Traditional Lion Dance

During the Chinese New Year 2009 celebration, we saw an increase in the invitations for Chinese Associations to display their Lion Dance Troupes’ prowess at homes, business premises, and offices – more so for the superstitious good luck for the year to come. Inside the lion dance costume will be two persons following a certain fixed pattern of movements largely governed by the legs and hands. The normal music that provides the timing for the dance would be the large floor drum, the two cymbals and a metal gong.

There are basically two types of Lions used, the Northern and the Southern type. The Northern Lion Dance is more for showmanship with the use of aids such as balls etc., while the 'Southern Lion Dance requires some measure of kung fu skills.

The Lion comprises of a head and a body. The head is made from rice paper and decorative ornaments and held together by bamboo stripes. The best lion heads are the lightest and most decorative. The body, on the other hand, is made from silk cloth and other bells and whistles that are sewn onto the material. You can read more about the intricacies of the symbolic details of the Lion Dance. It is not the intention of this article to venture researching into the details.

During my younger days, I was involved in Chinese Kung Fu (Hung Gar Fist Kung Fu), which is a branch of kung fu originating from south China. As part of our training we were to be involved in performing the Lion Dance during auspicious occasions and also for competitions in attempts to win the pride for the association. The lion dance was central to the association’s indoor and outdoor activities and only the very skilled could be the one bearing the head of the Lion. The trainee was often the body bearer who is responsible to flap the cloth signifying the life of the lion.

Once I was in the skilled circle (inner group) who could man-handle the lion’s head, I was brought to a deeper knowledge about this Traditional Lion Dance. Do you know that historically the Lion Dance was used by ancient Buddhist adherents to exorcise demons out of people? The lion was worshipped as a symbol of power, strength, and wisdom and was able to chase away evil spirits. How could a Lion prancing about be used to chase out demons? What gave the practitioners the confidence that Lion Dance performances have spiritual powers for exorcism works?

This goes back to the initiation of the Lion Head. After the head is constructed by the skilled artisans, the head is not to be used immediately by the new owner. There is a ceremony called the ‘initiation ceremony’ that needs to be performed by the temple priests. It is at this ceremony that the spiritual input and demonic powers are at play. The Lion Head would be presented by prayers at the altar of the gods at the temple and subsequently one of the priests would go into a trance under the possession of one of the gods (a familiar spirit). The priest would then take hold of a big Chinese pen, dip it in black ink and begin to draw a ‘third eye’ on top of the head of the lion. This third eye would then be the entrance where the spirit would enter into the lion’s head every time the dance is performed in the future. After having ‘opened’ the third eye, the priest still under trance would be the first to perform the lion dance even though the priest had never learned any kung fu or trained in the dance routine! There may be some slight variations of the whole procedure if the adherents are from different Chinese clans.

How did I know all these? Because I was deeply involved in the whole initiation ceremony. These are some of the inner secrets which are seldom revealed to the naive observer. For that reason, I would usually stay away from participating or even observing such dance performances. The spiritual implication is very great. Bystanders and innocent observers do not know about the background of this dance.

To a Christian who wants to live victoriously, one should ask the question of whether he or she should draw pleasure from watching such shows? Why do you need to see others under the possession of familiar spirits? Why engage and avail yourself as open doors for the spirits to manifest? Are we to fellowship with those under the spirit’s possession? This cultural practice will no doubt be exported to those who are fascinated, but if you know the significance, would you too be engrossed?

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