Dragon Dance

Ⅲ-4Traditional DanceJiangmenshipengjiang, GuangdongBatch 2 (2008)Extension Item

01 · Historical Records

The Hetang gauze dragon originated in Huangwan Village of Hetang Town. In the Ming dynasty Li Tangzuo, a juren of Huangwan, modelled a gauze dragon lantern on the locally bound straw dragons, imitating the coloured dragons of Sichuan, and it was continually improved over a long process of development and has been transmitted to the present day.

02 · Core Techniques & Process

Classified by the form the dragon takes, dragon dance includes cloth dragon, gauze dragon, paper dragon, straw dragon, coin dragon, bamboo dragon, palm-fibre dragon, bench dragon, hundred-leaf dragon, lotus-flower dragon, fire dragon, chicken-feather dragon, flesh dragon and many other types; because the forms differ, their dance postures and dancing techniques also differ in their own ways. The traditional performance procedure of Chinese dragon dance generally consists of such segments as 'inviting the dragon', 'sending the dragon out', 'performing the dragon dance' and 'seeing the dragon off'. Dragon dance embodies cultural meanings of pioneering effort and of the unity of humanity and nature, and is an important part of the spirit and cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. Hetang Town of Pengjiang District lies in northeastern Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province, on an island in the middle of the lower reaches of the main channel of the Xijiang River. The resident population here numbers more than 43,000, and overseas Chinese and compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who have settled abroad number nearly 40,000. The Hetang gauze dragon is more than fifty metres long, with a frame of bamboo strips and wooden boards, a dragon garment of gauze, dragon scales of coloured cloth appliques, and head, body and tail connected by four thick ropes. In making it, the head is generally bound first, then the tail, the pearl, the carp and the body, and finally the dragon cloth is put on. When the dragon is danced at night, specially made windproof and dripproof candles are also installed inside the dragon's body. The Hetang gauze dragon is made of fine materials with exquisite workmanship, combining form and spirit. Dragon dance has flat-type and three-dimensional-type routines; the flat-type routines follow a travel route, while the three-dimensional-type routines use skilful dragon dance formations. A complete gauze dragon dance performance takes about an hour, with more than twenty kinds of dance steps, a profusion of figures, frequent high-difficulty movements and repeated dancing, with the candles inside the dragon body never going out. Twenty-six dancers take each turn, and during the relay the dance neither pauses nor loses its formation, which may be called a superb skill.

Flat and three-dimensional routines

The Hetang gauze dragon has flat routines following processional routes and three-dimensional routines built on virtuoso postures, the whole show lasting over an hour with more than twenty steps.

The twenty-six-man relay

Each shift uses twenty-six dancers and the relay proceeds without pause or break in formation, the candles inside never going out despite the repeated dancing.

Wind-proof drip-less candles

Special wind-proof, drip-less candles are fitted inside the body so that it stays bright through prolonged turning without dripping wax.

The making sequence

The making order runs from head to tail, pearl, carp and body before the cloth is applied; bamboo and board form the frame, gauze the skin and coloured patches the scales, joined by four thick ropes.

Li Tangzuo and the overseas link

The Ming juren Li Tangzuo modelled a gauze dragon on Sichuan painted dragons; with nearly forty thousand overseas relatives to a resident population of forty-three thousand, the dragon is a vital cultural link.

03 · Regional Records & Related Items

Dragon dance, also called 'dragon performance', is known among the people as 'playing the dragon', 'playing the dragon lantern' or 'dragon lantern dance'; it is the most widely distributed and most far-reaching folk dance in China. This dance takes varied forms in its performance, and dragon dances among different ethnic groups and different regions differ markedly in style. The Hetang gauze dragon has strong local Guangdong characteristics and is an important bond for promoting social harmony and strengthening the cultural identity of overseas compatriots.

04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding

In recent years the Hetang gauze dragon has declined day by day and transmission is ineffective; it urgently needs protection.

05 · Associated Representative Bearers

Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:

06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography

Dragon Dance (Jiangmenshipengjiang, Guangdong) · China ICH Official Project Archive

Sources

China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)

Read the official ihchina.cn record ↗

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