Folk craft story-the origin of lion dance

During the Han Dynasty more than two thousand years ago, there were many small countries in the barbarian land of northwest China, one of which was called Dayue Country. Yue's country is not as powerful as the Han Dynasty, so it pays tribute to the Han Dynasty every year, but Yue's people are not convinced.

One year, Dayue presented a lion to the Han Dynasty, which was very majestic. His hair is shining, his limbs are strong and his eyes are as bright as two bells. He opened his mouth and growled, shaking the earth. The messenger of the Yue family said to Emperor Han Zhang, "This lion is the beast of our Yue family and a symbol of the unyielding people of the Yue family. I send you a message on behalf of the king. If someone in your Han Dynasty can tame this lion, we will continue to pay tribute to your country. Otherwise, our two countries will break off relations and never become good friends again. " Emperor Zhang Han had to promise him.

Emperor Zhang Han ordered people to put up notices and pay a lot of money to recruit people who could tame lions. Animal trainers from all over the country rushed to try their hand, but none of them succeeded. One day, the golden lion suddenly became a beast, running around the palace crazily, biting everyone. The waiter in the palace was afraid that it would hurt people, so he killed it with a disorderly stick. If the emperor knows this, he will be beheaded. In order to save their lives, the waiters tied a lifelike lion's head with colored paper, peeled off the lion's skin, found two flexible people to dress them up as golden lions, and then asked another person to let the lion dance in front. I saw this golden lion, being teased, suddenly leaping high, rolling on his back, shaking his head and even rolling, as if he were alive. The lion dance performance was flawless. Emperor Zhang Han was very happy to hear this, but the emissary of Da Yue took it for granted and came back to me with conviction.

After the messenger left, the waiter in the palace told Emperor Zhang Han about the lion. Zhang Han not only didn't get angry, but rewarded them. Later, this incident reached the ears of ordinary people. Everyone thinks that lion dance is a good way to win glory for our country, and the lion dance performance is lively and festive, which is also regarded as a symbol of good luck. People have followed the example of tying the lion's head and performing lion dance, and the tradition of lion dance has been passed down.