英语短论文———舞龙
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Dragon Dance
Abstract:
A dragon dance is performed alongside a lion dance during the 2008 summer Olympics torch relay in San Francisco in April. Dragon dance has become a sign of Chinese culture.
Keywords: Dragon dance History Performance
China has a long history of ancient civilization, and it is a multi-ethnic country. So China has rich culture resources about dancing and profound folk dances tradition. Today, the dance is in all of China, although each area has its own style. Dragon dance is a form of traditional dance and performance in Chinese culture. Like the lion dance it is most often seen in festive celebrations. Many Chinese people often use the term "Descendants of the Dragon" as a sign of ethnic identity, as part of a trend started in the 1970s, however the true derivation is from the descendants of Shennong, the legendary first king of the Chinese people who taught them agriculture, law and medicine the foundations of civilization. In the dance, a team of people carry the dragon which is an image of the Chinese dragon on poles. A dragon can be composed of up to 50 people 【1】. The dance team does mimic the supposed movements of this river spirit in a sinuous, undulating manner. The movements in a performance traditionally symbolize historical roles of dragons demonstrating power and dignity. The dragon dance is a highlight of Chinese New Year celebrations held worldwide in Chinatowns around the world. Dragons are believed to bring good luck to people, which are reflected in their qualities that include great power, dignity, fertility, wisdom and auspiciousness. The appearance of a dragon is both frightening and bold but it has a benevolent disposition, and so eventually became an emblem to represent imperial authority. 【2】
History The Dragon Dance itself originated during the Han Dynasty and was started by
the Chinese who had shown great belief and respect towards the dragon. It is believed to have begun as part of the farming and harvest culture, also with origins as a method of healing and preventing sickness. It was already a popular event during the Song Dynasty where it had become a folk activity and like the lion dance was most often seen in festive celebrations. 【3】
From its origins in combining stylized depictions of natural animals, the Chinese dragon evolved to become a mythical creature revered in Chinese culture. Its physical form is a combination of many animals, including the horns of a stag, ears of a bull, eyes of a rabbit, claws of a tiger and the scales of a fish, all on a long serpent’s body. With these traits, it was believed that dragons were amphibious with the ability to move on land, fly through the air and swim in the sea, bestowing them roles as governors of cloud and rain in weather. The dragon dance was started by the Chinese who had shown great belief and respect towards the dragon. It is an important item of the Chinese Culture and tradition. Dragon Dance has spread throughout China and to the whole world. It becomes a special performance of arts in the Chinese physical activities. 【4】 It symbolizes the bringing of good luck and prosperity in the year to come for all the human beings on earth. According to ancient history, during the period of Chun Chiu, the learning of Chinese Martial Arts was very popular and in the spare time, dragon dance was also being taught to students to provide more encouragement. 【4】
Performance The dragon dance is performed by a skilled team whose job is to bring the motionless body to life. The dragon itself is a long serpent shaped body on poles, assembled by joining the series of hoops on each section and attaching the ornamental head and tail pieces at the ends. Traditionally, dragons were constructed of wood, with bamboo hoops on the inside and covered with a rich fabric, however in the modern era lighter materials such as aluminum and plastics have replaced the wood and heavy material. Dragons can range in length from around 25 to 35 meters for the more acrobatic
models, and up to 50 to 70 meters for the largest, parade and ceremonial styles, since part of the myth of the dragon is that the longer the creature, the more luck it will bring. The size and length of a dragon depend on the human power available, financial power, materials, skills and size of the field. Its length typically ranges from 9 sections to 15 sections long, though some dragons are as long as 46 sections. A small organization cannot afford to run a very long dragon because it consumes great human power, great expenses and special skills which are difficult to manage.【3】The normal length and size of the body recommended for the dragon is 112 feet and is divided into 9 major sections. The distance of each minor section is 14 inches apart; therefore, the body has 81 rings. History tells us that the dragon dance is performed in various ways, types and colors. 【5】
In competition performances however, there are strict rules governing the specifications of the dragon body and the routine performed, and so dragons made for these events and what are mostly seen in the impressive stage shows are made for speed and agility, to be used by the performing
