Lion Dance

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Lion Dance

Applicant: Gongyi City, Henan Province

Item No.: 108

Project No.: Ⅲ - 5

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Henan Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Gongyi City, Henan Province

Protection unit: Gongyi Cultural Center

Introduction to lion dance

Applicant: Gongyi City, Henan Province

Lion dance, also known as "Lion Dance", "lion lantern", "Lion Dance" and "Lion Dance", is an important part of traditional Chinese acrobatics. Lion dance has a long history. It is popular in the Han nationality areas of China. It frequently appears in the Spring Festival and other festivals and celebrations. Through lively performances, it expresses the good wishes of Chinese people to pray for good luck and eliminate disasters. The forms of lion dance in different parts of China are different, and the regional characteristics are very distinct. It is generally divided into two categories: South lion and north lion. South lion is vigorous and ferocious, and most of them perform difficult skills. North lion is cute, and most of them play.

Xiaoxiang village, Gongyi City, Henan Province, is located on the "Taiji point" where the Yiluo River and the Yellow River meet. It belongs to the center of Heluo culture and has rich traditional culture accumulation. Xiaoxiang lion dance is a traditional dance program in Xiaoxiang village. According to records, the lion dance began to perform in the late Ming Dynasty and reached its peak in the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty.

Xiaoxiang lion dance can be divided into Wenshi (platform, table), Wushi (high platform) and Qushi (top Tianzhu). Its performance is free and easy, steady and delicate, and has a certain plot. It can not only show the perfect state of harmonious coexistence between human and animals with playful and humorous actions, but also show the lion's powerful temperament and vigorous and flexible manner with bold, vigorous and powerful dancing posture. The lion guides are mostly performed by martial monks. During the performance, they hold a hydrangea ball in their hands, walk on their heads, and tease the lions with special effects such as turning, jumping, leaping, fighting, wrestling, and lying down, often achieving excellent artistic effects. Xiaoxiang lion dance is the representative of lion dance in Central Plains. It plays an irreplaceable role in carrying forward national excellent traditional culture, enhancing national self-confidence and cohesion, maintaining national unity and social stability. In recent years, the highly skilled artists in the little lion dance team are aging. There are only two old artists over 70 years old and only 20 artists over 40 years old. Coupled with the lack of funds and serious props damage, the normal development of little lion dance activities has been greatly affected. Relevant government departments should take active and effective measures to help this valuable folk art develop and revitalize as soon as possible. In the performance, holding the hydrangea ball in hand, walking upside down, to turn, jump, Teng, jump, fight, fight, pounce, lie and other special effects to attract the lion, often achieved excellent artistic effect.

Xiaoxiang lion dance is the representative of lion dance in Central Plains. It plays an irreplaceable role in carrying forward national excellent traditional culture, enhancing national self-confidence and cohesion, maintaining national unity and social stability. In recent years, the highly skilled artists in the little lion dance team are aging. There are only two old artists over 70 years old and only 20 artists over 40 years old. Coupled with the lack of funds and serious props damage, the normal development of little lion dance activities has been greatly affected. Relevant government departments should take active and effective measures to help this valuable folk art develop and revitalize as soon as possible.