Lion Dance (yellow sand lion)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Lion Dance (Huangsha lion)

Applicant: Linhai City, Zhejiang Province

Item No.: 108

Project No.: Ⅲ - 5

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Zhejiang Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Linhai City, Zhejiang Province

Protection unit: Linhai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center

Introduction to lion dance (yellow sand lion)

Applicant: Linhai City, Zhejiang Province

Lion dance, also known as "Lion Dance", "lion lantern", "Lion Dance" and "Lion Dance", is performed in festivals and festive activities. The lion is a auspicious animal in the eyes of the Chinese people of all nationalities, symbolizing good luck. Therefore, in the lion dance activities, it reposes the good will of the people to eliminate disasters and seek good luck. Lion dance has a long history. The "Elephant Man" recorded in Hanshu · Liyue Zhi is the predecessor of lion dance. There are many vivid descriptions of lion dance in Tang and Song poetry. The existing lion dance can be divided into two categories: South lion and north lion. South lion has more difficult martial arts skills and has a vigorous and fierce look. North lion is charming and cute, and most of them take playing as the performance content. According to the different materials and methods of making fake lion, there are many kinds of lion dance in different places.

"Huangsha lion" was founded in the Northern Song Dynasty, mainly in huangshayang area of Baishuiyang town in the Northwest Mountainous Area of Linhai City, Zhejiang Province. The folk custom here is fierce, simple and modern, advocating martial arts, and the custom of lion dance has a long history.

The most important feature of this traditional performing art is the ingenious combination of the exquisite folk martial arts and the traditional lion dance. It can not only roll and play on the ground, but also perform all kinds of funny actions on the high stage. During the performance, the actors fly on the eight immortals table, and at the same time, they also perform such table turning movements as "crossing the hall", "somersault on the table", "climbing down", "hanging the feet of the table" and "overlapping". The jumping table is the most difficult part in the whole performance. More than 40 tables are stacked in trapezoidal shape. When the jumping table reaches the top, it is stacked by nine tables, which is about thirty-two feet high. A word "Jue" falls on the four feet of the highest ninth table - the feet of the table are facing the sky. An artist strides on these four feet, takes off his shoes and socks, and shows his unique skills.

Huangsha lion dance is a combination of martial arts and dance, entertaining gods and people. It has a unique local cultural characteristics, and it reposes the good expectations of the people. From the 30th of the lunar new year to the 2nd of February, the artists have to go to the villages to perform. The people in huangshayang, the central area of huangshayang lion, and its spreading areas are praying for good weather, abundant grain, prosperous people and wealth, auspicious celebration and peace. They are all praying for lion dance to give them auspiciousness, eliminate disasters and blessing, and spend the festival in a lively way.

Huangsha lion has research value in folklore, sociology, aesthetics and anthropology. With the rapid economic development in the eastern coastal areas of China, the traditional social aesthetic concept and cultural lifestyle have changed. Nowadays, there are less than 10 old artists who can perform the yellow sand lion. This highly ornamental traditional folk dance form is facing the crisis of dating and losing.

Chinese PinYin : Shi Wu Huang Sha Shi Zi