China does not produce lions, but why is there such a lively lion dance performance?
This starts from the Han Dynasty. In the Western Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian (164 BC-113 BC) opened up the Western Regions and opened the Silk Road before the related records of lions began. However, at that time they were often called Sui and Sui (from the transliteration of the Sanskrit "Simha"), and then the sound "Sim" was abbreviated as "Shizi" (the lion next to the "dog"). But the real lions who pay tribute from the Western Regions can only be seen by the royal family. The common people have no eye fortune. However, with the introduction of Buddhism, under Manjushri, a symbol of wisdom, riding a lion to promote Buddhism, the people gradually came to know the lion that had been deified by the Indians.
It is a dance performance that regards the lion as a beast of auspicious beasts and prays for blessings
For the Chinese people, the lion is a beast that has the power to exorcise evil spirits, and this worship of lions will naturally also Melt into artistic life. "Han Shu. "Liyuezhi" has a record of a suspected lion dance performance: "If the present plays shrimp and fish, the teacher is also the master", Tang Dynasty historian Yan Shigu (581-645) quoted the Dongwu historian Wei Zhao (201- 273) said: "The masked person" means dancing in a mask that resembles a lion. It looks very similar to today's lion dance. Some scholars believe that this is the earliest literature on lion dance in China. However, whether the origin of lion dance originated from the Central Plains or merged with the culture of the Western Regions is still inconclusive.
The historical documents that really mentioned "lion dance" in black and white are from the "Old Tang Book. "Music History": "Taiping music, made during the reign of Emperor Wu (560-578) in the later Zhou Dynasty (Northern Zhou Dynasty), also known as the'Five-party Lion Dance'. The lion, bird of prey, came from the Tianzhu lion country in the southwestern Yi, decorated with fur The lion, living in it, resembles its tame and tame appearance. The two hold the rope and flick, which is like a practice. The five lions each have their positions, and a hundred and forty people sing "Peace Music". Dance with their feet holding the rope. The costume is a portrait of Kunlun".
Song Dynasty Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072) compiled "New Tang Book. "Liyuezhi", there is also a record of the costumes of the performers of the "Five-party Lion Dance": "Two coppers, four dancers, five lions, tall and tall, decorated with five colors, each lion has twelve people,The painting clothes holding a red brush, the first is like a red socks, which is called "Lion Lang". The "Lion Lang" who leads the dance has been called by various names in the Tang Dynasty, such as "Huren", "Huihui", or "Dharma" _P1p
Tang Dynasty large-scale lion dance musical "Western Liangzi"
Regarding the Tang Dynasty lion dance, the poet Bai Juyi also wrote a related poem-"West "Jangkyu", there is a very vivid description in the poem: "Western Jongji, Western Jongji, masked masquerade, fake lion. Carved wood for the head and tail, gold-plated eyes and silver teeth. Fen Xun sweater puts his ears, like a thousand miles from quicksand. The purple beards have deep eyes and two beards, and they are encouraged to give a speech before dancing.” Wearing a wood-carved lion mask with lion ears that can swing, wearing a plush performance costume, dancing with drums and dancing beams, you can see the lion dance in the Tang Dynasty. The performance content of Xiliang has been quite rich.
Xiliang is another name for Liangzhou, which refers to the "four counties of Hexi" (Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Dunhuang). It is located in Wuwei City, Gansu Province. Xiliang was originally from India, and later Introduced into China, it prevailed in Dunhuang and Jiuquan. Scholars further studied and discovered that "Western Liangzi" is a type of Xiliang dance, a musical combination of music, lion dance, Huteng dance, etc. The part of lion dance In addition to the "lion man" playing with the lion, the lion itself also has hair trimming, ear flapping, dancing with people, etc. If you look at the text description, it is similar to many movements of today's lion dance.
After the Song Dynasty, the lion dance focused on acrobatics. In terms of dance
In the Song Dynasty, both the western jangji and the lion dance were still quite popular. "Quotations from the Zen Master of Fenyang Wude" also included related Zen poems: "Master Xihe heard about Kyushu and shook the golden beasts. The world is quiet with a croup, and all the lakes and seas are the kings of the world.” Although there were also lion dances in San Le Bai Xi in the Song Dynasty, it focused on playing, which was different from the large-scale musicals in the Tang Dynasty.
Due to the rapid development of urban commodity economy, the entertainment life of the people in the Song Dynasty was far away. Victory in Han and Tang Dynasties. The new urban structure of Yinfang and the integration of the city, coupled with various "washhouses" (mobile theaters) set up in the temples, allows the public to indulge in it day and night. Folk dances have also been greatly developed. , There are also parade performances combining music, dance, martial arts and other skills,Lion dance also often appears in it.
Therefore, until the Ming and Qing Dynasties, lion dance was not only a must-have performance for various festivals, but you can also see it in entertainment activities such as the birthdays of gods, and even go deep into the folk. Please lion dance for performances, wishes, etc. The lion dance performances in the Ming and Qing dynasties combined acrobatic performances, such as squatting and dancing, on the basis of the Song dynasty. However, since the Ming Dynasty, there has been no record of the popular lion song and dance drama in the Tang Dynasty-"Xiliang Opera".
Summarizing the reasons why Chinese people love lions, we can see that their cultural symbols are closely related to religion. Looking closely at the changes in the lion dance in the Tang and Song dynasties, we can find that since the Song Dynasty, the form of singing and dancing in "Xiliang Dance" has been gradually deleted, and lion dance acrobatics and jumping are the main performances. The lions from India and Central Asia are known to the people through religious methods, and many lion dances with the connotation of blessing and exorcism have been designed.
Nowadays, lion dance not only spreads across the north and south, but also developed unique local characteristics of the northern lion, closed-mouth lion, open-mouthed lion, and southern lion. They are well-known all over the world. You will also see lion dances in Chinatowns all over the world. Silhouette.
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