In China, dragon and lion dances have a long tradition. Whereas lion dancing as an art form dates back approximately 1,000 years, the first recorded dances actually occurred during the Han Dynasty (205 BC - 220 CE). It reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty, which is the generally accepted date of its beginning as we know it. That the lion exists in the popular mythology is unusual since lions are not native to China. They were, in fact, brought to China by Silk Road merchants hoping to sell the fabulous beasts to the emperor and his nobles. Originally, Chinese lions were inventions of the imagination. This accounts for some of the more fantastical elements of their image, such as horns. Also, since real lions are not native to China, the dancing lions have over the years taken on characteristics of the mythical dragon and phoenix.
The Origins of Lion Dancing
It isn't known exactly how lion dancing came into existence, but there are numerous stories about it. One of the most popular legends has it that a Tang Dynasty (618-906 AD) emperor awoke from a dream in which a strange looking animal had saved his life. At his council meeting the next morning, he described this beast to his ministers. One well-travelled old gentleman told the emperor that the descripion sounded like an animal he had seen in the West — a lion. Since the lion had saved the emperor's life in the dream, it quickly became a symbol of good luck throughout China. Lions, it was believed, were able to chase away evil spirits and very soon lion dancing was born.
During the Tang dynasty, the lion dance was performed in groups of five. Each lion was a different color and was followed by twelve men dressed in colorful costumes with a red band tied round the forehead and carrying a red brush. They were called 'lion-men' and they danced in tempo to the music called the 'Tai-pin' melody. Initially, the lion dance was entertainment for the nobles, but it soon spread to the army and then to the general population.
In Chinese New Year: Fact and Folklore, author William C. Hu relates a story that suggests another origin for the dance. The tale takes place in 2697 BC during the reign of the fabled Yellow Emperor. A small village was being plagued by a beast named Nien (which sounds very like the Chinese word for "year"). Nien prayed not only on the villages animal, but on the people as well. He was so fierce that not even the tiger or the ox could kill him. In desperation the villagers asked the lion for help. The lion agreed and, rushing out to meet his enemy, "expanded his chest, raised his mighty head, shook his mane" and wounded the creature, who "went running off with his tail between the legs." But in true bully fashion, as he fled he turned to shout, "This isn't over! I will return to take my revenge!"
When the tales of the lion's bravery reached the Emperor, the lion was brought to the Imperial City to guard the palace (you can still see lions guarding the gates of buildings to this day). Then, a year later Nien returned to the village. By this time, the lion was so busy with his new job, he couldn't come to the village's aid. So the people took cloth and bamboo sticks and fashioned a costume to look like the lion. Two men got into the costume and when Nien appeared, they jumped at him howling fiercely, while the villagers banged on drums, cymbals, and gongs. Needless to say, the commotion was so frightening that Nien didn't wait around long enough to see it wasn't the lion attacking him.
The Demands of Lion Dancing
The biggest difference between Lion Dancing and Dragon Dancing is the number of people involved. Dragon dancing is done by groups of at least 15, and has been known to encompassed as many 100 dancers, most of who support the dragon's body. Lion dancing is done by two people alone. This means the coordination between the two is not only essential, but presents more possiblities for cooperative movements.
Lion dances can be quite lengthy. The dancers must hold deep stances for long periods of time. The lion's head while not particularly heavy is an awkward piece of equipment with levers that allow the lead dancer to control the lions eyes, ears and mouth in order to manipulate his expression. For the dancer holding the tail, the positions are awkward and uncomfortable, and quite often he is required to lift and support the lead dancer. This means the dancers have to be in excellent physical condition, which is one reason almost all lion dancers are kung fu artists.
Genting World Lion Dance Championship
Macau Associato Desportiva E Do Leao Acordado "Lo Leong"
Lion Colors
Dancing Lions come in all colors. Each color is meant to represent the characteristics and the attitudes of the lion, and each lion has a significance that fits the specific ceremony in which he dances. The lion is believed to have mystical powers. The first lion-dancing costumes were created using "the five colors": black, green, red, white, and yellow. By this means, the dancing lion was said to control the five cardinal directions: north, east, south, west, and center, respectively. Today, the lion costumes come in all colors, but traditionally there were three, each one representing one of the three famous Chinese Generals: Liu Pei, Kwan Kung and Chang Fei.
