What does the lion dance symbolize in Chinese culture?
LION DANCE. Lions play an important role in Chinese mythology, and represent joy and happiness. Lion dances are performed accompanied by the music of beating of drums, cymbals, and gongs instruments synchronise to the lion dance movements and actions. People perform lion dance to bring luck and to get rid of the devil.
Who performs the Chinese lion dance?
The lion dance combines art, history and kung fu moves. Normally the performers are kung fu practitioners, and a group of Lion Dancers consist of about 10 people. Lion dances take place during the first few days of the Chinese New Year.
Which country is best in lion dance?
The best known lion dances are performed in Bali and Java.
What is the Chinese New Year lion dance?
People perform lion dances at Chinese festivals or big occasions to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits. The lion dance is one of the most important traditions at Chinese New Year. It is performed to bring prosperity and good luck for the upcoming year.
What is the difference between Northern and Southern lion dance?
The northern lion usually has golden or red hairy fur. The southern style, which is more popularly performed in Singapore, originated in Guangdong, China. It involves a less hairy lion that is taunted by a big-headed clown and is traditionally performed outdoors.
Where did the Chinese lion dance originated?
Legend has it that lion dancing originated in China during the Tang dynasty, when an Emperor was troubled by a nightmare, which ended after he was saved by a rare and strange beast Ń the lion.
How was lion dance created?
Although its specific origins have been lost in the mists of time, most historians believe lion dancing began in the late Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), when lions were brought to Northern China from Central Asia as gifts for the emperor and representations of the beast began to be incorporated into existing traditional …
Is the lion dance Nian?
According to culture, Nian was afraid of lions. Villagers would wait for the eve of CNY to drive the Nian away with their methods. Hence, the Lion Dance was born. The dance is still practised today.
Why do lion dancers eat lettuce?
Dancers feed the lion used in the dance during the event with lettuce, because the Chinese word for “lettuce” sounds similar to the word for “wealth.” “So the lion will eat the wealth and spit it back out to the owners or the audience to give them prosperity,” Chau said.
How much does a lion dance cost?
Standard rates for lion dances The standard going rate is $688 for a pair of lions. However, this can go as low as $388, for a smaller show (note: this may mean the lions dance only at your gate and in the living room, but do not visit the other rooms of the house).
What is southern lion dance?
The southern lion dance is a performance based on the study of a lion’s behavior, with an emphasis on actions like scratching, shaking of the body, and licking of fur. Performances are vivid and entertaining, even comical. There are also skillful performances, such as playing with a ball, which includes swallowing it.
Where does lion dance come from in China?
Lion dance. Both forms are commonly found in China, but around the world especially in South East Asia, the Southern Lion predominates as it was spread by the Chinese diaspora communities who are historically mostly of Southern Chinese origin. The Southern Lion consists of three styles, Hok San, Fut San and Fut Hok.
What are the two types of lion dance?
Though lion dances all use similar costumes, during their long development, the lion dances are divided into two styles: southern and northern. The southern lion dance originated in Guangdong, and it is the style popular in Hong Kong, Macau, and the hometowns of overseas Chinese.
Where can I see the lion dance in Hong Kong?
The best place to see a southern Chinese lion dance is the Hong Kong Chinese New Year Performance Night. The northern lion dance has close relations to kungfu — Chinese martial arts. A young lion is performed by a single person and an adult lion is performed by a duo.