Xingtang Lion Dance was formally appraised as an intangible cultural heritage in 2016. With Master Chen Rusen leading, Xing Tang Lion Dance Team have produced many lion dance works with modern twists and enjoy a good reputation all over the world.

Typical Lion Dance moves are “leaving the cave”, “passing the bridge”, “drinking water”, “playing with a ball”. This episode of Dongguan Live accompanies Daniel, Abby, and Carolyn as they try for themselves the fine art of Xingtang Lion Dance, one of Dongguan’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

There are numerous legends concerning the lion dance, which ultimately educate to avoid evil.
　　

The Legend of the Lion Dance

Shifu Chen explained the legend of the Lion Dance: The lion is the king of animals. In Chinese tradition, the lion is regarded as a mascot which brings good fortune. The dance has a long history with records exceeding 2,000 years. The Lion has a single horn, and is associated with the legend of a mythical monster called Nian. People used to Lion Dance in order to scare the monster Nian, and performers move to the beats of drums and gongs imitating a lion.