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

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 the dance’s choreography, iconography, music, and costumes are not merely aesthetic expressions but systematically structured manifestations of Vajrayana Buddhist soteriology and cosmology. Through a semiotic and performative analysis of ethnographic, historical, and visual sources, the study demonstrates how each formal element is meticulously designed to fulfill the ritual’s core objectives: the destruction of mental defilements and the establishment of a purified sacred realm. Furthermore, the paper investigates how the ritual’s transformation—from an imperial ceremony under Qing patronage to a public urban spectacle—reflects an ongoing negotiation between esoteric efficacy and popular accessibility, with its continued survival dependent upon this dynamic symbiosis.