How was the lion dance made?
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 …
What is the lion dance costume made of?
The lion dance costume consists of two parts, the lion head, and the lion body. Covered with sandpaper and gauze, the lion head is mainly made of bamboo frame or wood. As the head is usually oversized, it can weigh up to 5 kg. Covered with artificial fur, the lion’s body is made of colored cloth.
Why do lion dancers eat lettuce?
Feed the lion 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.
Who started the Lion Dance?
Feng Gengzhang
Is Lion dance a sport?
Deeply rooted in Chinese culture, sightings of lion dance troupes are commonplace in Singapore. They perform during many occasions for a variety of reasons.
Why are there lion dances?
People perform lion dances at Chinese festivals or big occasions to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits. It is performed to bring prosperity and good luck for the upcoming year. The lion dance is also a way to create a festive atmosphere and bring happiness.
What is lion dance drum?
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. This tradition can be traced back to a story that took place long ago.
Who usually performs the Lion Dance?
kung fu practitioners
How heavy is a lion dance head?
T.A.: The lion’s head used to be made from papier-mâché and weighed 50 to 100 pounds. T.N.: Now it’s fabric and bamboo and weighs 15 to 20 pounds. Inside are strings that make the eyelids blink and the ears wiggle.
What instruments are used in lion dance performance?
The musical instruments that are used to accompany the lion dance are drums, cymbals, and gongs. The largest drum is a barrel drum. The drum is actually made from a big barrel, which has a stretched animal skin on it.
Who performs the dragon dance?
They also represent power, strength and good luck. The Chinese believe that performing the dragon dance during festivals and celebrations drives away evil spirits and ushers in good luck and blessings for the community. The dragon prop used for the dance varies in length, and typically ranges between 14 m to 54 m.
Why do Chinese dragons chase balls?
It is believed that the longer the Dragon is, the more luck it will bring! Sometimes the Dragon follows a man carrying a ball on a stick. This is the “Pearl of Wisdom”. It is said that the Dragon chasing this “pearl of wisdom” represents the Dragon’s way to pursue insight and knowledge.
What is the Nian monster?
According to Chinese mythology, a Nian (simplified Chinese: 年兽; traditional Chinese: 年獸; pinyin: nián shòu) is a beast that lives under the sea or in the mountains. The character nian more usually means “year” or “new year”.
Is Nian a dragon or lion?
In Chinese mythology, Nian has a shape of lion body and head of a unicorn. Ordinarily, Nian lives under the deep sea; however, it will come out and eats people, cattle and children in each spring around Chinese New Year time.
Is Nian a legend?
Lunar New Year One legend is that of Nian, a hideous beast believed to feast on human flesh on New Year’s day. Because Nian feared the colour red, loud noises, and fire, red paper decorations were pasted to doors, lanterns were burned all night, and firecrackers were lit to frighten the beast away.
How old is Nian?
The old Chinese word “Nian” translates to “ripe grains.” This word dates back more than three thousand years to oracle bone inscriptions inscribed with astronomical records during the 14th Century B.C. Shang Dynasty. Before the Gregorian Calendar, a good harvest or the process of a harvest was considered a year.
Why do the Chinese wear red?
Red is a popular color in Chinese culture, symbolizing luck, joy, and happiness. Red is the traditional color worn by Chinese brides, as it is believed to ward off evil. Red also represents the summer season and the element of fire that comes with it.
Why does Chinese New Year have dragons?
Chinese dragons are a symbol of China’s culture, and they are believed to bring good luck to people, therefore the longer the dragon is in the dance, the more luck it will bring to the community. The dragons are believed to possess qualities that include great power, dignity, fertility, wisdom and auspiciousness.