Old culture, new ideas

Tang says there is still a lot to be done to preserve and pass on Nuo culture, despite all the efforts made by the inheritors and experts.

In 2010, anxious about the cultural form's precarious situation, he applied for a loan from the local government and rebuilt the museum.

Over the years, he has been actively involved in the protection of Nuo culture, increasing the museum's collection from some 500 items to more than 1,700, including paintings, masks, tools, documents and photos, as well as the recently captured video footage of contemporary performances.

Guizhou Nuo Culture Museum now incorporates Nuo culture not only from Tongren, but also the entire Guizhou province, presenting the cultural form's origin, artistic features and influences.

"Nuo culture is a product of ancient China's agricultural civilization. Due to the migration and integration of various ethnic groups over the centuries, Nuo has evolved to incorporate those diverse ethnic cultures and different schools of thought," Tang says.

"It serves as important material in the studies of ethnology, history, anthropology, religion, drama, music and dance, among others. The protection of Nuo culture is the preservation of our historical material, and has great value and significance."

He is also seeking to innovate in the preservation and promotion of Nuo culture. The museum has been working with two cultural companies to develop more than 50 Nuo cultural products and souvenirs.

"We shouldn't lock up traditional culture in museums, but should try to integrate it into modern aesthetics and people's lives. Through innovative development, Nuo culture can also be a part of modern culture, while maintaining its core elements," Tang adds.

Wang Jin contributed to this story.