Chinese Lion Dance

Origins of the Lion Dance Lion Dance: A traditional Chinese dance in which the dancers are masked and costumed to resemble lions. Performed during the Chinese New Year and other Chinese traditional, cultural and religious festivals. The Lion Dance dates back to more than 1,500 years, but the exact origin is unknown. Lion is not native to China, so the Lion Dance therefore has been suggested to have originated outside of China from countries such as India or Persia, and introduced via Central Asia.

How the Lion Dance Reflects Culture Art Unity Honor/Respect Religious values Expression of Festivities/Celebrations

How the Lion Dance Affects the Culture In the 1960’s and 1970’s the lion dance was used a lot in kung-Fu movies  Has turned into an icon to represent China  Originally the dancers were only local members of fighting clubs  Each individual club had its own lion dance

Political Aspects The Lion Dance is a form of acrobatics and Kung Fu, a martial art, combat self defense. Lion Dance clubs were formed but some clubs battled other clubs for dominance of villages and areas of cities and caused political unrest with residents and government. At times, the Lion Dance was even banned in Hong Kong in the 1950's and 1960's, Lion Dance groups until these days must get a permit from the local government to perform. In Malaysia in the 1970's the Lion Dance was criticized by politicians for not being in the Malaysian style, even wanted it to be a Tiger Dance, until 1990. In Indonesia, a President Suharto, banned Chinese culture and the Lion Dance, while he was president for 31 years, until the fall of his regime in 1998.

Conclusion The Lion Dance is a form of expressing Chinese culture in China and many overseas Chinese communities. The Lion dance is mostly celebrated in traditional, cultural, and religious festivals Lion Dance reflects art, unity, religious values and celebrations

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