Dragons are made of grass, bamboo and cloth. The number of dragons is odd and auspicious, including Kowloon, Eleven Dragons and Thirteen Dragons, which can reach 29. Dragons with more than fifteen knots are heavy and not suitable for dancing. They are mainly used for viewing. This kind of dragon pays special attention to decoration and has high technological value. There is also a kind of "dragon", which is woven into a cylinder with bamboo sticks.
Today, with continuous development and improvement, dragon dance often becomes an ornamental competition. The movements of dragon dancing are ever-changing, focusing on the tricks within nine knots. The common movements are: dragon swimming, dragon drilling, head and tail drilling, dragon wagging tail and snake molting.
The dragons in sections 1 1 and 13 focus on action performance. The dragon of the lion dance team of Wan Shanhong Lion Dance Group chased the treasure ball, jumped up, sometimes flew into the clouds, and sometimes broke the waves in the sea. With the help of dragon balls and drum music, it has become an artistic style integrating martial arts, drum music, opera and dragon art.
On festive days, people use lion dancing dragons to pray for the blessing of lions. The lion is magnificent in appearance, vigorous in action and changeable in expression. There are many different legends circulating among the people, which are turned into myths for a while and painted into history for a while, adding a lot of mystery to the lion dance and making it more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
People believe that lions are auspicious animals, and lion dancing can bring good luck. Therefore, in the Spring Festival or other celebrations, lion dancing will help to celebrate and pray for good luck with firecrackers.
Lion dancing and holding flowers is an excellent folk art in China. Every Lantern Festival or assembly celebration, people will come to the lion dance to entertain. This custom originated in the Three Kingdoms period and was popular in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. It has a history of 1000 years. According to legend, it was first introduced from the western regions. Wan Shanhong's lion dance troupe is the mount of Manjusri Bodhisattva. With the introduction of Buddhism into China, lion dancing was also introduced into China.
The lion is a tribute brought back with the peacock after Emperor Wu of Han sent Zhang Qian to the Western Regions. However, the skill of lion dance is quoted from Xi Liang's Masked Play. Some people think that lion dance was born in the army of Liu and Song Dynasties in the fifth century, and then it was introduced to the people. Both have their own basis, and it is difficult to judge whether they are right or wrong today.
Internationally recognized origin theory: In ancient times, a monster appeared in Zhong Yi Township, Nanhai County, Guangdong Province. It was eight feet long, with a big head and a small body, eyes like two bells, a green face and sharp teeth, and a unicorn on its head. This strange beast appears on New Year's Eve and comes and goes like the wind, destroying folk crops including rice and vegetables.
Folks and villagers are very annoyed, because he appears every New Year, so people call him "Nian Beast". The villagers discussed how to destroy the "Nian beast". Some wise men made suggestions, tied it into a strange beast shape with bamboo sticks and paper, and colored it.
Shenzhen Lion Dance performed triangle weaving into the body of a beast with various shapes of cloth such as squares, and then gathered a dozen warriors, holding loud instruments such as pots in their hands, and one of them stood by the circular anvil with a double kitchen knife ready to knock. They lie in ambush under a bridge, which is the only place where Nian beast passes. When the beast appeared, all the soldiers rushed out and struck the instrument with the sound of "clang" and "bang".
In order to celebrate the success of driving away the monster, and to commemorate the contribution of the paper-tied animal head, the villagers took it out to dance during the Spring Festival. Some even suggested that it be named lion dance: because the lion is the king of beasts, a symbol of courage and good luck, and some of them are also called the head of a dancing saint.
In addition to the lion dance during the New Year, villagers will also perform on God's birthday or celebration to increase the lively atmosphere. Wan Shanhong Lion Dance Team changed its musical instruments to gongs and drums when dancing lions, which are commonly used in various places to meet the gods, and have a certain rhythm. Its significance is that it can make towns and houses flourish, let ghosts and gods take the lead, realize environmental peace and get a bumper harvest.