| The Lion Dance of China originated over one | | | | of the forehead, very large eyes and a horn at |
| thousand years ago. It depicts the Asiatic lions of | | | | the center of the head. |
| nearby India, some of which may have been | | | | The Lion Dance can be performed at any time of |
| presented to early Chinese Emperors as gifts. | | | | the year, but is usually associated with the |
| Lions in Chinese culture are guardian creatures, | | | | Chinese New Year. The Dance itself is very |
| with statues of lions guarding royal palaces, | | | | formalized, with a different ritual and routine for |
| homes of government officials and royal tombs. | | | | each country and area. But in most cases, the |
| There are many variants of the Lion Dance | | | | dance begins with the lion entering the town or |
| throughout Asia, including main land China, Japan, | | | | village and visiting the local temples and ancestral |
| Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan and other countries. The | | | | halls to pay respects. Then it continues down the |
| Lion Dance in China can be roughly categorized | | | | streets of the town to spread joy and good |
| into Northern and Southern. Lions consist of paper | | | | fortune to the people. During Chinese New Year, |
| mache heads with the body being of fabric. The | | | | the lion dancers visit the storefronts of |
| body as well as the head is also decorated with | | | | businesses for the 'picking of the greens'. The |
| fur, feathers, and decorative paint. The Chinese | | | | owner of the business will attach a red envelope |
| Lion Dance is most usually done by two people | | | | filled with money to a head of cabbage or lettuce, |
| per lion, unlike the Chinese Dragon Dance that can | | | | and then tie it above the door of their shop. The |
| have ten or more people per Dragon. | | | | lion will approach the greens, and 'eat' the greens |
| The Northern Dance originated as entertainment | | | | but spit out the money. This part of the Lion |
| for the imperial court. The Northern Lion is very | | | | Dance brings good fortune to the business owner |
| shaggy and can be orange, red, yellow, or a | | | | and the lion dancers keep the money in the |
| combination of these colors. The Northern Dance | | | | envelope. |
| is very acrobatic and is done mainly for | | | | The Lion Dance has developed a close relationship |
| entertainment. The Northern Dance many times | | | | to the martial arts, specifically Kung Fu. Many Lion |
| depicts pairs of lions, sometimes a family of two | | | | Dance troupes consist of members of Kung Fu |
| large and two small lions. | | | | clubs that practice the dance very hard to gain |
| The Southern Dance is more often performed as | | | | athleticism and proficiency. |
| a ceremony to prevent evil and for good luck. | | | | This short essay only scratches the surface of |
| The Southern Lion displays a wide variety of | | | | the beauty, customs and variety of The Lion |
| colors. It also usually has a mirror on the center | | | | Dance, a centuries old part of Asian culture. |