The Lion Dance

The origin of the Chinese Lion Dance is an obscure subject, there is so plenty of versions on its origin. Some are based on fiction & tales brought down from generations, some have facts & history to back their version. In gathering all these versions, could be derived that the Lion dance will have had a long history.

Some version had its origin in 'Ning Nan Guangzhao' which state there was a monster which the Chinese called 'Nien' that would appear every Lunar New Year's eve & assault the crops of the farmers in the village. The people armed themselves with weapons & gongs then chased it away but it reappeared the following year. On occasion, the 'Big headed smiling Buddha' met this 'Nien' & managed to subdue it & brought it back to his temple & tame it as a pet. People began to name it the 'Tame Lion'.

Another version states that there is a book 'Tang Soo Chai Tai Ping Ler' in the coursework of the Dynasties which is a few hundred years elderly, having the record about the Lion Dance. It states that there is this beast which is about 8ft in length, giant headed, jutting teeth, eyes like copper bells, a green face & a horn on its head. Similarly, it states that this beast will appear on every 'Lunar New Years' eve & destroy the crops. The villagers then, on the instruction of their elders start to make an imitation of the beast using colour papers & vibrant cloth. When the beast appears again, they use the imitation together with the gongs, drums & cymbals & managed to frighten the beast away. From then on, the beast does not appear again. However, the people began to celebrate the New Year with this & it was later known as the Lion Dance