Nánfēng

Nanfeng lies in the Xu River country of eastern Jiangxi, among hills and orchards. Its villages have long performed nuo, a ritual dance in which masked figures drive away harmful spirits and seek protection for the community. Performances belong to village temples and seasonal ceremonies, joining religious observance with dance and music.

In the early Ming, villages including Shanggan, Shiyou and Nanbao rebuilt or founded temples for the nuo gods and restored their rituals. Performers passed down masks and movements through local groups, while later descriptions recorded ceremonies held in family halls. The endurance of these practices gave Nanfeng a distinctive place in the ritual culture of the river basin.