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Playful, Proud and Happy

Lion and dragon dancing takes skill and athleticism

By May Chow | AsianWeek Staff Writer

Is it the firecrackers, the high school marching bands or the apple-polishing waves from beauty queens that attract hundreds of thousands of people to the annual Chinese New Year’s Parade in San Francisco? Sure, all these things provide ample entertainment for tourists and their cameras, but I think the main attraction, bar none, is the lion and dragon dancers.

Something about the undulations moving in sync with the metered drumbeats and cymbals captivates the attention of longtime Chinatown locals and visiting travelers alike. Once the elongated puppets disperse onto the street, camera flashes light up the night skies and applause fills the cold air. Short and long, two-man and 100-man, the traditional dance draws admiration and attendance.

The Majestic Lion

According to legend, lions were introduced to China via the Silk Road. Rulers in what is today Iran and Afghanistan sent these feisty felines to Chinese emperors as gifts in order to get the right to trade with Silk Road merchants. The lion dance dates as far back as the Han Dynasty (205 B.C.E. to 220 C.E. in China) and reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty (716-907 C.E.). The dance was performed during religious festivals.

Different countries, including Korea and Taiwan, derived their own versions of the lion dance from China. The dances are different, but the symbolism behind the act is similar.

Corey Chan, a martial arts instructor at Hei Lun Martial Arts, began performing in lion dances back in 1978. His school trains students from the ages of 5 to 50 in the art and history of dragon and lion dancing. Chan said the dance is not only performed on Chinese New Year, but also at business openings, celebrations and other social events.

“If you ask a lot of performers, they’ll tell you that Chinese New Year is not that big of an event,” Chan said. “Of course it’s important for them to participate in the dance and carry an important historical and cultural tradition, but these dances are also performed year round.”

Typically, two people take on the lion’s persona; one handles the head, which is made of paper and bamboo, and the other plays the body and the tail under a tarp that is attached to the head.

Usually, musicians playing a large drum, cymbals and a gong accompany the dancers. There is also a little Buddha that teases the lion with a fan or giant ball. Chan said that good music makes up for any mistakes the lion dancers make. He said if musicians weren’t skillful, the audience would not get into the actions as much because the music wouldn’t be harmonious with the lion’s actions. The music follows the moves of the lion, the drum following the lion, the cymbals and the gong following the drum player.

Chan said that a lot of skill and practice is needed before someone can take the part of the lion’s head.

“The head dancer can move the lion’s eyes, mouth and ears, expressing the moods of the lion,” he said. “He can be playful, proud or happy.”

Those who perform the lion dance need to have knowledge of the art and history behind the tradition, and be skilled in kung fu. Chan said that a lot of the performers are wushu practitioners.

The lion dance evokes luck and happiness. A symbol of power and courage, the lion is a majestic animal capable of warding off evil spirits.

Dragons

The Chinese believe that the dragon embodies power and strength, with the ability to walk on land, swim in the sea and glide in the air — all good traits people want.

The dance was originally performed to please the dragon, a deity of water, and to ask for rain during drought years.

Up to 100 people at once can participate in the dragon dance. Poles are attached to the belly of the dragon and during the performance they hold the poles and raise the dragon. The dragon chases a pearl and weaves its way through the parade.

Reach May Chow at mchow@asianweek.com.