Difference between revisions of "Lion dance"

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[[Category:Singapore Pugilism]]
'''Lion dance''' (simplified Chinese: 舞狮; traditional Chinese: 舞獅; pinyin: wǔshī, Indonesian: Singa Barong) is a form of traditional dance in Chinese and Indonesian cultures, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume. The Chinese lion dance is often mistakenly referred to as dragon dance. An easy way to tell the difference is that a lion is operated by two dancers, while a dragon needs many people. Also, in a lion dance, the performers' faces are covered, since they are inside the lion. In a dragon dance, the performers can be seen since the dragon is held upon poles. Basic Chinese lion dance fundamental movements can be found in most Chinese martial arts.<br>


[[Image:Lion_dance.JPG|thumb|150px]]'''Lion dance''' (simplified Chinese: 舞狮; traditional Chinese: 舞獅; pinyin: wǔshī) is a form of traditional dance in [[Chinese culture]], in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume
== External Links ==
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_dance Wikipedia article]
 
 
==History==
The lion dance originated in China close to a thousand years ago. The lion is traditionally regarded as a guardian creature. It is featured in Buddhist lore, being the mount of Manjusri. There are different variations of the lion dance in other Asian cultures including mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Okinawa, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, and [[Singapore]], with each region possessing their own styles.
 
[[Chinese]] lion dances can be broadly categorised into two styles, Northern (北獅) and Southern (南獅). Northern dance was used as entertainment for the imperial court. The northern lion is usually red, orange, and yellow (sometimes with green fur for the female lion), shaggy in appearance, with a golden head. The northern dance is acrobatic and is mainly performed as entertainment.
 
Southern dance is more symbolic. It is usually performed as a ceremony to exorcise evil spirits and to summon luck and fortune. The southern lion exhibits a wide variety of colour and has a distinctive head with large eyes, a mirror on the forehead, and a single horn at center of the head. The lion dance also symbolises the myth of the Chinese new year.
 
There is also the infamous Green Lion, which can be trace back to the Ching Dynasty. Due to the nature of green lion and its special background, it had always been link with the local underground society, which specifically deals with the Ching Army. Green Lion 青狮 that rhymes with 清师 (the Ching Army). The Green Lion is always perform with a theme normally with a warrior fighting the Green Lion (斩青狮), which literally means 斩清师 (kill the Ching Army).
 
 
 
 
==Lion Dance in Singapore==
''This section requires assistance to develop and expand''
 
See main article [[Lion Dance in Singapore]]
 
==Style==
<blockquote>''See also [[Singapore Pugilistic Community]] | [[Lion Dance in Singapore]]</blockquote>
The lion dance was introduced to Southeast Asia countries by the Chinese migrants, which was practised in [[Singapore]] for more then a century. The introduction of lion dance into Singapore was much earlier then dragon dance, which is mainly on the southern style known as southern lion (南狮). Northern style lion dance (北狮) was introduce into Singapore in the 1930s.
 
===Southern Lion===
 
===Northern Lion===
 
===Green Lion===
 
===Jow Gar Lion===
 
===Singapore Lion===
In 2004, [[Singapore National Wushu Federation]] commissioned the design of the Singapore Lion with local multi-culture features. The Singapore Lion was modeled with reference to the two stone lions that were placed on the side of Nicoll Highway during the early years. The concept of Singapore Lion was suggested by Mr Goh Chok Tong (then Prime Minister of Singapore) when he officiated the opening ceremony of the new [[Singapore National Wushu Federation|SNWF]] premise in 2003.
 
==See Also==
*[[Singapore National Wushu Federation]]
*[[SgWutan]]
 
 
 
==External Links==
*[http://www.snwf.org.sg| Singapore National Wushu Federation]
*[http://www.sgwutan.com| SgWutan]

Latest revision as of 19:50, 9 December 2013

Lion dance (simplified Chinese: 舞狮; traditional Chinese: 舞獅; pinyin: wǔshī, Indonesian: Singa Barong) is a form of traditional dance in Chinese and Indonesian cultures, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume. The Chinese lion dance is often mistakenly referred to as dragon dance. An easy way to tell the difference is that a lion is operated by two dancers, while a dragon needs many people. Also, in a lion dance, the performers' faces are covered, since they are inside the lion. In a dragon dance, the performers can be seen since the dragon is held upon poles. Basic Chinese lion dance fundamental movements can be found in most Chinese martial arts.

External Links[edit]

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