Nishangyuyi, also known as The Dance in Feathery Clothing, is the representative work which belonged to the Faqu category of The Tang Singing & Dancing Daqu.  There were many beautiful stories about its origin. one of them says the work was secretly learned by the Emperor Tangminghuang from the palace in the Moon. This manifested the love and praise of the people who had seen it.

The great Tang poet Bai Juyi gave it a more detailed description in his famous article "Song to the Dance in Feathery Clothing", which read: 

 

The light rotation resembfes the flying snowflakes, and rapid advance was like a startled dragon. The drooping hands were frail and subtle like budding poplar twigs, and the tilting dancing dresses rise up like white clouds. Beneath misty eyebrows the wandering eyes carry forth enchanting charms, and the long sleeves dancing up and down in the wind are full of feelings. It must be Madame Shangyuan (a Taoist goddess) who called over the fairy E Luhua, and the Xiwangmu (another goddess) bade farewell to the fairy Xu Feiqiong.

The rapid music of the twelfth chapter is varied and splendid, and like jumping pearls and striking jade pieces it is most pleasant to the ear. The end of the dance is like a flying phoenix gathering her wings, and the last note of the music sounds like a moving song of the crane.

 

Through such vivid description, we can well imagine the elegant spirits of the Dance in Feathery Clothing and the superb skills of the performers.

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