The Facts about Chinese Lion Dance, Actually No Lions in China
- VIVA/Ikhwan Yanuar
VIVA – Chinese New Year celebrations are usually synonymous with the lion dance or Indonesian known as Barongsai. The colorful lions and loud drums have long been a favorite during auspicious occasions such as the launch of new buildings, offices, and shops.
However, although the lions manage to keep people of all ages rooted, staring in interest, few people actually know anything about the custom other than the fact that it blinks.
The Lion dance was brought by the Chinese community and is still today, especially in the Chinatown area of major cities in Indonesia. As quoted from the journal "Fungsi dan Makna Kesenian Barongsai Bagi Masyarakat Cina Semarang" (2009) by Bintang Hanggoro, in Chinese culture, the animal that the lion dance represents is a myth.
Actually, lions don't exist in China. Before the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD), only a few lions reached the Central Plains from the western region of ancient China (now Xinjiang), due to the Silk Road trade.
Atraksi Barongsai di Pusat Perbelanjaan
- VIVA/Ikhwan Yanuar
At that time, people imitated the appearance and actions of newly arrived lions in a performance, which evolved into lion dance in the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). It later became popular with the rise of Buddhism in the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589).
In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the lion dance was one of the royal courts. Here are some interesting facts about the Chinese lion dance.
1. There are no lions in China
The Lion Dance is described as a lion-shaped animal from China. However, it turns out that no lions were ever found and lived in mainland China. Chinese people recognize lions because they became the Silk Road in the trade of that time.
2. There are different types of lion dance
The southern school, which originated from Guangdong, is the type of lion dance that is more popular among Singaporeans. It involves a less hairy lion and a lot of vegetables. Cai Qing, or literally plucking the green, involves picking up a sprig of lettuce and is considered very auspicious.
3. Sacred animals like dragons
Tarian Barongsai di kota Macau.
- senja17.blogspot.com
The lion dance is also considered sacred and has a deep philosophical meaning in Chinese culture. Moreover, the status of the lion dance is on par with other mythological creatures, such as the dragon, phoenix, and qilin.
4. The mirror presence on the forehead of the lion dance
On the forehead of the lion dance, there is a mirror that is symbolized to scare away evil spirits by reflecting itself. Therefore, on every lion dance forehead, there is a mirror to ward off evil spirits that come.
5. Special ceremony before the performance
Before the performance, there is a ceremony performed. It is said that this ceremony is meant to build the lion and invite the heavenly spirits into the lion dance.
6. Influence of the Lion
Northern and Southern lion dances have different personalities. Northern dances usually involve more acrobatics, so they are considered more ferocious.
Meanwhile, the South is usually more docile and playful. The names of the lion dance come from the three legendary brothers of the Three Kingdoms of China. Guan Gong's face is usually red and black. Liu Bei's face is yellow and white. Zhang Fei's face is black with short eyebrows and is usually more docile and playful.
