Research on the Method of Physical Actions and Philosophical Thought in Manchu Shamanic Dance

Abstract

Taking Stanislavski's "Method of Physical Actions" (MPA) as the theoretical lens, this study explores the body practice and consciousness transformation mechanism of Manchu shamanic sacrificial dance. Through literature analysis, field investigation of the tiger-spirit ritual (tiao hu shen) in Qingyuan, Liaoning, and theoretical interpretation, the study finds that the core of shamanic dance is not the outward movements, but the inner energy projection before action, namely the impulse. The ritual presents a progressive structure of "inviting the spirit, possession, sending off the spirit", and its rhythm is jointly governed by the invocation words, drumbeats and waist bells; the shaman's step range, movement rate and breathing accordingly shift from the everyday to the non-everyday, and when the time lag between the inner impulse and the outer reaction disappears, the body becomes a channel for the manifestation of spirit power. This process fits closely with mpa's logic of "knowledge is a doing" and of suspending rational thinking through body action. The conclusion holds that Manchu shamanic dance is a living body philosophy, and that mpa provides an operable methodological path, turning shamanic body experience from the "mysterious" into the "knowable" and sublimating "intuition" into "knowledge"; it not only gives endangered intangible cultural heritage a new dimension of interpretation, but also opens new possibilities for the cross-cultural dialogue between ancient ritual practice and contemporary body training and performance methods, and has important academic value and practical significance.