Zhegar is an ancient performing art featuring story telling and singing very popular among Tibetans.
Zhegar was performed mainly by people holding white rice and other kinds of cereals. Legend has it that it originated from the Tibetan tribes, and fell into the category of a sorcerer’s dance. Later, it merged with street performances, and was adapted into Zhegar by Tangdong Gyaibo and other Tibetan Opera masters. This is reflected even in the libretto:

“Driven by excitement,

I add laudatory words into Zhegar.

With words as dew,

I express my happy mind through Zhegar.

Open wider your eyes to look at me,

I am not supposed to tell history.

Prick up your ears to listen to me,

I am singing to express your mind.

I am a descendant of the Chinese Han Emperor,

I have been to India for Buddhist study,

I can carry water on my back like the Nepalese,

I can swim in Tibet,

I can recite sutras,

I can perform prostration rituals.”

Zhagar performances like this are very common in Tibet, with variations according to the place and audience. But they all have the same purpose: telling of personal history to conquer the audience.

This is why Zhegar performances can enjoy popularity even today throughout Tibet.

ZHEGAR MASKS. Zhegar performers were mostly poor people. To earn a living, they used to roam around, performing during monastery fairs and celebrations. They had to sing the praises of their hosts to earn more, which required them to wrack their brains to find the right words and phrases. They sang to the accompaniment of a cow horn or six-stringed musical instruments.

Zhegar artists were mostly male. They performed individually or in pairs. When one sang, he had a felt facial mask on his left shoulder. The mask, covered with white cloth, bears a beard made of red and black sheep wool.

On the forehead of the mask is a bronze mirror symbolizing the wisdom of King Gesar, and said to give the performer wisdom and courage.

In between the brows is a Tibetan vowel pronouncing “Ah”, with is an auspicious spell.

On the mask’s right ear is tied a small sea conch symbolizing the male, while the left ear has a gem symbolizing the female. At the back of the mask are red, yellow, blue, green and white ribbons symbolizing the Gods and various cereals.

PERFORMING METHODS. When two or more people perform Zhegar, the chief actor does not tell stories while wearing the mask, and the others hold musical instruments and stage properties. They sing and dance individually or in groups.

They attach importance to the introduction before moving on to the main theme. For this purpose, they sing the praises of people around them, the local landscape, animals, plants and even the objects the audience are carrying.

There are five kinds of stage properties: five-color cereals and felt facial masks, wooden club, ox horn musical instrument and clay figures.

The square-shaped club is 70 cm long. The upper part is painted white symbolizing India, where Buddhism was created; the middle part is painted blue symbolizing the Tibetan areas; and the lower part is painted black symbolizing the Han area where the Prince of Dharma lived.

On the musical instrument dangle 10 clay figures: five male and five female. While the performer sings, these figures “dance”.