Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Traditional customs - The Moral of the Dragon Dance

The Moral of the Dragon Dance

The Spring Festival Dragon Dance, also known as the Dragon Dance and Dragon Lantern Dance, is a traditional folk entertainment activity with unique national characteristics in China. From the Spring Festival to the Lantern Festival, it is customary to play dragon lanterns in both urban and rural areas of China. Legend has it that dragons can move clouds and rain, eliminate disasters and bring down blessings, symbolizing auspiciousness, and it has become a custom throughout the country to pray for peace and a good harvest by means of the dragon dance. After thousands of years of inheritance and development, the Dragon Lantern Dance has become a form of lively, beautiful performance, with a romantic traditional dance.

The main props of dragon lanterns are "dragons". Dragon with grass, bamboo, wood, paper, cloth, etc. Tied and become, the number of sections of the dragon to singular for good luck, most often see nine sections of the dragon, eleven sections of the dragon, thirteen sections of the dragon, more up to twenty-nine sections. More than fifteen sections of the dragon is more bulky, not suitable for dancing, mainly for ornamental purposes, this dragon is particularly concerned about the decoration, has a high craft value. There is also a "fire dragon", with bamboo gabions woven into a cylinder, forming a cage, paste transparent, beautiful dragon clothes, burning candles or oil lamps, night performances are very spectacular.