Lantern Dance

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Lantern Dance

Applicant: Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province

Project No.: 642

Project No.: Ⅲ - 45

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Guangdong Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province

Protected by: Shaxi Shatou Jiaoyu dance art service center, Yantian District, Shenzhen

Brief introduction to the Lantern Dance (Sha tou horned fish Lantern Dance)

Applicant: Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province

Lamp dance has existed since ancient times. In the Qing Dynasty, there was a record of "lamp dance" with lamp as props. During the new year's Festival (especially the Lantern Festival) or the rituals of praying for rain, offering sacrifices and begging for a good harvest, the palace and the folk often perform lantern dance. At first, the lantern dance was characterized by the placement of characters, and then gradually developed into a folk dance style with the arrangement of colored lights to construct patterns and create artistic conception, which spread all over the country. According to the shape of lantern, lantern dance mainly includes dragon lantern dance, lion lantern dance, fish lantern dance, clam lantern dance, butterfly lantern dance, hundred bird lantern dance, lotus lantern dance, chrysanthemum lantern dance, wax lantern dance, boat lantern dance, lantern dance, cloud lantern dance, Hydrangea lantern dance and other forms of lantern dance. There are many forms of lantern dance, usually performed in group dance at night. As the actors walk and dance, the formation is constantly changing, and fireworks are also set off during the dance, making the scene spectacular. This kind of folk dance style mostly appears in the Han area, but also popular in some minority areas.

Shatoujiao lantern dance is a kind of square men's group dance with fish lantern as props. It is popular in Shatoujiao Town, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province and Shatoujiao area, New Territories, Hong Kong. It originated in the reign of Kangxi in Qing Dynasty and has a history of more than 300 years. In the early Qing Dynasty, the ancestors of the Wu people in Shalan village, Shatoujiao, moved from BOLUO, Guangdong Province to Shatoujiao, Haibin Xin'an County (formerly known as Bao'an County, today's Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province). Combined with the local folk custom of Lantern Festival and the early experience of fishing at sea, they created a unique fish lantern dance.

The fish lamps used in the dance are exquisite and lifelike. In the production, the bamboo strips are first tied into fish shape, and then pasted with paper and painted with color, then coated with tung oil, and then the short stick is installed under the fish lamp. The fish in the lantern dance have different meanings. For example, the Yellow carp symbolizes the pirates who bully the fishermen at will, and the fish symbolizes the fishermen who are not afraid of violence and fight for a happy life. Sha tou horned fish lantern dance is usually performed in the evening. There is no need to add lights to the dance venue. The dancers keep low horse steps, skillfully hide their bodies behind the fish lantern, hold the short stick under the fish lantern, bend over and shuttle back, accompanied by gongs, drums, cymbals, suonas, and spiral horns. The whole performance mainly highlights the image of the fish lantern, in order to reflect the common habits and personality of all kinds of fish. The dance is vivid, agile and has strong artistry, interest and appreciation.

As a traditional Chinese folk dance, fish lantern dance has been concerned with the feelings of Chinese people for many years. In the study of Lingnan culture, marine culture, folklore and the history of the relationship between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, Shatou Jiaoyu lantern dance has an important reference value. At present, this precious folk art heritage is lack of people and needs to be protected.

Chinese PinYin : Deng Wu Sha Tou Jiao Yu Deng Wu