Traditional Lion Dance Performance

Lion Dance performed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Detailed descriptions of the traditional lion dance performance appeared during he Tang Dynasty and it was then already identified by writers and poets as a foreign dance. However, lion dance may have been recorded in ancient China as early as the third century AD where ‘lion acts’ were referred to by a scholar named Meng Kang during the Three Kingdoms era, in his commentary on Hanshu. 

Lion is not native to China, and therefore the lion dance has been suggested to have originated outside of China from countries such as India or Persia, and then introduced through Central Asia. The earliest use of the word “shizi” meaning lion first appeared in Han Dynasty texts, when lions were presented to the Han royal court by emissaries from central Asia.

In the early periods, the southern lion is a development in the south of China originating in the Guangdong province. There are a number of myths associated with the origin of the southern lion. One story relates that the lion dance started as a celebration in a village where a mythical monster named Nian was successfully driven away, another has it that the Emperor Qianlong dreamt of an auspicious animal while on a tour of the Southern states of China, and ordered that the image of the animal be recreated and used during festivals.

Stick to the Traditional

The traditional lion dance performance is a rich and vibrant ancient festive custom with the requirement for highly skilled martial arts practitioners to perform and has become an artform by itself over time. During a major lunar festival like the chinese new year, the lion dance creates a lively and celebratory atmosphere, which is quite the opposite for the ancient Chinese folk culture that has made claim that the lion dance was performed for exorcisms, to drive away bad omens and evil spirits.

Experience a Lion Dance Moment

There are many types of lion dances but the two most common are the Northern lion and Southern lion each having their distinct characteristics. Both types are commonly found in China, but the southern lion predominates in South East Asia, brought on by migrant communities from the southern states of China. The southern lion consists of three styles, namely Hok San, Fut San and Fut Hok. There are a number of other forms of lions that is significant differences in appearance and colour.

The lion dance is usually performed by two persons but it may also be performed by a single person, which then can be broadly divided into styles of civil and martial arts. The Northern lion style emphasizes the character and mimics the behaviour of the lion with more flexible actions such as rubbing, tumbling, jumping, fluttering and falling, as compared to the Southern lion style with its shape that is exaggerated and mighty, and a more violent character which is focused on acrobatics and energetic movements. The North lion is also divided into gender differentiation with the male having a red knot on its head, while the female has a green knot.

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