Yellow or multi-colored lions represent General Liu Pei. This lion has a long white beard and is the oldest and the wisest of the three. The yellow face shows general Liu Pei's intelligence, bravery and kindness. The red lion with its black beard represents the famous Chinese general and leader Kwan Kung and the bravery and the righteousness for which he is known. The red faced lion also represents happiness, good luck and prosperity.
The black lion is the youngest of the three and represents General Chang Fei. The black lion appears much more fierce than the other two. He has a short black beard, which is meant to highlight his youthfulness and combative nature and represents General Chang Fei's bravery and strength. Also known as the fighting lion, he is very aggressive and strong. His movements are quick, sharp, energetic and always aggressive.
The History of the Green Lion
There's another reason lion dancers are generally martial artists. Lion dancing gained its greatest fame during the Ching Dynasty. The Manchu reign at that time was an oppressive, inhumane government. Thousands of Chinese were massacres without any known cause until, it is said, "their blood literally reddened the rivers." Ming loyalists attempting to foment rebellion against the Manchu warlords, expressed their hatred by inventing the green-faced lion. With brows made of twin steel swords, each measuring 1 foot 6 inches in length, the green lion represented the Manchu Government during the Ching Dynasty. Fighting the lion meant combating the Manchus.
Since lion dancing was performed in villages all over the country for the purpose of celebrations, the rebels would use the opportunity to exchange information and to collect money for the revolution. As part of the dance, the lion would eat lettuce — which is where the money would be hidden. The lead dancer would cry, "Choi ching!" ("get the Ching!") to signal that he was a fellow revolutionary and, therefore, it was safe to pass information to him. However, informers soon figured out the battlecry. So, since chiang (meaning "green") sounds very much like ching, the revolutionary passcode was changed to "Choi chiang!" ("get the green"). To this day, this revolutionary cry is used when the lion "eats" the symbolic lettuce and good luck money.
How It's Done
While lion dancing originated in China, since its inception, the dance has spread throughout the Orient, until today there are lion dancing traditions in countries all over Asia, but regardless of where the dance team comes from, two distinctive styles are observed in lion dancing. The northern style lion has fur and the dances are generally performed with props such as balls or see-saws. Generally, two lions dance together: a male and a female. Sometimes with baby lions. They play together like a family. The southern tradition is the one most Westerners think of whenever lion dancing is mentioned. The costume is made of linen with a bamboo frame. This style focuses more on footwork and stances. The performance often occurs on poles with the dancers jumping from pole to pole and walk on wires. The poles represent mountains and the wires embody the idea of crossing bridges. Every lion dance should convey a complete story.
A typical lion dance will use four performers. Two provide the music, while the other two will form the lion's head and tail.
The performance takes place to the music using a minimum of drum, gong, and cymbals. The lion walks back and forth, in a zigzag path, in order to confuse evil spirits, which the Chinese believe move in straight lines. Once whatever story is being told ends, the act of eating and dispersing of the greens symbolizes the distribution of wealth and good fortune to all those present. Money is hidden in a head of loose-leaf lettuce. The head dancer will remove the money (lay see) and put it in his shirt so as not to drop it (which would be bad luck). Then, he tears the lettuce apart and tosses it to the crowd. The music will then change and the dancer will raise the lion's head and move it back and forth as though the lion is happy at having consumed his prize.
These symbolic acts combine to cure sickness, bless marriages and guard against misfortune. The Chinese consider the lion dance to be a vehicle for dispensing all the good blessings of heaven to the whole community. For this reason, from the Tang Dynasty to the present day, lion dancing has been an important ritual at the opening ceremonies for Chinese events and at the launching of new businesses, at weddings, and during other ceremonies. It plays a very large part in New Year's festivities, because it is believed to evoke good luck in the upcoming year. The lion dance represents the hopes and aspirations of the Chinese people for all the good things life holds.
