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Traditional lion dancing can be separated into Northern and Southern
lion dance. Northern lion is characterized by furry red and gold
outfit or other combination of colors with the lion prancing on huge
balls and acrobatic movements. Southern lion does not wear furry
outfit but does wear matching colored fabric body/tail and pants.
Southern lion has evolved predominantly into 2 different design and
shape: Fó-Shan (buddhist mountain) and Hè-Shan (crane mountain)
style, a reference to the original locality in China where the lions
were made. Fó-Shan lion is fiercier looking, has a reversed curve
mouth and a pointed-end horn on its head, while Hè-Shan lion has a
straight mouth, bulb-end horn and a narrower head. Fó-Hè lion is a
contemporary offshoot and a combination of the 2 shapes. However,
the colors and its significance remains the same. The following
colors have traditionally been identified with famous historical
individuals and warriors:
| Multi or 7 colors lion
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-Liu Bei |
| Red lion |
-General Kwan Gung |
| Black lion |
-Zhang Fei |
| Green lion |
-Zhou Ze Loon |
| Gold lion |
-Huang Joon |
Lion dancing is a mythical belief, which can be traced back
2000 years ago. There are many different versions as to how
lion dancing legend came into being. (A number of the
versions are explained in our brother group web site at: www.eastwind.cjb.net. Please visit
them). The most popular version surmised that villagers in a village
in China were terrorized by unknown beasts annually at or about
Chinese New Year. After getting tired of the beasts' romping, the
villagers banded together, made a paper mache look-alike animal of
the beast, with cymbals, gong and drums, waited for the arrival of
the beast. Upon sight of the beast's arrival, the villagers
approached the beast with its paper mache "lion", along with the
beating of the drum and clanging of the cymbals and gong, were able
to drive the beast away, never to be seen again. The event was
celebrated with firecrackers and was held to be of great
significance and it was believed to symbolize good luck, health and
prosperity, driving away all bad and evil omens. This belief spread
throughout China immediately, and lion dance has since then become a
symbol of all things that are good, while driving away all bad
omens.
Over the centuries, lion dancing have been held in such high regard
that it is not only performed during Chinese new year, it is also a
common sight at weddings, anniversaries, official functions at all
levels, parades, grand openings of restaurants and businesses and
special events honoring special guests. The lion dance performance
generally depicts the lion stalking for food, finds it, and
cautiously devours the food, which could be lettuce, orange or other
items. He then regurgitates the food and throwing it to the
audience, symbolizing blessings by the lion on the audience. "Red
packets" or small red envelopes containing money are then offered by
the audience to the lion, expressing their gratitude for the
blessings.
In recent years, southern lion dance performances have expanded to
include acrobatic and highly skilled maneuvers for entertainment
purposes. The Ventura County Chinese American Association in
conjunction with the Camarillo Kung Fu Club is one of the few groups
in Southern California capable of incorporating the acrobatic moves
in its lion dance performance.
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