Lion Dance

Ⅲ-5Traditional DanceMinxing, ShanghaiBatch 3 (2011)Extension Item

01 · Historical Records

The Maqiao 'hand lion dance', also called the 'hand-held lion dance' and popularly known as 'diao shizi' (playing the lion) or 'shizi deng' (lion lantern), is transmitted mainly in the Maqiao Town area of Minhang District, Shanghai, and for nearly a hundred years has been one of the main seasonal and festival custom dances of the locality. In the old days the streets and lanes of the Maqiao area were narrow with low eaves on both sides, so during street processions the raised lion lanterns were very likely to collide; the artists therefore created lateral movement, forward advance and close circling of the lion based on a 'low crouching step', so that the hand lion dance could keep up a lively scene even in a limited space. This environmental constraint instead shaped a style of its own that distinguishes it from other lion dances.

02 · Core Techniques & Process

The performance of the hand lion dance differs greatly from other lion dances: the lions are carried in the hands of the dancers, each performing a lion made of woven bamboo strips and covered with paper. The lion props come in different sizes. A large lion is danced by two people; a medium or small lion is danced by one person. In performance the usual combination is one large lion, four medium lions and two small lions. The hand lion dance integrates lantern craft, dance and other folk arts into one and is highly technical. The hand lion dance of the Maqiao area draws both on the basic techniques of the dragon dance, such as tumbling, coiling and pouncing to the ground, and inherits and borrows from the bold, valiant performance style that balances strength and gentleness in other lion dances. In the old days, in order to suit the performance environment of narrow streets and lanes with low eaves on both sides, the hand lion dance formed for street processions movements distinctive in style of their own, based on the 'low crouching step' — lateral movement, forward advance and close circling of the lion — so as to avoid collisions. Because the hand lion dance presents a lively scene, full of the atmosphere of self-entertainment and amusement and with the festive, auspicious artistic appeal of harmony and peace, it is deeply loved by the people.

Hand-held bamboo and paper lion lanterns

Its chief difference from other lion dances: performers each hold a bamboo-and-paper lion lantern rather than wearing a skin, making it both lantern craft and dance.

The low crouch step

The style formed for narrow streets and low eaves, based on a low crouching step with lateral shifting, direct advance and close-body circling.

One great, four medium, two small lions

Its customary line-up: one great lion danced by two men, four medium and two small lions danced by one each.

Eight expressive actions

The series of actions expressing the lion's joy and sorrow; mastery of them all marks the completeness of the inheritor Sun Bingxiang's art.

03 · Regional Records & Related Items

The Maqiao 'hand lion dance', also called the 'hand-held lion dance' and popularly known as 'diao shizi' or 'shizi deng', is transmitted mainly in the Maqiao Town area. For nearly a hundred years it has been one of the main seasonal and festival custom dances of the locality.

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04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding

Sun Bingxiang (recorded in the official archive of associated inheritors): he loved the hand lion dance from childhood and took part in making lanterns and dancing the lion from his youth. In the process of reorganising and restoring the hand lion dance he was responsible for making the hand lions, teaching the dancing technique and teaching the basic principles of coordination with gong-and-drum music; he mastered all the movements of the hand lion dance and expressed the moods of joy, anger, sorrow and happiness of the lion through a series of movements such as tumbling, rolling, crawling, jumping, kneeling, sitting, turning and lying down. For several decades he has persisted in taking part in hand lion dance activities and in teaching the art, appearing frequently at New Year and other celebratory events, and is warmly loved by the masses. Male, Han Chinese, born in August 1931, died in April 2014, a native of Shanghai City. Representative inheritor of the fourth national-level intangible cultural heritage project Lion Dance (Maqiao Hand Lion Dance). In 1992 the Maqiao hand lion dance performance was awarded a third prize by the Ministry of Culture at the National Folk Music and Dance Performance Festival. The hand lion dance integrates lantern craft, dance and other folk arts into one and is highly technical: the lion props come in different sizes, with the large lion danced by two people and the medium and small lions danced by one person, the usual combination being one large lion, four medium lions and two small lions. The Maqiao hand lion dance draws both on the basic techniques of the dragon dance, such as tumbling, coiling and pouncing to the ground, and inherits and borrows from the bold, valiant performance style that balances strength and gentleness in other lion dances. The representative inheritor Sun Bingxiang was responsible for making the hand lions, teaching the dancing technique and coordinating with gong-and-drum music, expressing the moods of joy, anger, sorrow and happiness of the lion through a series of movements such as tumbling, rolling, crawling, jumping, kneeling, sitting, turning and lying down; in 1992 the Maqiao hand lion dance performance was awarded a third prize by the Ministry of Culture at the National Folk Music and Dance Performance Festival.

05 · Associated Representative Bearers

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

06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography

Sources

China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)

Read the official ihchina.cn record ↗

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