An Analysis of the Construction of Interactive Rituals for the Yellow Mud Drum Dance Performance Culture

Background and Aim: This paper aims to analyze the construction of interactive rituals for the Yellow Mud Drum Dance performance culture. Based on the interactive ritual chain theory, this study explores the construction process of interactive situations in the performance culture of the Yao ethnic group's yellow mud drum dance and its important role in group identity. Materials and Methods: This paper adopts a multi-method research path that combines field research, image analysis, and text analysis to comprehensively analyze the cultural performance characteristics of Huangni Drum Dance in the “Returning the King’s Wish” ceremony. Through participant observation and in-depth interviews Yao Spiritual leader records the ritual process, drum movements, site layout, and belief practice. Results: The study analyzes the ritual initiation, situation shaping and emotional energy transmission mechanism of the yellow mud drum dance, reveals how it accumulates emotional energy in a specific interactive process, thereby forming a cultural identity with emotional resonance and symbolic significance, and further examines the transformation of the yellow mud drum dance in the context of modernization and globalization, exploring how it continues and reconstructs cultural symbols in different contexts. In the detailed analysis of the situational and emotional characteristics of the Yao ethnic group’s yellow mud drum dance performance culture, the study demonstrates the practical application of the interactive ritual chain theory in the study of traditional performing arts, and provides a new theoretical perspective and practical ideas for understanding the adaptation and inheritance of traditional culture in modern society. Conclusion: This study highlights the intricate relationship between the yellow mud drum dance of the Yao ethnic group and its role in shaping group identity through interactive rituals. By employing a multi-method approach, we uncover the mechanisms of ritual initiation, emotional energy transmission, and situational dynamics that underpin this performance culture. The findings reveal how the dance accumulates emotional resonance and symbolic significance within the community, fostering cultural identity amidst modernization and globalization. Furthermore, the application of interactive ritual chain theory offers a novel framework for understanding the evolution and resilience of traditional performing arts.