Lion dance

Lore & Background

The lion dance has an old tradition in China of dancers wearing masks to resemble animals or mythical beasts since antiquity, with descriptions in ancient texts such as Shujing. In Qin dynasty sources, dancers performing exorcism rituals wore bearskin masks, and Han dynasty texts mention 'mime people' performing as fish, dragons, and phoenixes. However, the lion is not native to China, and the dance has been suggested to have originated outside of China from countries such as India or Persia, introduced via Central Asia. The earliest use of the word shizi for 'lion' was in Han dynasty texts with strong Central Asian associations, and lions were presented to the Han court by emissaries from Central Asia and the Parthian Empire. Detailed descriptions of lion dance appeared during the Tang dynasty, where it was recognized as a foreign dance. It may have been recorded in China as early as the third century AD. In early periods it was associated with Buddhism, as recorded in a Northern Wei text describing a parade for a Buddha statue led by a lion to drive away evil spirits. During the Tang court, the dance was called the 'Great Peace Music' or 'Lion dance of the Five Directions,' with five large lions of different colors manipulated by two persons each. The Tang poet Bai Juyi described a version performed by two hu dancers wearing a lion costume with a wooden head, silk tail, and furry body, resembling today's lion dance. By the eighth century, this dance had reached Japan. The two main forms of lion dance in China are the Northern Lion and the Southern Lion. The Northern Lion is often performed as a pair of male and female lions, with a gold-painted wooden head and shaggy hair, and may have originated from Northern Wei. The Southern Lion originated in Guangdong province and is the best known outside of China, associated with the legend of a mythical monster called Nian. There are also local forms such as the Green or Hokkien Lion and the Taiwanese or Yutien Lion, as well as lion dances among ethnic minority groups in China.

Reader's Guide

Lion dance holds significant cultural importance in Chinese and other Asian societies as a traditional performance believed to bring good luck, fortune, and to ward off evil. It is a staple of Lunar New Year celebrations and other festivals, as well as important occasions like business openings and weddings. The dance is commonly performed to a vigorous drumbeat with gongs and cymbals, and some fundamental movements can be found in Chinese martial arts. Around the world, especially in Southeast Asia, the Southern Lion predominates, spread by Chinese diaspora communities historically mostly of Southern Chinese origin. Versions of lion dance related to the Chinese lion are also found in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while other forms exist in India, Indonesia, and East Africa. The dance has evolved over centuries, with two main styles: civil, emphasizing the lion's character and behavior, and martial, focused on acrobatics and energetic movements. The Northern Lion often involves acrobatic stunts like lifts and balancing on tiered platforms, while the Southern Lion has a single horn and is traditionally constructed with papier-mâché over a bamboo frame. The dance's origins remain debated, with suggestions of foreign introduction via Central Asia or development from local Chinese traditions appropriating Buddhist symbolism.

Did You Know?

• The Chinese word for lion, shi, may have been derived from the Persian word šer.
• Lion dance may have been recorded in China as early as the third century AD.
• The Southern Lion is associated with the legend of a mythical monster called Nian.
• By the eighth century, the lion dance had reached Japan.