Whenever firecrackers are old and the community fire welcomes the new, in the spring tide of Qijiachuan in Ping'an District, Haidong City, the lion dance in Xin'an Village will spread a rich atmosphere as usual, touching the hearts of people near and far, and igniting the enthusiasm of people from hundreds of miles around.
The lions, which are used as dance props, are handmade by the people of the Liu family in this village, and it is said that they have been done for several generations; the lion dance performance is the family tradition of a king surnamed in the village, which has been passed down for more than 160 years.
The lion dance in Xin'an Village is also unique. This lion dance is neither a general lion-leading dance and a lion dance, nor a lion-lion fight or a play. What is special is that the whole lion dance is completed by three lions, two large and two small. The big lion, commonly known as the "lion", is a female lion. Two small lions, commonly known as "young lions". The dance process has a very rich and vivid content, in the drum, gong, cymbal, siren and other accompaniment sounds of light, heavy, fast and slow flow, the dancers use the familiar dance language to interpret the pain and excitement of a female lion before and after childbirth.
The climax of the Xin'an Lion Dance is the female lion "giving birth". Before the "calfbirth", the female lion stood upright, tumbled, shook her head, flicked her tail, moved her eyes, trembled her hair, had abdominal pain, lay on the ground, gasped for breath, and various "prenatal signs" were performed by lion dancers. Immediately afterward, the lioness lay prostrate on the ground, trembling and looking in pain. Then, I saw the female lion shrink and shake and gradually stand up, raise her legs and take a step. As soon as the legs were lifted, two little lions rolled out from their crotches. This kind of performance, which is both artistic and appreciative, and has a witty and humorous storyline, makes the audience laugh.
In addition to the inherent majesty of lions, the popularity of lion dances in China is also related to the psychology of Chinese people worshipping spirit beasts. The lion is the king of the hundred beasts, and has always been regarded as an auspicious, brave, and evil beast that can suppress evil spirits, so the lion dance has always been performed in festivals as a dance that holds people's good expectations.
The Xin'an Lion Dance is performed in the first month, first to celebrate the arrival of the New Year's Festival, and secondly, with the wish to pray for blessings and exorcisms. At the same time, the birth of female lions means that people are prosperous, healthy and happy. After the lion dance, men, women and children, especially children who have just turned one year old, are carried by their parents through the belly of the lion, called "passing the pass", in order to eliminate the disease and pray for the peace and prosperity of the four seasons. At present, the Xin'an Lion Dance is also known as the Divine Lion Dance in several villages in Sanhe Town, and is regarded by the people of Xin'an Village and neighboring villages as a symbol of smooth wind and rain, disaster elimination and disease elimination, and has become an important folk activity.
Source: Haidong Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports, Tourism, Radio, Film and Television