Abstract: Dance has rich internal elements and external manifestations,and has many functions such as cultural representation,social memory,and national identity.As a national intangible cultural heritage,Maogusi (a folk dance of the Tujia ethnic group) in Xiangxi (western Hunan province) carries the social memory and spiritual temperament of the Tujia ethnic group.As an indispensable ceremonial activity at a specific time,it presents social and cultural field scenes through symbols.Dance ethnography provides a unique research perspective for the methodological path in understanding and interpreting Mogusi.On the one hand,the "shallow description" of dance ethnography objectively and truly focuses on depicting the "form" of Mogusi,including external manifestations such as dance venues,national subjects,movements,music,and scenes.On the other hand,the "in-depth description" of dance ethnography lies in the in-depth interpretation of the "spirit" of Mogusi,including the inherent elements of dance such as its symbolic meaning,social connection,values,sense of national belonging and social cohesion.Through the description and interpretation of both "form" and "spirit",we can deeply understand the complexity and diversity of Maogusi in Xiangxi as a medium of regional cultural expression and social interaction.

Key words: Maogusi, Tujia ethnic group, sacrifice, dance ethnography, Xiangxi