Lion Dance

Shaanxi
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"Playing with lions" is also known as "shaking lions" or "lion dance" in folklore. The custom of playing with lions originated in the Northern and Southern Dynasties during the Three Kingdoms period, and has a history of more than a thousand years. Because the lion is majestic and handsome, giving people a sense of majesty and bravery, it is called "the king of beasts" by people. The ancients believed that it could drive away demons and suppress evil spirits, so people would hold painted lions to celebrate during some festivals. In the process of evolution, today's playing with lions gradually formed. Playing with lions is also performed in the square during large-scale celebrations. The lion is played by people. The small lion dances by one person, and the big lion is danced by two people (one standing to dance the lion head, and the other bending to dance the lion body and tail) who cooperate with each other and dance at the same time. The lion dancers are covered with lion skins (lion clothes with the same fur color as the lion) so that people cannot recognize the body shape of the lion dancers. There is also a lion-shaking person, who is dressed as a warrior, holding a rotating embroidered ball in his hand, and has certain martial arts skills. He leads the lion out with the cooperation of gongs and drums. During the whole process of the lion dance, the lion-shaking person makes the lion shake through somersaults, falls, jumps, climbs, etc. The whole scene left people with an impression of endless excitement, carnival and surprise.

Intangible culture related to the heritage

China tourist attractions related to the heritage

World heritage related to the heritage