【亚洲·印度】鸠提耶耽梵剧 Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre（2008年）

“鸠提耶耽梵剧”是印度现存最古老的戏剧传统之一，位于喀拉拉邦。鸠提耶耽梵剧起源于2000多年前，代表了梵文古典主义的综合，反映了喀拉拉邦的当地传统。在其风格化和法典化的戏剧语言中，neta abhinaya（眼神）和hasta abhinaya（手势语言）都很突出。他们关注主角的思想和感情。演员要经过10到15年的严格训练，才能成为成熟的演员，拥有复杂的呼吸控制和面部和身体微妙的肌肉变化。演员的艺术在于详细描述一个场景或一个情节。因此，一场表演可能需要几天时间，而一场完整的表演可能会持续40天。

鸠提耶耽梵剧传统上在位于印度教寺庙中的鸠提耶耽梵剧剧院表演。由于其神圣性，人们最初只能观看演出，但这些戏剧已逐渐向更多观众开放。然而，演员的角色仍然保持着神圣的维度，净化仪式和表演期间在舞台上放置油灯象征着神圣的存在就是明证。男演员将详细的表演手册传给学员，直到最近，这些手册仍然是选定家庭的专属和秘密财产。

随着19世纪封建秩序的瓦解，掌握表演技巧秘密的家庭经历了严重的困难。在20世纪初复兴之后，库提亚塔姆再次面临资金短缺，导致该行业出现严重危机。面对这种情况，负责传承这一传统的不同机构齐心协力，以确保这座梵语剧院的延续性。"

2008年度列入人类非物质文化遗产名录。

来源：联合国教科文组织亚太地区非物质文化遗产国际培训中心

Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre, which is practised in the province of Kerala, is one of India’s oldest living theatrical traditions. Originating more than 2,000 years ago, Kutiyattam represents a synthesis of Sanskrit classicism and reflects the local traditions of Kerala. In its stylized and codified theatrical language, neta abhinaya (eye expression) and hasta abhinaya (the language of gestures) are prominent. They focus on the thoughts and feelings of the main character. Actors undergo ten to fifteen years of rigorous training to become fully-fledged performers with sophisticated breathing control and subtle muscle shifts of the face and body. The actor’s art lies in elaborating a situation or episode in all its detail. Therefore, a single act may take days to perform and a complete performance may last up to 40 days.

Kutiyattam is traditionally performed in theatres called Kuttampalams, which are located in Hindu temples. Access to performances was originally restricted owing to their sacred nature, but the plays have progressively opened up to larger audiences. Yet the actor’s role retains a sacred dimension, as attested by purification rituals and the placing of an oil lamp on stage during the performance symbolizing a divine presence. The male actors hand down to their trainees detailed performance manuals, which, until recent times, remained the exclusive and secret property of selected families.

With the collapse of patronage along with the feudal order in the nineteenth century, the families who held the secrets to the acting techniques experienced serious difficulties. After a revival in the early twentieth century, Kutiyattam is once again facing a lack of funding, leading to a severe crisis in the profession. In the face of this situation, the different bodies responsible for handing down the tradition have come together to join efforts in order to ensure the continuity of this Sanskrit theatre.

Included in the list of human intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Source: UNESCO International Training Center for intangible cultural heritage in the Asia Pacific Region