Lion Dance

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

Applicant: Shenqiu County, 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: Shenqiu County, Henan Province

Protection unit: Hui culture lion Association of Shenqiu County

Introduction to lion dance (Huaidian lion dance)

Applicant: Shenqiu County, 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.

Huaidian Hui culture lion dance in Shenqiu is a unique folk dance form of ethnic minorities living in the Central Plains. It originated from the "five directions lion dance" and "Hu people's fake lion dance" in the western regions of Han and Tang Dynasties. In 1234, the first year of Duanping in the Southern Song Dynasty, when the Mongolian general chahanping was in the Jin Dynasty, the lion dance of Hui nationality was introduced into the Central Plains with the sea nose and ears of bosniabur people, and spread in Huaidian Hui town of Shenqiu County for a long time.

Huaidian Town, Shenqiu County, Henan Province, is located at the intersection of Shaying River and Xicai river. The rivers are crisscross in the town. The Hui people living here are the descendants of Persians, qincha people and Kangli people who forcibly invaded the Central Plains from Central Asia in the Yuan Dynasty.

Huaidian Wen lion changed the powerful form of the king of beasts, created a quiet image of the lion with the heart of charity, and intended to influence the rulers to reduce violence and implement benevolent government. After communication with the local Han ethnic animal dance in Shenqiu, Huaidian Wen lion gradually formed three parts of performance: Unicorn tiger dance, Unicorn Dance and lion dance. During the performance, firstly, the sound of Qi Ming, lion roaring and tiger roaring is played in the rhythm of drums, gongs and cymbals. Then, the unicorn Tiger comes on the stage to tour and watch. Qilin performs the story of "Qilin giving away his son". Finally, Wen lion comes on the stage to show a series of actions, such as mountain patrol, scratching, drinking water, licking hair, watching the scenery and giving birth to a baby lion.

Huaidian wenshizi uses personification technique to interpret the vivid scenes of tiger wandering, unicorn giving birth and lioness giving birth. The styles are quite different and full of wit. Through wenshizi's ease and meekness, it shows people's psychology of looking forward to political purity and social harmony, which is shocking and has social and historical understanding and research value. Today, the cultural connotation of traditional folk festivals is constantly weakened. Huaidian wenshizi has gradually lost its performance platform, and its artistic level has declined greatly. Many artists are too old to appear on the stage. As a result, this excellent national folk art is facing a serious survival crisis and needs to be protected.