Mao Yunfeng

01 · Lineage & Regional School

Mao Yunfeng, Male, Han, from Pengshuimiaozutujiazuzizhi, Chongqing, is a sixth-batch national representative bearer of Lion Dance (Ⅲ-5). The tradition is documented in Pengshuimiaozutujiazuzizhi, Chongqing. Within the regional tradition and school record of Lion Dance in Pengshuimiaozutujiazuzizhi, Chongqing: High-platform lion dance is a traditional dance distinctive to the folk of Pengshui, Chongqing, with a history of about one hundred and fifty years and considerable influence among the local people. In Pengshui, lion dance can be divided into ground lion dance and high-platform lion dance.

02 · Mastery & Signature Works

The bearer record for Mao Yunfeng is anchored in the documented technical standards of Lion Dance in Pengshuimiaozutujiazuzizhi, Chongqing. Within the documented technical tradition of Lion Dance in Pengshuimiaozutujiazuzizhi, Chongqing: The ground lion dance is used mainly for everyday festivals, birthdays, weddings and funerals, opening celebrations and similar activities. The high-platform lion dance, performed on an erected platform of stacked tables, is used mostly for major festivals and competitions, and in performance is often joined together with the ground lion dance. The most central part is the aerial performance: the platform is built from square tables, at least 7 of them, usually 15, as many as 24, and up to 108 at the limit. The lion dancers wear painted lion-patterned garments about two metres long and, under the guidance of the leader, step to the rhythm of gong, large drum, small drum, cymbals and jiao provided as percussion instruments, rising layer by layer from the first tier right up to the highest tier, called 'a stick of incense'. When performing on each tier, the lion has to pass through every single square table. On the 'stick of incense' the lion playing and pillar-standing performances are carried out. High-platform lion dance has performance routines such as stomping the yellow winter gourd, striking the sheep-horn post, the kite turning its fork, pulling the chain to cover the crutch, the flipping seal, the yellow dragon girding the waist, the milk cow trapped in the pond, dogs linked crotch to crotch, pulling the sea-flattening dog, threading the ring, the lion on a tall pole seizing the embroidered ball, and gliding around the bench. In performance, not only are the movements thrilling and difficult, but the archaic, amusing performance style, rich in flavour, also makes it deeply popular with the people. Representative repertoire, works and technical entries recorded for the project include: "Yizhuxiang (the single incense stick)": The topmost table of the stacked platform, reached only after climbing level by level; lion play and pole-standing are performed there, making it the hardest and most dangerous episode. "Deng huang dong er, da yang jiao zhuang, yao zi fan cha and che lian gai guai": A group of routines imitating beasts leaping, rolling and grappling; archaic in flavour, playful yet difficult, and shared with the ground lion dance. "Fan tian yin, huang long chan yao, nai niu kun tang, gou lian dang and che hai pa gou": Another set of routines built on turning, waist-coiling, pinning and threading moves, which Tang Shouyi partly reworked from lion and human behaviour. "Lion seizing the embroidered ball on a tall pole and walking the bench": Two skill episodes: seizing the embroidered ball atop a tall pole, and walking and turning on a bench, both demanding balance on narrow supports.

03 · Transmission & Safeguarding Status

In 2025, Mao Yunfeng was announced in the sixth batch of national representative bearers for Lion Dance, with Pengshuimiaozutujiazuzizhi, Chongqing as the declared area. Within the documented safeguarding record of Lion Dance in Pengshuimiaozutujiazuzizhi, Chongqing: The project was inscribed in the national inventory in 2011 (batch 3), with Pengshuimiaozutujiazuzizhi, Chongqing as its declared area, and Pengshui Miao Tujia Autonomous County Cultural Center as its safeguarding unit. Since the project was inscribed in the national inventory, its declared area and safeguarding unit have carried out documentation, transmission and presentation within the national safeguarding framework. Together, the inventory record and the project archive form the public documentary basis for the bearer’s transmission practice.

04 · Associated Heritage Item Dossier

05 · Fellow National Bearers Lineage

National representative bearers recorded under the same item code, ordered from the first to the sixth batch. Batch order is not a teacher–student relationship.

06 · Archival Sources & Bibliography

1. Maoyunfeng (Pengshuimiaozutujiazuzizhi, Chongqing) · China ICH Official Project Archive
2. Maoyunfeng · China ICH Official Archive