Lion Dance (Xi lion dance)

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

Applicant: Meizhou City, Guangdong Province

Item No.: 108

Project No.: Ⅲ - 5

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Guangdong Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Meizhou City, Guangdong Province

Protection unit: Meijiang district cultural center, Meizhou City

Introduction to lion dance (Xi lion dance)

Applicant: Meizhou City, Guangdong 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.

Xi Shi dance, also known as "Da Xi Shi", is a unique traditional dance of Hakka families in the suburbs of Meijiang district, Meizhou City, Guangdong Province. It is also a unique project of "Xianghua" Buddhism. During the reign of emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism was introduced into Meizhou, which combined with the local culture to form a unique "Xianghua" school. In ancient times, most Meizhou people lived close to mountains and rivers, with short houses and scattered dwellings. Once there is a funeral, it often needs to be dealt with day and night, which lasts for a long time. In this way, the accommodation of relatives and friends who participate in the funeral becomes a difficult problem. In this situation, the Xi Shi dance in the "Xianghua" Buddhist ceremony helps people express their grief in a special way, and wishes the living people peace and health, so it becomes an important part of the funeral ceremony.

The performance of Xi Shi dance won by the likeness of spirit. During the activity, the performers covered themselves with straw mats to imitate the lion's walking and jumping. The whole performance includes "out lion", "leading lion", "Lion Dance", "planting green", "stealing green", "Tibetan green", "snatching green", "teasing lion" and "in lion". It takes about 20 minutes before and after the performance. Percussion instruments such as gongs, drums, cymbals and Hakka gongs and drums are used to accompany the performance.

Xi Shi dance is popular among Meizhou people because of its humorous performance style and distinctive Hakka characteristics. The props and accompanying instruments are simple, showing a kind of simple and friendly beauty, with the meaning of "singing with drums" and "crying with long songs". Therefore, Xi Shi dance has become an important part of Meizhou funeral culture. In recent years, this traditional dance is faced with survival crisis, which is in urgent need of rescue and protection.