A rite of passage: Dance masks as symbols of adulthood

en.ptnet.cn | Updated:2026-01-06 | Lin Kongbo, Stephanie

Among the Baining people, dance masks are powerful symbols rather than simple decorations. Representing leaf spirits or animals from myth and nature, their exaggerated, otherworldly forms convey a strong sense of the sacred. Although visually dramatic, these masks are surprisingly light, made from bark cloth and filled with reeds and grasses, and can take months to complete. Their most important role appears in coming-of-age rituals, where young men wear the masks and dance across burning embers to prove their courage and readiness for adulthood. Once the ceremony ends, the masks are traditionally discarded, making surviving examples extremely rare cultural treasures today.