The origin and development of dragon and lion dance

Lion dance originated from "exorcise". In ancient times, the ancients invented "Nuo". "Nuo" gradually evolved into the modern lion dance. Nuo lion dance in addition to perform in the village, more into the people's homes, in the drive away the ghosts of the epidemic at the same time, but also increased the delivery of blessings, pray for blessings task.

Dragon dance in the origin of traditional Chinese dance. Dragon dance and lion dance were one of the programs inside the big festivals in the year in ancient times.

It is named for the dancers who hold props in the shape of dragons from Chinese legends. The image of the dragon, which originated as a totem in ancient China, is regarded as a symbol of the Chinese nation, and it is seen as a divine creature that can move clouds and bring rain, eliminate disasters and bring good fortune. Therefore, in some places, when there is no rain in a long drought, the dragon dance is performed to pray for rain; in some places, after planting rice seedlings, the dragon dance is performed to drive away insects. Dragon dance has a long history, the Han Dynasty has a more complete form of dragon dance.

According to the Han Dynasty, Dong Zhongshu's "Spring and Autumn Dew" recorded that in the four seasons of the rain ritual, the spring dance of the green dragon, the summer dance of the red dragon and the yellow dragon, the autumn dance of the white dragon, the winter dance of the black dragon; each dragon is a few zhang long, each time 5 to 9 dragons dance together. After nearly 2,000 years of creative development of the working people, now the folk dragon dance not only has a high degree of skill, and the performance form is more and more colorful.

Expanded

Lion Dance Taboo

The Chinese New Year Festival, a lion dance team added a lot of atmosphere to the festival, but at the same time there are a lot of taboos, the old days, if you accidentally violate the taboo, the light will be kicked out of the door, and the heavy will get into trouble.

One, the lion dance is forbidden to see the gods do not worship

The Hakka tradition of polytheism, each village has a guardian deity in each house, is the spiritual pillar of each village in the house, the lion dance team passed the altar, must worship, otherwise regarded as a lack of understanding of etiquette, look down on the people of the village, the village villagers will not be able to pay for the lion dance team.

Second, the lion dance is forbidden to perform first from the new house

Traditional folklore, not to the ancestral house, the first lion dance, the descendants of the new house, can not invite their lion dance. It is rumored that this rule is related to Hakka ancestor worship.

Three, the lion dance is forbidden from the right into the house

Traditional folklore, that the right is a small piece, the left is a large piece of the house to the dragon on the left, so the lion dance team must be from the left piece of the house into the left side of the dragon to the lion, the left (a large piece of the dragon to the lion, the sign of the dragon and the lion, the people and wealth of the two prosperous. Therefore, it is forbidden for the lion dance team to enter the enclosure from the right side. And before entering the enclosure must walk Ting steps, knocking Ting gong into the enclosure to worship, meaning to wish the house Ting hair wealth, the New Year all the best.

Four, the lion dance team members are forbidden to sit opposite the house

Traditional folklore, the lion dance team members are forbidden to sit opposite the house, it is said that the women in the house in the eaves of the house to see the lion dance, the lion dance team members sitting under the eaves, back to the eaves, the woman stood behind it to see the lion dance, if the relative to the house and sit, it will be regarded as a light view, and was cold.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Lion Dance

Baidu Encyclopedia - Dragon Dance