What is the story behind the Chinese lion dance?

Lion dancing originated during the Tang dynasty (618-906 AD). Since the strange animal saved the emperor in his dream, the lion quickly became a symbol of good luck throughout China. It was believed that a dancing lion chased away evil spirits.

Who performs Liondance?

The lion dance combines art, history and kung fu moves. Normally the performers are kung fu practitioners, and a group of Lion Dancers consist of about 10 people. Lion dances take place during the first few days of the Chinese New Year.

How heavy is a lion dance head?

50 to 100 pounds
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.

Why is Nian scared of red?

Once every year at the beginning of Chinese New Year, the nian comes out of its hiding place to feed, mostly on men and animals. During winter, since food is sparse, he would go to the village. The weaknesses of the nian are purported to be a sensitivity to loud noises, fire, and a fear of the color red.

Is pixiu a dragon?

Pixiu are a type of ancient mythological, guardian animal species that have feathered wings, a head like a dragon and a body like a lion (sometimes described as a body like a horse).

What is the difference between dragon dance and lion dance?

The most significant difference between the two dances is that the Lion Dance is performed by two people only while a group of 9-15 dancers performs the Dragon Dance for a 18-25 metre-long dragon Dragon costumes are controlled with long poles while lion costumes are controlled from within the Lion’s head and tail.

Is lion dance hard?

Lion dancing is a traditional Chinese art form in which participants wear a long lion costume, dance and perform acrobatic feats, most commonly during religious festivals and Chinese New Year. Professional lion dancers make it look easy, but it’s intensely physical and extraordinarily difficult.

What does a Taotie look like?

The design typically consists of a zoomorphic mask, described as being frontal, bilaterally symmetrical, with a pair of raised eyes and typically no lower jaw area. Some argue that the design can be traced back to jade pieces found at Neolithic sites belonging to the Liangzhu culture (3310–2250 BCE).

Is Pixiu a God?

Therefore, traditionally to the Chinese, Pixiu have always been regarded as auspicious creatures that possessed mystical powers capable of drawing cai qi (財氣 wealth) from all directions, and according to the Chinese zodiac, it is especially helpful for those who are going through a bad year.

What are being symbolized by the creature dragon?

The dragon is a symbol of evil, in both the chivalric and Christian traditions. In the Orient, it symbolizes supernatural power, wisdom, strength, and hidden knowledge. In most traditions, it is the embodiment of chaos and untamed nature.

Can girls lion dance?

Unlike dragon dancing, lion dancing is performed by just two troupe members at a time: the head and the back. She is always pushing her dancers, especially the women, even if they are inexperienced, to take on both the head and back roles at performances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HtmxrAhoGw