|
 |
|
The common motif of the "majestic and powerful" lion was
introduced to China by buddhist missionaries from India,
somewhere in the 1st Century AD. The lions themselves,
however, are not native to China, yet |
appear in the art of China and the Chinese people believe that
lions protect humans from evil spirits, hence the Chinese New
Year Lion Dance to scare away demons and ghosts. Chinese lions
are frequently used in sculpture in traditional Chinese
architecture. For instance, in the Forbidden City in Beijing,
two lion statues are seen in almost every door entrance. In
Chinese tradition, lion is regarded as a mascot, which can
bring good luck. The dance has a long history with records of
more than 2,000 years ago. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907),
the Lion Dance was already introduced into the royal family of
the dynasty.
In the Lion Dance, two people act as a lion; one waving the
lion head and the other waving the lion body and tail; or one
performer acts as a cub. Another person is needed to hold a
silk ball to play with the lion. Skill is the most important
thing while performing the Lion Dance. After more than 2,000
years of development, there are various Lion Dances. It's one
of most popular programs of dance and acrobatics troupes
today.
|
|
