Nuo

Nuo is a term with multiple uses, but it is most widely associated with a set of Chinese folk-religious rites and the ritual theater that accompanies them. The character 儺 (nuó) denotes rituals intended to dispel evil spirits and diseases. In many communities, Nuo rites combine ritual dance, music, masked performance, and ritual invocations.

Nuo rites are ancient in origin and vary by locality. They are commonly performed in rural areas of southern and central China, particularly during the New Year period or agricultural festivals. Participants wear large masks carved from wood or made of paper-mâché that depict demons, animals, or deities. Drums, gongs, and cymbals accompany the performance, as actors enact scenes in which symbolic figures confront and pacify malevolent forces. The rites are believed to restore balance, protect villages, and ensure good harvests, and they often incorporate elements of Daoist and local folk practices.

Nuo opera, also called Nuo xi, is the theatrical form associated with these rites. It features masked performers, stylized movement, and songs that convey mythic or moral narratives. Regional styles vary in instrumentation, pacing, and repertoire, but the performances share a common emphasis on exorcistic or protective themes.

Outside China, the term nuo may appear in personal, geographic, or linguistic contexts and does not have a single, standardized meaning. In English-language discussions, it is typically identified with the Chinese Nuo rites or Nuo opera when capitalized as a proper noun.