TitleZhauli Cham, Tamzhing Phala Choethpa: 3rd Day [Close shot]
Additional title: Dance of the Evil SpiritAdditional title: Nyulemai Cham
NamesCore of Culture (Organization) (Producer)Core of Culture (Organization) (Donor)
CollectionBhutan Dance Project, Core of Culture
Dates / OriginDate Created: 2005
Library locationsJerome Robbins Dance DivisionShelf locator: *MGZIDF 711B
TopicsDance -- BhutanFolk dancing -- BhutanDance -- Religious aspects -- BuddhismRites & ceremonies -- BhutanMasks -- BhutanSpirits (Buddhism)Festivals -- BhutanDzongs -- Bhutan -- Bumthang (District)Bumthang (Bhutan : District)
GenresFilmed danceFilmed performances
NotesBiographical/historical: Tamzhing Phala Choethpa means the Tamzhing Festival of the Boar or Pig. Five kms drive from the Jakar town lies the Tamshing Lungrub Chholing which means the Temple of the Good message. In 1501 Pema Lingpa established it and now is the most important Nyingma goemba in the Kingdom. It is believed that Pema Lingpa had built the goemba with the assistance from Khandroma (female celestial deities/angels). Inside there are original images painted by Pema Lingpa. On the east side of the inner court lies a small lhakhang called as Dunkur Lhakhang. The lhakhang has an unusual design with the main chapel in the center of the assemble hall, almost like a separate building. In the front lies three thrones for the three incarnations (body, mind & speech) of Terton Pema Lingpa.Content: Tamzhing Phala Choethpa Festival (Sept. 14, 2005: Day Three): Shazam - Deer-Headed Zam Dance (2 person) ; Shazam: Dance of the Four Stags ; Zhauli Cham (Nyulemai Cham): The Dance of the Evil Spirit ; Peling Jug Ging: Dance of the Ging with Batons (Laymen) ; Peling Dri Ging: Dance of the Ging with Swords (Laymen) ; Peling Nga Ging: Dance of the Ging with Drums (Monks) ; Tshang Mai Ging Cham (Peling Ter Cham):The Tamzhing Treasure Dance.Venue: Videotaped in performance at the Tamzhing Lhakhang/Monastery (dance apron of main courtyard, corner looking across arena diagonal at the dancers' entrance), in Bumthang, on Sept. 14, 2005.Acquisition: Gift; Core of Culture. NN-PD
Physical DescriptionBorn digitalExtent: 1 video file (ca. 9 min.) : sound, color
DescriptionThe Dance of the Nyulema - or Evil Spirit - most often precedes the arrival of the Ging (avenging punishers of Evil) who perform three dances as they search out, conquer and celebrate their victory over the nyulema. In this dramatic performance the Evil spirit first tries to win the crowd over to his evil ways - and is ably supported in his antics by the attendant atsaras - who also tease the nyulema mercilessly.
Zhauli is a dialect word for Nyulema in Bumthang. The Nyulema is an Evil spirit and this extended dance dramatises both his methods of creating mischief and his ultimate discovery and capture by the Ging (who are avenging spirits sent to punish those who transgress). Nyulemai Cham is generally performed prior to the Peling Ging Sum - the three dances of the Ging revealed by Terton Pema Lingpa. At first the nyulema dances together with the atsaras, who act as willing accomplices, and interpret his actions to the crowd. His chief goal is to win the spectators over to his evil ways. The nyulema represents something present in every human being: the three poisons (Doksum {dok = poison} and {sum = three}) of Anger, Greed and Ignorance. He plays to the crowd of spectators on each of the four sides of the arena, promising to give them whatever they want - and feigning to give them food and drink in order to win them over. Eventually, he builds a fence around them to fence them in, since he wishes to make them all part of his retinue. Finally he lies down in the middle of the ground - happy at all the mischief he has done and all the souls he has won over to help him. At this point the Peling Ging-Sum begins, comprising three dances: Ju-ging, Dri-ging and Nga-ging which show the forces of good in direct combat with the evil spirit. Ju means baton or wand and the Ju-ging are spirits tasked to search out the roots of evil (using their wands as sensitive instruments to find out the direction in which evil lies). The Dri-ging - who carry swords - subjugate evil with their weapons before punishing and slaying (with compassion) any evil spirits found. The Nga-ging - who each carry a drum - perform a victory dance at having overcome the evil spirit, and also ensure that even those conquered evil spirits are still prayed for and ultimately liberated from their evil ways. The Nyulema is pursued by the fearsome gings, until he is eventually captured. The evil spirit can only escape from the encircling ging by breaking out between the champon and chamjug.
Tamzhing Phala Choethpa is held for three days each year from the 10-12th day of 8th Bhutanese month. A Chamjug or rehearsal day is held on the 9th day of the Lunar Month.
Type of ResourceMoving image
IdentifiersNYPL catalog ID (B-number): b19782644Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 747775b0-8292-0130-f258-3c075448cc4b
Copyright NoticeCore of Culture
Rights StatementThis item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
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