Link Kungfu - Liondance ?

[xiao]

What exactely is the link between kungfu and the liondance. Why you only see kf schoold perform this and no other groups...What's the exact relation between kf and liondancing.

I can find lot of info about how it started , myths, types, styles,etc...but not about the exact link bewteen the 2 :confused:

[laugarkuen]

I know of no other reason other than that it takes a lot of strength, agility and stamina to perform. Maybe less strenght these days as the heads get lighter though they used to be quite heavy.

Hypothasizing (sp?) here but maybe also because martial artists were fighters and guardians it also fell to them to defend against evil spirits?

[David Jamieson]

lion dance are also used as a cover for extortionists, such as triads who would employ the lion dance as a way f collecting money from shopkeepers and such.

but in context to kungfu, what lgk is saying is right.

[TenTigers]

let's also add that many of the Southern Kung-Fu men were Ming loyalists afighting to overthrow the Chings, and when Lions went from town to town, they passed messages which were contained withinn the changs. The Lion would eat the chang, read the message and destroy the chang-sometimes also called ching-green-symbolizing the destruction of the Ching Dynasty and restoration of the Ming.
In a traditional Lion "dance", the movements are the exact movements used within the system. Training the moves with a heavy Lion was like weight training. Many methods of power generation are concealed within the movements of the Lion. Unfortunately, this is rarely seen today except from Sifus who know and maintain this tradition, and the real Gung-Fu. An experienced eye knows what to look for,and can spot this a mile away.

[TenTigers]

"lion dance are also used as a cover for extortionists, such as triads who would employ the lion dance as a way f collecting money from shopkeepers and such."
training and organizing a team, and covering the entire area of Chinatown all day is exhausting work.\, and requires alot of manpower. It's a heckuva lot easier to sell Manderin orange trees.;)

[Yum Cha]

Lion dancing was when the grateful shopkeepers provided monetary thanks to the strong and righteous lads of the village who protected them from thieves and bandits throughout the year.

:D :D :D

[Meat Shake]

I thought lion dancing was when barnum and bailies got over zealous with the electric cattle prods.

[firepalm]

Lion Dance as it is seen in most Chinatowns throughout North America is a extension of Southern Traditional styles. There are two basic types of Southern Lion Dance; Fut Shan & Hok Shan, named after the regions where they originate. As well each Lion is a little different structurally then the other. Fut Shan a little more flat faced while the Hok Shan has a mouth that has something a duck bill shape to it. Each dance is a little different as well. There are also traditional styled lion based on the various folk legends / deities Guan Gung, Liu Bei & Chang Fei.

Some Northern Traditional styles may also have Lion Dance but these are from schools that migrated south to Guangzhou or Hong Kong. Many Northern Shaolin & Praying Manits schools include Lion Dance.

There is a Northern Lion, very different from South Lions, and is sometimes described as looking like a dog. It is usually done by Acrobatic groups and with the possible exception of the Yau Kung Mun style it is seldom seen performed by Kung Fu groups.

There is also the Kirin / Unicorn done by Hakka styles and of course the Dragon Dance.

Hope this helps! :cool:

[laugarkuen]

and don't forget the kay loon (sp?). Or is that the unicorn?

Tired and the brains not working.

[xiao]

Thxs for the info :D

[GeneChing]

2007 March/April (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=693)is on stands now. We have a lion dance article just for Chinese New Years - The Roar of the Silent Lion By Jacob Fitisemanu with Master Cheng Tsang Lu. It discusses the rare closed-mouth lion, as well as some of the connections with CMA.