The love and marriage of the young are another theme of folk dances. In the early societies of each ethnic group, including the ancient Han nationality before the strict moral system took control of their daily life; music and dance were the main media between a girl and a young man's courtship, engagement and marriage. There are many festivals especially set for the young to get to know each other and to fall in love. The most popular such festivals are the "Sanyuesan" (March 3), "Tiaoyue" (Moon Dance), "Tiaoyue" (Music Dance), "Caihuashan" (Picking Flowers at the Mountains) and "Tiaolingtou', (Dance at the Mountain Range). These festivals include music and dance. There are both dances for the festivals and festivals for the dances.
In the folk dances about daily life, the funeral dance also gets a considerable share of recognition. Like the marriage dance, the funeral dance is also varied and diversified. An example is the Va nationality in Yunnan Province. The funeral dance of this nationality includes:
Folk dances usually contain elements of religion and belief, as well as rituals and ceremonies. This is due to their direct lineage from primitive sorcery dance. At a certain development level of sorcery dance, its original function of ritual and ceremony became polarized. One part entered palaces to form the ritual system (as represented with the Yayue dance). The other part dived into the broad folk life and through its intercourse with life; it became the folk dance open to the entire society. The multi-facet feelings and beliefs expressed in perceptual terms formed the colorful mosaic of the folk dance.
The dancing art has accompanied people through time and space. It shares the destiny of nations and the human tragedies and comedies. "Music and dance of the peaceful and prosperous times are tranquil and happy. They express the joy of living under the wise rulers. The music and dance of chaotic times are full of complaints; they are the hatred to dark politics. The music and dance of a conquered land are sad and grieving; they express the people's shame and hardships" (See the Book of Music: origin of Music). The music and dance Culture of China is thus fully immersed in the long historical river of folk Culture with its profound and broad content from life and diversified perceptual forms.
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