The Aesthetic Connotations and Contemporary Inheritance of Tujia Folk Dance “Gunlong Lianxiang”

Abstract

“Gunlong Lianxiang” is a unique form of folk dance among the Tujia people in Xuan’en County, Hubei Province, named after its characteristic “rolling” movement. Local folk artists have skillfully integrated traditional Lianxiang, Lianhualuo, and singing, while incorporating elements of local acrobatics and martial arts from regional opera, thereby creating a new genre of Lianxiang. This paper first explores the aesthetic connotations of Tujia folk dance “Gunlong Lianxiang” from the perspectives of movement and spirit, and then analyzes its characteristics of inheritance in the new era. The aim is to clarify the intrinsic features of “Gunlong Lianxiang” and to summarize valuable experiences for its future development.