L H Zhu

The Vajra Exorcism Dance at Yonghegong Lamasery in Beijing: A Semiotic Analysis

Religions April 29, 2026 Hengfu Zhu, L H Zhu

The Vajra Exorcism Dance at Yonghegong Lamasery in Beijing is not merely an aesthetic performance but a structured embodiment of Vajrayana Buddhist doctrine. The dance's choreography, iconography, music, and costumes systematically manifest soteriological and cosmological aims, primarily the destruction of mental defilements and the establishment of a purified sacred realm. The ritual has transformed from an imperial ceremony under Qing patronage into a public urban spectacle, reflecting an ongoing negotiation between esoteric efficacy and popular accessibility that sustains its continued survival.