Dance

Chest slapping dancing is one of the most typical folk dances in Fujian Province. The dance is simple, and involves only one or two dancers. The dancers are exclusively male, and dance in bare feet, naked from the waist up.

There are seven basic movements of chest slapping dance. The hitting, beating and stomping are mainly focused on the legs, palms, and other parts of the body.

1. both hands are joined in front of the chest;

2. to hit the left chest

3. to hit the right chest

4. insides of both arms pinch and hit left rib

5. insides of both arms pinch and hit right rib

6. both hands beat left leg

7. both hands beat right leg

The style is wild and cheerful, with the feet pounding rhythmically, the body waving around and the head shaking. Music accompanies the dance, making it even more lively and rhythmic.

The dancers wear hats with snake decorations that can be traced back to customs from the Qin and Han Dynasties (221BC-220). The dance itself is related to the Li Zu, the Gaoshan Zu and other southern ethnic dances. Therefore it is a cultural heritage that is worthy of protecting.