Lion dance

Some fundamental movements of the Lion dance can be found in Chinese martial arts, and it is commonly performed to a vigorous drumbeat with gongs and cymbals.

There are a number of myths associated with the origin of the Southern Lion: one story relates that the dance originated as a celebration in a village where a mythical monster called Nian was successfully driven away;[8][22] another has it that the Qianlong Emperor dreamt of an auspicious animal while on a tour of Southern China, and ordered that the image of the animal be recreated and used during festivals.

[33][34] Various forms of Lion dance are also found widely in East Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, Vietnam, as well as among the communities in the Himalayan region.

The lion's head is traditionally constructed using papier-mâché over a bamboo frame covered with gauze, then painted and decorated with fur.

There are two main styles of Southern Lion: the Fut San or Fo Shan (Chinese: 佛山; pinyin: Fóshān; lit.

He and his disciples also made changes to the lion head; its forehead is lower, its horn rounded and it has a duck beak mouth with flat lips, the body also has more eye-catching colours.

The Singapore Hok San Association made further changes by modifying the design of the lion head, shortening its body, and creating a new drumbeat for the dance.

The yellow lion has yellow/orange face and body with white or silver beard and fur, representing Huang Zhong (Cantonese: Wong Tsung), who was given this color when Liu Bei rose to become Emperor.

During training sessions for fighters, the Green lion was fitted with blades symbolizing the Manchurian army and would become a moving target for trainees.

[51] The performance routine typically tells of a Qilin exiting its lair, playfully move round, and looking for vegetable to eat.

[52] There are nevertheless distinct local forms that differ in appearance and performance, for example, the Lion dances of the Tày and Nùng minority people.

The dance, believed to have originated in India, may have been introduced to Japan as part of the masked drama-dance gigaku during the Asuka period.

[58] The oldest surviving lion mask, made of paulownia wood with an articulated lower jaw, is also preserved in Tōdai-ji.

[59] The dance is commonly performed during the New Year to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits, and the Lion dancers may be accompanied by flute and drum musicians.

The name seng ge and its related forms come from Sanskrit for lion, siṅha,[79] and cham is a Buddhist ritual dance.

The snow lion represents the snowy mountain ranges and glaciers of Tibet and is considered highly auspicious, and it may also symbolize a number of characteristics, such as power and strength,[79] and fearlessness and joy.

[87] In Honnavar Taluk in Uttara Kannada, a Lion dance called simha nrutya may be performed in Yakshagana plays.

It is held on special occasions such as the Lebaran (Eid al-Fitr), city or regency anniversary, or independence day carnival.

[93] Sisingaan marked by a form of a lion-shaped effigy palanquin that is carried by a group of dancers who perform various attractions accompanied by traditional music.

[99] The Chinese Lion dance is performed accompanied by the music of beating of tanggu (in Singapore, datanggu), cymbals, and gongs.

During the Chinese New Year, Lion dance troupes may visit the houses and shops of the Asian community to perform the traditional custom of "cai qing" (採青), literally meaning "plucking the greens", whereby the lion plucks the auspicious green lettuce either hung on a pole or placed on a table in front of the premises.

International Lion dance championships are held in many countries, for example, in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

The poles can be added with props or obstacles as well, such as a small wooden bridge that can be easily broken in half or a pair of wire lines.

[106] The main judging rubric was developed by the International Dragon and Lion Dance Federation, scored out of 10 total points.

[112] During the Suharto era in Indonesia, public expression of Chinese culture was also banned in consolidation with anti-communism sentiment, and the barongsai (Lion dance) procession was considered "provocative" and "an affront to Indonesian nationalism".

[119] During the 1950s–60s, in some areas with high populations of Chinese and Asian communities (especially the Chinatowns in many foreign countries outside of China), people who joined Lion dance troupes were "gangster-like".

[120] The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) stated that Lion dances involving the "cai qing" ritual are not allowed to take place in condominiums and inside units during Chinese New Year.

[122] The Commodore Perry character performed a mixture of a kabuki version of Lion dance and a cakewalk wearing an Uncle Sam costume and the long white wig and makeup of a kabuki lion, here used to express his feelings of success at having met with Japanese officials and opened Japan to trade for the first time in 250 years.

The same traditional dance also appeared in a music video "True To Your Heart" by 98 Degrees featuring Stevie Wonder, which was used to advertise the 1998 film Mulan.

The Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree downloadable content introduces a new boss named Divine Beast Dancing Lion.