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Lion and Dragon dances belong to the most distinctive and popular of Chinese cultural arts. They are a traditional means of bestowing happiness and good luck.
The Dragon is the most important and noble of all the celestial creatures in Chinese mythology. It symbolises energy, vitality, purity, intelligence, good luck, prosperity and wealth. Its realm extends everywhere - from the bottom of the sea to the tallest mountain, to the stars and heaven itself. In ancient China, the five-clawed Dragon was a symbol used exclusively by the emperor. The dancing Dragon always follows the glistening, rotating pearl, which represents wisdom and the Dragon's unending quest to acquire it.






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The energetic and playful Lion is also regarded by Chinese as one of the most auspicious creatures.
The Lion Dance is usually performed by martial artists who have the strength and skill to manipulate the Lion's eyes, mouth, ears and body to express various moods.

The Lion Dance combines artistic and kung fu moves. Those performing the dance require considerable acrobatic skills as they take their Lion up and over stacked benches or jump on tall poles to display the Lion's lively, brave and playful character.

Drums, cymbals and a gong are the usual musical accompaniment to a Lion Dance. Every different move has its own specific musical rhythm.










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HISTORY OF THE GREEN FACE, WHITE SWORD LION

The Manchus ruled in a very brutal and inhuman way. The policy was to exterminate the Hans where possible. In the beginning of Cheng there was the massacre of Yang Chew over a stretch of ten days. Then the killing at Kah Teng followed by the successful resistance of the later Teh at Amoy. The name Amoy was subsequently altered to Su Meng Hian (restoring the Meng dynasty). Moreover there were the movements for the revival of literature, reformation of prisons etc. with all their implications. A few million of Han people were eradicated so that the streams and rivers turned purple in colour.

The hatred of the Han people penetrated to the bones. Those with determination were angry but dared not speak out. In secret they founded the organisation Ai Sin Kut Nor Si (down with the green lion). It was another way of saying down with the Manchus. Examples of great loyalties of the people were in the annals of the heroes.

The "green lion with white sword" was born. It was a young lion but fierce and cruel. The lion had a green face with long projecting teeth. Any person who saw the lion would be terrified and discouraged. The white eyebrows were swords made of steel and iron. They were hard and sharp and approx. 0,5m long. The beards were short and black. The face was like a shield to protect the body. The body was about 5m long and men could hide there while weapons concealed inside were for the use and protection of the person holding the head of the lion. The tail of the lion had to bring the movements into line with those of the head. This would moreover facilitate the training with each sector of the warriors and brave men (Han people) on how to fight. The only selected were brave, experienced in pugilism and well versed in martial arts. Although there were elements of risk to personal safety it was possible to raise a group of brave men of incomparable physical strength for the Han heroes and brave men and the patriots who resisted the Cheng for the restoration of Meng to fight with valour and skill and with an unbending and undeterred will sustained by the spirit of self sacrifice to serve the country and the people with utter disregard of their very lives. They were unlike the ignorant people who chased after shadows, spread falsehoods and rumours to deceive other people and who knew only how to wreck the rank and file of the green lion and to distort where possible the true facts of history. Such was truly sad and lamentable.

After the overthrow of the Cheng dynasty by China, the instructor Kan Teck Guan, called a gathering of the compatriots and experts in national arts in Chiang Chew at the early stage of the Chinese Republic for a celebration and to demonstrate the art of pugilism and "down with the lion".
At that time he explained the real meaning of "down with the lion" so that those present could fully comprehend its significance. For example "green lion" = Cheng soldiers; "down with" = the destruction of political powers and abolition of the monarchy. This was followed by a demonstration of splitting asunder the stomach of the lion, pulling out the veins, slicing off the skin, cutting off the legs, eating the flesh and drinking the blood. There had not been any green face lion with the white sword seen since then until now.

At the present time although there still remains the National Art Association and its "down with the lion" (National Art and Mutual Help Association), the objects of the association are primarily for physical exercise and for the advancement of national arts. There would be no occasion to resort to such rough, ruthless, violent and wicked ways for training with a green face lion on how to fight.

The green lion with white eyebrows was classified as "old lion". It had white eyebrows and beards with its mouth agape. In the various districts in Hokkian this type of lion often took part in welcoming deities, in processions and at worships. In the hamlets and villages delegates would call on the elders of families and householders formally. The leader of the "lion group" would offer a piece of red paper, a pair of red candlesticks, a bundle of joss sticks and a quantity of paper money to the elder of the house. After the leader of ceremony had burnt the candles and joss sticks and prayers to the house gods made, the green lion would then join in the ceremony. The idea and purpose was to get rid of the evil spirits in the house, suppress the devils, bring peace and fortune, good harvest, health and happiness. On account of this the green lion was popular in the various parts in Hokkian.

Now a days, and to do away with unnecessary details, those in the national arts circles had discontinued such formalities. The activities of the green lion were confined to the practice and improvement of military arts, the development of strong and healthy bodies, and for pleasure and amusement.

In the province of Hokkian there were three kinds of lion distinguishable as follows:
1) Green Lion with White Eyebrows - (Old Lion)
2) Green Face White Sword Lion - (Fighter Lion)
3) Young Lion - also known as Sung Kang Sai.
The main features and form of the Young Lion were the big head and the long body.
The dance steps were more or less similar to those lions in other provinces of China.

In Hokkian (Chin Kang, Kom Moon, Ang Ke, etc. etc.) it was a very popular past time of the people to watch the dance of the lion, to amuse and disport themselves in this manner, and to organise physical culture groups for training and developing strong and healthy bodies.




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