Lions are present since 1500 years ago. Performing art is meaningful to repel bad things that will happen. There are several versions of the history of the lion dance. Nian or monster is the most popular version. Once, during the Qing Dynasty, in a region in China, there are monsters that disturb the peace of the local population. His presence to the point of causing anxiety and fear.
At that moment, a lion or lion appeared to block the monster. The monster lost and ran away. The lion left, leaving the people who already felt safe.
Apparently, the monster felt hurt, and intend to take revenge, but people do not know anything. After knowing, the public was hit by panic. They are confused, where the lion can defeat the monster.
Finally, they created the Barongsai costume as we often see today. The monster freaked out, once again he ran frightened. The community managed to get rid of the monster.
It underlies why the Barongsai are always present in the Lunar New Year celebration. Now, expelling a monster is like casting out bad auras.
The sound of punching cymbals, gongs, drums usually accompany the live and acrobatic scenes of Barongsai dance. The people believe, the lion dance is a show that brings good luck.
Therefore, the lion dance is held at important events. Among other things, the opening of restaurants, the establishment of pagoda, and a definite Lunar New Year.
In general, there are two types of Barongsai, namely the North Lion and the South Lion. The northern lion is curly and four-legged. The North Lions look more natural and more lion-like. Meanwhile, the South Lion has scales as well as varying number of legs, between two or four feet. The head of the South Lion is also equipped with horns.
The complement of Barongsai dance is the sound of fireworks. Sound cymbals, gongs, and drums usually accompany this lively scene. Every movement of lions, has a special musical rhythm. The music follows the movement of the lion, the sound of drums following the lion, while the cymbal dang gong follows the drum player.
Quoted from the Nations Online page, throughout the show, the lion mimics various moods and shows similar physical movements such mood. The lions are thus seen alive with the movement.
The Barongsai Dance combines art, history, and kung fu movements. Usually kung fu players and a group of lion dancers consist of about ten people.
The movement of the North Lion and the South Lion is not the same. The southern lion is famous for his hard head movements and bobbing along with gongs and drums. Meanwhile, the North Lions tend to be more agile and full of dynamics.
One of the compulsory movements of the Barongsai, which is the dramatic climax of the Barongsai, is when a lion takes a money envelope. Above the envelope is usually accompanied by watercress vegetables as a symbol of gifts for the lion.
