舞龍

The Chinese dragon dance ( Wu Long) is one of the traditional art found in Chinese culture. One of these are the gold and silver dragon with its body covered with patches of gold or silver and performed during daytime. Another is called the parading or wandering dragon with the outer feature similar to the previous dragon, although the body is bigger in diameter with the head sometimes weighting up to 20 kilograms. Then there is the cloth or colour dragon made of yarn utilizing different colours. Inside each section is a lighted candle which illuminates the entire dragon as it is performed projecting an appearance similar to that of a floating dragon among the cloud. Another one is called the fire or grass dragon often performed in the eve of the Moon Cake Festival. The fire dragon is divided into round- shape sections made of dried grass. During performance hundreds of burning incense are attached to the body turning it into a fire dragon. There is also the wooden dragon, sometimes called the drunken dragon which is performed during the 8th day of the 4th month in the Chinese lunar calendar. The head of this dragon is made of wood and weighs several kilograms. the man who holds the dragon's head is usually drunk, so the rest of the dancers followed him through his drunken steps. A recent renovation called luminous dragon was created by Liang Xuan Hua using phosphorescent or luminous paint on the entire dragon. With special lighting fixtures, this dragon would glow in the dark giving the audience an illuminating experience. The color of the dragon also has several meanings. Green dragons are considered auspicious. It is popular among the masses and utilized in the important festivities such as Yuan Hsiao Festival. The performance of this dragon during this festivities is said to bring prosperity and peace. The yellow dragon represents royalty. As yellow is the official colour of the emperor, the masses are not allowed to use the yellow dragons, this color can be seen only in imperial courts and temples. The red dragon symbolizes bravery. The red dragon are seldom used because its color represents fire. The blue dragon which is actually light blue is seldom used. The white dragon symbolizes purity and fairness, but the Chinese considered white an unlucky colour thus it is seldom seen. As guide to the dragon, there is the dragon pearl shaped like a ball, inside this fish trap is a lighted charcoal which is use to lead the dragon. the dragon dance depicts this heavenly creature's perpetual chase for the pearl, the pearl is handled by a bearer who leads the dragon with its intricate movements. The dance usually expresses the emotion of the dragon. Joy is represented by the gentle and elegant movements. Agitation is expressed by sudden twist and turns. Fanciful names are sometimes use to describe these movements like Dragon Ascending the Throne, Double Dragon Fight for the Pearl, Ferocious Dragon Crosses the River, etc.. The basic movements of the dragon are run, stride, jump, squat, flip, roll, twist, coil, straighten and many others. All dancers are required to coordinate their moves in order to bring out the gallant spirit of the dragon.

A sample use in Dragon's eye dotting.

新龍點睛口訣 Dragon Eye Dotting Verse 

靈光普照 (天靈) Ling Guang Pu Zhao (Tian Ling)

WITH THE SPIRITUAL  LIGHT  THAT ILLUMINATES  (Dot The Forehead)

眼目精光 (双 眼) Yan Mu Jing Guang (Shuang Yan)

EYES THAT ARE SHINY AND BRIGHT (Dot Both Eyes)

鼻氣萬口 (鼻孔) Bi Qi Wan Li (Bi Kong)

A NOSE THAT COULD SMELL TEN THOUSAND MILES  (Dot The Nostrils)

口齒精良 (口舌) Kou Chi Jing Liang (Kou She)

A MOUTH THAT ENUNCIATES SO CLEARLY WELL  (Dot The Tongue)

耳聽八方 (双耳) Er Ting Ba Fang (Shuang Er)

HAVING EARS THAT CAN HEAR EIGHT DIRECTIONS (Dot Both Ears)

麟角呈祥 (双 角) Lin Jiao Cheng Xiang (Shuang Jiao)

A UNICORN'S HORN THAT CAN BRING SO MUCH LUCK (Dot Both Horns)

身腰堅强 (骨 節) Shen Yao Jian Qiang (Gu Jie)

A WAIST SO FIRM AND STRONG (Dot Bone Sections)

尾活清央暢 (龍尾) Wei Huo Qing Chang  (Long Wei)

THE TAIL THAT IS   LIVELY AND SMOOTH  (Dot The Dragon's Tail)

寶珠献瑞 (龍珠) Bao Zhu Xian Rui (Long Zhu)

THE PRECIOUS PEARL WILL ALWAYS BRING LUCK  (Dot The Dragon's Pearl)

祥 龍 献世 (起 舞) Xiang Long Xian Shi (Qi Wu)

THE AUSPICIOUS DRAGON IS FINALLY PRESENTED TO THE WORLD  (May The Dragon Dance)

鼓響羅鳴顯威靈 Gu Xiang Luo Ming Xian Wei Ling

DRUM AND GONG ARE SOUNDED TO DISPLAY ITS POWERFUL SPIRIT

祥龍起舞萬事 興 Xiang Long Qi Wu Wan Shi Xing

THE AUSPICIOUS DRAGON DANCES SO ALL THINGS MAY PROSPER

騰雲駕霧献瑞 Teng Yun Jia Wu Chang Xian Rui

PRANCING  AMONG THE CLOUDS AND RIDING THROUGH THE OF MIST, CONSTANTLY BRINGING US LUCK

風調雨順慶升平 Feng Tiao Yu Shun Qing Sheng Ping

IT SHALL BROUGHT FORTH GOOD WEATHER OF PEACE FOR US TO REJOICE TOGETHER