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SOUTHERN
LION
SOUTHERN
LION
The Southern-style lion dance, which is more popularly performed in Singapore, originated from Guangdong, China. The Caiqing (采青), literally “plucking the green”, refers to the acrobatic act of retrieving a sprig of lettuce from as high as 3 storeys. This is achieved by forming a human pyramid (1999, February 16). The focus of the Southern lion dance, its design and the dance movements are based on the Caiqing.
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
DIFFERENCES
OVERVIEW
The southern lion has a large head that is painted in bright colors. The colorful design and movements represent good fortune and entertainment. Its body, known as the lion blanket, is in the form of a cloth painted with stripes, which drapes over the dancers and allows them to move freely.
P.S. This compares to northern lion dance: which can be performed by single or two dancers sharing the same costume because their costume is covered with thick red or golden hair and only exposes the dancers’ legs, which are clad in trousers and boots of the same design.
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FOSHAN
Foshan lion has bristles instead of fur. All traditional lions have pop-up teeth, tongue, and eyes that swivel left and right. It has a very long tail and is often attached to bells. It has a high forehead, curved lips and a sharp horn on its head. The newer styles of Foshan lion replace all bristles with fur and the tails are shorter. It uses kung fu moves and postures to help with its movement and stances, and only the most advanced students are allowed to perform.
HESHAN
Heshan lion has a gentle cat-like style as compared to Fo Shan style which is evident from the light and gentle steps in movement. Heshan lion in Singapore specifically has a “王” and a bat on the head of the lion. The main colors of the lion are yellow, black and green - whereas red is a modern touch.
Lion dance troupes do 阵 (formation which symbolizes prosperity” but the practice which we went to was them trying to tell a story. (The lion saw the vegetable as it was crossing the bench which is a bridge and saw its own reflection thinking that it's someone else whilst having food coma from the vegetables). Notably, the lion head also has a beak-like mouth and its horn is also rounder as compared to the Foshan lion.
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FOHE
Fohe Shan comes in the hybrid of both He Shan and Fo Shan. One way to identify them is the distinctive characteristics of their horn, which appears to be rounded. Notably, its characteristics are still deemed extremely similar to that of a Fo Shan lion than that of a He Shan lion. The origins of the hybrid are still considered to be complicated, and may or may not have originated in Singapore/Malaysia.
Video: Lion Head Museum Tour
SIMILAR CUSTOMS/RITUALS
OVERVIEW
Although the three types of Southern lions have different appearances and movements, there have similarities in terms of the rituals.
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Rui Shi Shui Shi Xing Shi
PROSPERITY LION SLEEPING LION AWAKEN LION
Audio: Lynn from Kong Chow Wui Koon tells us the history behind the name "Awakened Lion."
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
With historical context to the renaming of the lions, Rui Shi was one of the earliest names derived. Notably, Rui sounds similar to Shui, hence we also have the name Shui Shi though both have different connotations of the lion. However, due to the passive image of a Rui Shi (sleeping lion), the lion is now renamed to Xing Shi which means awakened lion and hence portrays a fiercer outlook of the lion.
POLITICAL CONTEXT
昏睡百年，国人渐已醒，要致力国家中兴，岂让国土再遭践踏，个个负起使命，这睡狮已渐已醒。- 霍元甲歌词
Romanization: Hun Shui Bai Nian, Guo Ren Jian Yi Xing, Yao Zhi Li Guo Jia Zhong Zing, Qi Rang Guo Tu Zai Zao Jian Ta, Ge Ge Fu Qi Shi Ming, Zhe Shui Shi Yi Jian Yi Zing - Huo Yuan Jia (Lyrics)
English Translation: Asleep for a hundred years, the Chinese people are gradually awakening, to commit to the resurgence of the nation, to prevent the trampling of the country once more, all have taken up their responsibilities, the sleeping lion is gradually awakening.
The lyrics underline the political context of the name change of the lion. China was prospering before (Rui Shi); however, due to the century of humiliation when China faced intervention and imperialism subjected by Western powers, Russia and Japan. (Shui Shi) However, after years of humiliation, the Chinese people are gradually picking up the slacks and committing to revive or awaken themselves (Xing Shi).
PROSPERITY LION
It was one of the earliest names and came from a popular tale from the Qing dynasty frequently told in the Foshan area. According to the story, Emperor Qianlong and his entourage were lost in the woods but were eventually led to safety by a strange beast that became the inspiration for the appearance of a lion with a horn.
SLEEPING LION
Consists of steps and movements that imitate a sleepy lion where he walks around, gets tired, stumbles and falls back asleep and then repeats. The movements continue until he wakes up for good and grooms himself.
AWAKEN LION
The word “Xing” means “awakened” and is deemed auspicious. A lion-awakening ritual is required when there is a brand new lion dance costume to be used. Offerings for the 天神 (Sky God) must be laid out such as roast suckling pig, poached chicken, and fruits, etc. Two candles are lit. Prayers are made with incense and the Sky God is asked for his blessing for the new lions to ensure they awake lively and energetic. A ceremony is known as “dotting the eyes” (点睛) is held to symbolize giving life to the lion.
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PLUCKING THE GREEN
CAI QING
BACKGROUND
During the Qing Dynasty, many anti-Manchurian organizations were present in Guangzhou. Concurrently, due to the burning of the Shaolin temples, many martial arts disciples fled to Guangdong. Notably, the people who fled formed secret organizations that started the Fan Qing Fu Ming sentiments. Hence, anti-Qing activities and its recruitment manifested rapidly, intensifying the anti-Qing consciousness of the people in the southern areas. The primary motivation of these groups was to promote the well-being of the physical body through martial arts, but the secondary motivation was to recruit support in the act of justice against the Qing. These groups can be seen performing in many areas just to fund their organizations.
Lion dance united hand-in-hand with martial arts performances (therefore creating the Southern lion dance) and the 采青 (Caiqing) element has been added to depreciate the Man Qing. This could be seen from the homonyms of "Caiqing" and "Stepping on the Qing." In addition, "Swallowing the Qing'' stands for "Swallowing the Qing Dynasty", with the metaphor of Tuqing as "Scattering the Qing". The organizations at that time made use of "green vegetables" in their performances to symbolize their involvement and participation in the anti-Qing movement. Since then Caiqing has been incorporated into lion dance performances.
SIGNIFICANCE
The significance of Caiqing during the Qing dynasty was associated with a political discourse with Fan Qing Fu Ming and anti-Qing sentiments. However, modern Caiqing is better focused on positive sentiments and symbolizes wealth. Vegetables (Cai,菜) sounded like a fortune (Cai,财). This involves the acrobatic act of “plucking” a green vegetable that is suspended from a height and getting these treasures from the mouth of a lion symbolizes the attainment of good fortune.
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BREAKING OF THE CLAYPOT
BREAKING OF THE CLAYPOT
Video: This is a video of Chinwoo using pots as a prop for the performance. The clay pots seen here are not the exact ones used back then, and lion dancers now do not attempt to break it either.
Clay pots are used in a routine to represent obstacles overcome by the lions and challenges to the troupes. It significantly relates to the idea of China as the “sick men of Asia”. By breaking these medicinal clay pots, it signifies the strength of Chinese men who do not need medicine, who are instead strong and healthy and can protect their nation and answer to the nation’s calling.
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