Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.s3.t5.6

v2.c11.s3.t5.6

Chapters 8 to 14 of *Natyashastra* discuss the application of hands, feet and eyes in dance and drama. When discussing role shaping, Bharatamuni expounds the rules of using plots closely connected with it. He divides the plot into five stages (Avasthana): start (Arambha), efforts (Prayatna), hope (Praptisambhava), recognition (Niyataphlaprapti) and success (Phalayoga). And five elements of the plot include seed (Bija), oil drop (Bindu), episode (Pataka), small episode (Prakari) and end (Karya). In addition, he also stipulates the drama’s “five Sandhi”, 21 Sandhyantara and 56 Sandhyanga. Above various factors are interrelated and correspond to each other to form the inner structure of the drama, which makes the “emotional and meaningful form” of the drama be presented completely, so as to achieve the purpose of role shaping. Bharatamuni conducts a lot of induction and classification of dramatic roles, and stipulates the modal performance of various roles. He divides the body movement into body, facial expression and posture. Body includes head, hands, chest, waist, rib and foot; and facial expression covers eyes, eyebrows, nose, lips, cheeks and chin. He makes detailed description of the movement, posture and emotional expression of each part. For example, head movements include 13 kinds, such as nod, shaking head, alternate turning, raising head and others, which are used in the hint, rejection, questioning, arrogance, respectively. Eyes expression includes 36 kinds, such as side-looking, gaze, half-open eyelid and glare, which are used in the expression of eight tastes, eight common feelings and other emotions, respectively. In addition, he also defines six movements of nose, eight of cheek, six of chin and nine of neck. Hand gesture includes 28 one-hand gestures and 23 two-hand gestures, with each gesture having its own name and various uses. For example, one-hand gesture Pataka means flag, and in different places, it can represent more than 40 meanings such as the beginning of dance, clouds, forest, rejection, God of Wind and sleeping. If two hands cooperate in the same or different gestures, they can derive more meanings. For example, the left-hand thumb and middle, finger ring are held on the chest to make Simha Mukha gesture, which represents the deer, with right-hand thumb and ring finger, little finger held on the right corner of the eye, which represents the deer’s eyes, and they are used to describe a beautiful girl.