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China folk art, lion dance.
China Folk Art Lion Dance

Lion dance is an excellent folk art in China, which was also called "Taiping Music" in ancient times. Lion dance can be divided into north and south. Lions are made of colored strips of cloth. Generally, each lion is performed by two people, a head dance and a tail dance. Under the music of gongs and drums, performers dress up as dogs or other auspicious animals (such as brave and lions) and make various actions to show celebration and good luck.

Lion dance is considered as an auspicious thing to ward off evil spirits. Whenever there is a festival or major event, it will be accompanied by a lion dance, which will last for a long time and be passed down from generation to generation.

Lion dance activities are also widely circulated in overseas Chinese communities. Where there are Chinese, there will be lion dances, which have become an important ceremony to enhance national prestige and establish the soul of China, and a cultural bridge for overseas compatriots to recognize their ancestors and return to their ancestors. Its cultural value and influence are far-reaching.

Historical origin

The ancient origin of 1 says that lion dance originated from "exorcism". In ancient times, the ancients invented Nuo. "Exorcism" gradually evolved into a modern lion dance. In addition to performing in country jam, Nuo dance is easier to enter people's homes, and at the same time, it increases the task of sending blessings.

The origin of the Tang Dynasty says: There is a story in the tablet about Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty swimming in the Moon Palace. The new son dance made him wake up for the last time and had a lion dance. This story tells that when Emperor Tang Ming was swimming in the Moon Palace, a colorful unicorn appeared in front of the steps. It had a wide mouth and a big nose, but it was harmless. It rolled the ball in front of the steps and its posture was terrible. After waking up, Tang Minghuang wants to see the prize again. He wants to be close to him.

Since then, lion dance has flowed into the people. Bai Juyi, a famous poet in the Tang Dynasty, said in a poem: "Masked conference semifinals are fake lions, and woodcarving is the beginning and the end. Gold-plated eyes and silver teeth, eager shirts with ears "("Xiliang Geisha ").

It can be seen that lion dance existed in the Tang Dynasty, and there are various forms of lion dance in China, which can be roughly divided into two types: northern lion dance and southern lion dance. The shape of the northern lion dance is very similar to that of a real lion. The lion is covered all over, and the lion dancer (a pair of two people dancing together to form a big lion) only shows his feet and does not see him.

Lion dances in the north can be divided into Wei and Xiong, as well as Wen lions, Wu lions, adult lions and young lions. Southern lion is mainly popular in Guangdong. This kind of lion dance consists of one person dancing the lion head and one person dancing the lion tail. Lions are different from lions in the north in shape, style and color. Lion dancers wear all kinds of knickerbockers and Tang-style lantern sleeves or tightly buckled vests to show the whole body of the lion dancers. You must try your best to dance.

Lion dance, also known as "lion dance" and "harmony", is usually performed by three people. Two people dressed as lions, one as the lion's head, one as the lion's body and hind feet, and one as the lion's head. There are also folk and military dances. Artistic dance shows the gentleness of the lion, such as shaking hair and rolling, while Wushu lion shows the fierceness of the lion, such as prancing, climbing and rolling colored balls.