TheSogdian Whirl dance orSogdian Whirl (胡旋,Húxuăn, "Whirling Barbarian", also 胡旋舞,Húxuănwǔ, "Dance of the Whirling Barbarian", sometimes rendered as "Whirling barbarian"[1][2] but known as "Sogdian Whirl dance" or simply "Sogdian whirl" to Western scholars[3]) was a Sogdian dance imported into China in the first half of the first millennium AD. The dance was imitated by the Chinese and became popular in China, where it went on to be performed at court.
The Sogdian Whirl and other similar, imported dances were popular in China during theTang dynasty, especially inChang'an andLuoyang.[4][5]
TheSogdian merchant-dancers, who performed different dances[6] but were especially renowned for this dance, were very famed in China.[7] In the Sogdian Whirl, a young woman was spinning inside a circle.[4] The Sogdian Whirl became popular in China. It was performed both in the Chinese court and in China itself. Sources from the Tang dynasty such as theOld Book of Tang attest to it being performed at court. The dance was performed at court by, among others, theEmperor Xuanzong of Tang andYang Guifei.[3]
The Sogdian Whirl was depicted in thefunerary art of Sogdians in China.[6] Further, it was depicted on many native Chinese tombs, which further shows its popularity in China.[3]
![Northern Qi jar with Central Asian (probably Sogdian) dancers and musicians from the tomb at Anyang, 575 CE.[8][9]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aCentral_Asian_dancers_and_musicians%2c_Northern_Qi_jar_found_in_a_tomb_at_Anyang%2c_575_CE.jpg)
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