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Dragon Dance
(02)
History/Story
The Dragon Dance itself
originated during the Han Dynasty and was started by the Chinese who
had shown great belief and respect towards the dragon. It is believed
to have begun as part of the farming and harvest culture, also with
origins as a method of healing and preventing sickness. It was already
a popular event during the Song Dynasty where it had become a folk
activity and like the lion dance, was most often seen in festive
celebrations.
From its origins in
combining stylized depictions of natural animals, the Chinese dragon
evolved to become a mythical creature revered in Chinese culture. Its
physical form is a combination of many animals, including the horns of
a stag, ears of a bull, eyes of a rabbit, claws of a tiger and the
scales of a fish, all on a long serpent’s body. With these traits,
it was believed that dragons were amphibious with the ability to move
on land, fly through the air and swim in the sea, bestowing them roles
as governors of cloud and rain in weather.
As the dragon gives
people a feeling of great respect, it is often called the Sacred
Dragon. The emperors of ancient China considered themselves as the
dragon. The Dragon is also the emblem of Imperial Authority. It
symbolises supernatural power, goodness, fertility, vigilance and
dignity.
The dragon dance was started
by the Chinese who had shown great belief and respect towards the
dragon. It is an important item of the Chinese Culture and tradition.
Dragon Dance has spread throughout China and to the whole world. It
becomes a special performance of arts in the Chinese physical
activities. It symbolizes the bringing of good luck and prosperity in
the year to come for all the human beings on earth. According to
ancient history, during the period of Chun Chiu, the learning of
Chinese Martial Arts was very popular and in the spare time, dragon
dance was also being taught to students to provide more encouragement...
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