The Vajra Exorcism Dance at Yonghegong Lamasery in Beijing: A Semiotic Analysis
Religions April 29, 2026 Hengfu Zhu, L H Zhu
This study examines the Vajra Exorcism Dance—commonly known as “Beating the Devils” (tiao buzha)—as performed at Yonghegong Lamasery in Beijing, positioning it as a quintessential example of monastic Nuoxi in which ritual form serves as the active embodiment of doctrinal content. By situating the performance within its historical, religious, and socio-political contexts, this paper argues that...