Lion Dancing
Chinese Lion Dancing is an ancient folklore tradition that is used to express the festive celebrating of auspicious occasions such as birthdays, grand openings, weddings, graduations, housewarmings, New Year’s celebrations and especially Chinese New Years. The invigorating energy that comes from the dance is created by the active movements of the colorful lions and soun ds of the musical instruments. The large drum is especially noticeable because it creates the cohesiveness of the Lion and the musical instruments. It is the task of the players to bring to life what we know as a Muppet. It is an exciting and happy occasion to experience a Chinese Lion Dance. Book Your Party! |
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History Of The Lion Dance
The exact history of the Chinese Lion Dance is unknown, however, many origins exist so I will tell of one tale that is mythical in nature. In the land of the Chinese Gods, there existed the Lion King who was carefree and known as a practical joker. One day he decided to play a joke on the Jade Emperor and thought it would be fun to fake an injury and when the Jade Emperor came to help, he would scare him.
To the Lion King’s dismay, the Jade Emperor did not have the same sense of humor as he and the Jade Emperor beheaded the Lion King for his actions. The Goddess of Mercy, Kwan Yin, took pity on the Lion King and tied his head to a long colorful ribbon to bring him back to life. The Lion King, being very grateful to The Goddess, vowed never to play jokes again and spend all of his time helping others. Goddess Kwan Yin was impressed by his sincerity, and gave him a horn to fight with and a reflective nose to scare away evildoers. This is how today, the Lion Dance is used at festive occasions to help others, bring good luck and keep away those that would do harm.
The Lion Dance
There are two components that make up the lion, the Head and the Body, which is commonly referred to as the tail of the lion. The lions are generally bright in color and are approximately 7-8 feet long. The head of the lion is actually made of paper mach’e and then painted and coated to help the lion’s head withstand the punishment it goes through during the dance. The tail is made of silk, nylon or sometimes even Mylar for durability.
Typical Lion Dance routines contain three instruments: the drum, a gong and cymbals. The drum is the most important of these instruments as it leads the dance and the band. Other items seen during the lion dance include a “Choi Chang” or Greens, meaning Lettuce or Cabbage. This is used as an offering to the lion and generally contains money to help bring a business owner or person good luck and prosperity throughout the year. The lion is to eat the lettuce or “green” and then throw the shredded lettuce back out of its mouth indicating the lion has indeed eaten the green or “Choi Chang”. Another method of feeding the lion is with a Red Envelope with contains Lucky Money or “Lai See”. This offering serves the same purpose as the Greens although it is generally used for individuals to feed the lion. If you offer the lion a “Lai See” or lucky money, the lion will take the offering and nibble on your hand or leg to bring you good luck and prosperity.
How Can I Become A Lion Dance Player?
Lion Dancing, like Martial Arts, requires many hours of practice and effort. Most often, people start off learning to play the tail of the lion to mimic the head’s movements and train their waist and legs to handle the rigorous physical movement behind making the lion come alive. When playing underneath the lion, the practitioner must think like the lion, be agile like a cat, not only play the lion but feel and become a part of the lion. All of these aspects help bring the Lion to life. If you would like more information or would like to learn how to Lion Dance, please contact us.