History of Lion Dancing – Chinese Folklore Lion da...

History of Lion Dancing – Chinese Folklore Lion dancing is a traditional folk performance in China with a history of more than 2,000 years. In the dancing, two performers share the same costume and wave the part of its head, body and tail respectively. They imitate various gestures of lions through perfect cooperation. Lions, the king of animals, symbolize happiness and good luck, so people usually perform lion dancing in the Spring Festival and other festivals and holidays. Lion dancing can be also seen in other important occasions such as the opening ceremony of shops and stores and weddings, which often attracts so many audience. The lion dance originated in China more than two thousand years ago. The lion is traditionally regarded as a guardian creature. It is featured in Buddhist lore, being the mount of Manjusri. Chinese lion dances can be broadly categorized into two major styles, Northern and Southern. Northern dance was used as entertainment for the imperial court. The northern lion is usually red, orange, and yellow, shaggy in appearance, with a golden head. The northern dance is acrobatic and is mainly performed as entertainment. Southern dance is more symbolic. It is usually performed as a ceremony to exorcise evil spirits and o summon luck and fortune. The southern lion exhibits a wide variety of color and has a distinctive head with large eyes, a mirror on the forehead, and a single horn at he center of the head. The lion dance is often confused with the Chinese dragon dance, which features a team of around ten or more dancers. The lion dance is usually performed by two people.