CHINESE LION DANCE IRELAND

Welcome to Chinese Lion Dance Ireland. 

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While our focus is Southern Lion (Fut San & Hok San styles),

we also perform Dragon Dance & Unicorn Dance

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Performances:

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We are able to customize our performances to suit your needs.

See following pages for more information on dance routines.

Our Lion Team Team can perform on it’s own or together with the

& Dragon Team and Shaolin Kung Fu Display Team

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Traditional Chinese Lion Dance History & Stories

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The Lion Dance dates back around 2,000 years, possibly to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) and became very popular during the Tang Dynasty (716-907 AD). There are many myths and legends about how the art form originated. Here are just a short story about the origins of the lion dance.

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Lions

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Within Lion dance, there are many different types of lion and performance styles.

Traditionally, lion dance teams train in martial arts (Kung Fu) and the style of the lion

performance depends on the style of martial arts training.

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The lion comes in two main kinds - Southern and Northern. The Southern Lion, from warm climates, is more cat like in it’s appearance with sharp movements and strong stances

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Southern Lion

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The Southern Lion has become the most popular style of lion, used throughout the world

for Chinese New year celebrations and various other occasions, such as new business blessings, weddings etc. Southern lion dance competitions are also growing in stature,

with teams from around the globe frequently competing in Championship events.

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Within the Southern Lion family, there are two main styles - Fut San and Hok San.

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Fut San (Fo Shan), meaning Buddha Mountain.

The Fut San lion has a curved mouth, sharp horn and their tails are traditionally longer.

They are generally more fierce and courageous.

Hok San (He Shan), meaning Crane Mountain.

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The Hok San have a straighter shaped mouth, (which of gives an impression of ‘smiling’), rounded horns and shorter

tails. They are generally more peaceful with a rounder/softer style of movement with an emphasis on ‘expression’.

These lions have also become the most popular style of lion to be used in competitions.

There are also other ‘hybrid’ styles of lion made in different regions throughout Asia.

A Fut-Hok Lion has a curved mouth like a Fut San lion, the rounded horn of a Hok San

and often larger eyes. Most Lion manufacturers now make shorter tails for all styles of

lion, to cater for ‘competition’ style movements and jumping tricks.

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Southern Lion Colors

The Southern lion of today comes in just about every color possible, with modern lion

dance groups placing much importance on the look of the lion and it’s presentation.

There are, however, some colors that are more traditional with a range of meanings. 

Three of the most common lions are based on historical figures from the ‘Romance of the

Three Kingdoms’, and are highly regarded by Chinese communities all over the world.

The ‘Three Kingdoms’ period was a time of great turmoil across the land, with many

corrupt officials and warlords. Three generals of the time, ranked in order of age were

Liu Bei (oldest), Kuan Gong & Zhang Fei. Each held a similar desire to serve the country,

while protecting the weak. These three men swore a ‘brotherhood’ and vowed to also protect each other.

Lions are therefore made in colors that represent the Generals and their particular virtues.

                            Liu Bei                                              

Has a gold or imperial yellow face, often with many other bright colors.

Usually a multi-coloured tail.

This lion represents the virtues of the oldest brother Liu Bei, particularly wisdom, shown by the long white beard and is often called,

‘The Auspicious Lion’.

Kuan Gong (Guan Yu) 

Has a red face with black fur & beard with red and black tail.

Kuan Gong is widely worshiped as God of war, martial arts and literature.

He represents the virtues of loyalty and righteousness.

Zhang Fei

Has a black face, often with green and white, a short black beard, battered or broken looking ears and a black and white tail.

Traditionally, this lion may also have bells on it’s body.

He is the youngest of the brothers and is often known as the fighting lion, due to Zhang Fei having a quick temper and a love for fighting.

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Lion Dance Routines

The southern Lion Dance is traditionally performed to scare away evil spirits, and bring good luck and prosperity during Chinese New Year Celebrations. The lion dance is also performed for

those same purposes at various other occasions throughout the Year, such as birthdays and weddings.

The dance is accompanied by music played on a large drum, gong and cymbals, that follow the movements and represents the spirit and emotions of the lion.

One of the most popular parts of the performance is the Choi Cheng (࠾੨) or the picking of

the greens.

The green refers to a green vegetable such as bok choi or lettuce, which the lion - being vegetarian - likes to eat. The ‘cheng’ (green) may be placed on the ground, or in a difficult position to challenge the lion.

The lion dance usually tells a story such as the lion climbing a mountain, crossing a bridge or searching for it’s prize. The lion first shows caution as it investigates the obstacle before

trying to reach the ‘cheng’. The lion then shows it’s bravery and skill as it approaches it’s goal. He then tests and eats the green. The lion shows it’s happiness as it chews up the green,

then spits out the leaves as a symbolic act of blessing, signifying good luck. Oranges may also used, with the Chinese word for the orange having the same sound as wealth, bringing

prosperity.

A scroll with relevant calligraphy, such as a message wishing good luck and prosperity or ‘double happiness’ for a wedding performance, is often unrolled by the lion and presented.

Puzzles and tests

Shop owners receiving a lion dance ‘blessing’ will often set the lion a puzzle or test which the lion must solve in order to reach it’s prize (the cheng). This may be an obstacle in the

lion’s path, or a series of elements with which the lion must contend. These puzzles and

tests challenge the lion performers physically and mentally.

The performers must demonstrate concentration and their knowledge of lion dance (to perform the elements of the routine in the appropriate order), as well as physical attributes such  as strength, balance and martial arts techniques.  

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Some of the more popular puzzle/test setups are:

Ground cheng - Green is placed on the ground,often surrounded by oranges representing  ‘stars around the moon’.

High cheng - Green is placed high above business entry door, usually requiring performers to use jumping and lifting skills. High poles may also be used to help the lion reach it’s prize.

Obstacles - Tables, benches, chairs etc., are placed in the lions path to represent bridges or mountains.

Lion Expression

A lion dancer’s techniques and skills are tested throughout the performance in order to express the lion’s emotions. One hand is required to operate the mouth, and the other to

pull strings in different ways to make the eyes blink and ears move. All of this, while performing the overall head movements and footwork that is crucial to tying it all together, making the lion look as life-like as possible.

Benefits of having a Lion Dance

• Auspicious• Colorful

• Entertaining• Crowd Attraction

• Exciting• Cultural

• Lucky• Vibrant

• Good Vibe• Unique

LION DANCE IS believed to bring

• Happiness• Good Fortune

• Longevity• Great Joy

• Prosperity• Protection

• Good Luck• Wards off evil spirits

• Good Health• Cleansing bad energy

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Occasions

• Grand Openings• Weddings

• Shop Blessings• Shows

• VIP Ceremonies• Opening Ceremonies

• Parades• Displays

• House Blessings• Concerts

• Festivals• Exhibitions

• Events• Workshops

• Birthdays• Promotions

• Restaurant Blessings

• Product Launches

• Anniversaries• Movie Premieres

• Seminars• Music Videos

Chinese Lion Dance Ireland

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