1. Lion Dance
The "Lion Dance" which is widely spread throughout China has a very long history. Lion dance contains the wish for good luck and prosperity. More than 2,000 years ago, after the Han Dynasty passed through the Western Regions, countries such as Yuezhi (today's Kashmir and Afghanistan), Parthia (today's Iran) and other countries sent envoys to offer lions and other beasts to the Han Dynasty. Stone sculptures such as lions began to appear in the Han Dynasty. At the same time, there are also performances in which people imitate lion shapes.
2. Chinese Inspiration
The Chinese nation has a special liking for inspiration with heroic momentum and appeal. As early as 3,000 years ago, in the oracle bone inscriptions of the Yin and Shang Dynasties, there are records about beating drums and bells to "play dance".
Later, there were the "Building Drum Dance" in the stone portraits of the Han Dynasty, the "Flower Drum Music" in the grotto art of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the numerous "Waist Drum Dance" scenes in the Dunhuang murals of the Tang Dynasty, and the works of the Song and Ming dynasties. Encouragement records, etc. So far, there are different styles of drums circulating in various parts of China, mainly majestic drums, but also small and pretty small drums that sing and dance at the same time.
3. Mass Encouragement
It is said that the "Mighty Gongs and Drums" in Hongdong, Shanxi and other places originated from the Yao and Shun era and has been passed down to this day; the number of performers ranges from 30 to as many as 400; The huge gongs and drums team arranged square formations, circular formations, plum blossom formations and other formations, and the gongs, drums, cymbals and cymbals sounded in unison, shaking the heaven and the earth.
The "Great Inspiration" in Kaifeng is also magnificent. The "Big Drum Parasol" popular in Fujian, Taiwan and other places is said to have originated from Qi Jiguang's victory against the Japanese pirates in the Ming Dynasty. The people celebrated and danced; men and women danced together, the dance was light and lively, and an old couple interspersed with jokes; rich in battle formations to celebrate victory warm atmosphere.
4. Cymbal dance
Cymbals are loud instruments and golden dance tools. The dance of striking cymbals has been passed down from ancient times to the present day, and has spread from the Central Plains to ethnic minority areas. Dancing while hitting and flying cymbals are its special skills. It is not only a performance skill in folk festivals, but also a dance category in religious activities such as Buddhism, Taoism and witchcraft festivals.
In ancient China, there was a long tradition of dancing with various musical instruments in hand. There are traces of "playing dance" in oracle bone inscriptions. The image of "Cymbal Dance" is well preserved in ancient cultural relics: Mr. Huo Xiliang copied a set of Yuan Dynasty music and dance murals in Cave 4 in Yulin, Anxi, one of which can be called the ancient "Cymbal Dance" picture.
Half-naked, she is worshiping the musicians, wearing a crown on her head, long streamers lightly wrapped around her shoulders and arms, standing with her hips open, arms outstretched, and leaning forward. The two round cymbals with ribbons on the upper left seem to be thrown from the hands, hanging in the air, and the dancer's movements are between trying to connect and not yet connecting. This is clearly a gesture of throwing a cymbal and dancing while hitting it.
5. Lingxing Dance
The establishment of the Western Han Dynasty ended the long-term war situation. In order to stabilize the country and resume production, Liu Bang, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, issued an order in the eighth year of Emperor Gaozu (199 BC). Lingxing Temple was built all over the world to worship Houji, the god of agriculture.
This dance incorporates agricultural work movements such as hoeing, plowing, sowing, weeding, loosening and drying, driving sparrows, harvesting, pounding rice, winnowing, etc. into the dance, and contains praise. Willingness to work in farming and pray for a good harvest.