The story about Chinese New Year Festival

Dear friends

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I searched some information from the internet talking the story about Chinese New Year Festival, it is quite interesting and amazing. For showing off, I will introduce the four standardized types of lion costume to you.

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In the old days, there was a monster lived near a village. This monster was called "Year Monster". It doesn't like red and it doesn't like noise. So villagers would stick red paper on their doors and red fire crackers were lit to make loud noises so as to scare the monster. When the villagers knew that the monster had gone, they would greet and bless each other. That's why Chinese people lit fire crackers and stick red blessing note on our door.

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During the early days, the lion costumes were not like what we see today (for example, the lions owned by Ha Chiu Kin). The Ha people performed the lion dance using the newer style and a set of matching pants (see my blog- Lion Dance at the 3rd day of Chinese New Year Festival in California Garden). There were only four standardized types of lion costume during the old days, they were named after the four famous warriors of the Three Kingdom, Liu Bei, Guan Gong, Zhang Fei and Zhao Zhi Long, each of them have their own color scheme.

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Liu Bie (劉備)

The Liu Bei lion is the eldest of the three brothers and has a yellow based face with white beard and fur. It sports a multi coloured tail with black as one of them which encompasses the colors of the five elements, as it was believed that being the emperor, he had the blessings of the heavens and thus control of the five elements. There are three coins on the collar. This lion is used by schools with an established Sifu or organization and is known shui shi or the auspicious lion.
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Guan Gong (關羽-關雲長)

The Guan Gong lion has a red based face, black bristles, with a long black beard. The tail is red and black with white trim and a white underside. He is known as the second brother and sports two coins on the collar. This lion is known as Shing Shi or the Awakened Lion. This lion is generally used by most.
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Zhang Fei (張飛)

The Zhang Fei lion has a black based face with short black beard, small ears and black bristles. The tail is black and white with white trim and a white underside. Traditionally this lion also had bells attached to the body, which served as a warning like a rattler on a rattle snake. Being the youngest of the three brothers, there is a single coin on the collar. This lion is known as the Fighting Lion because Zhang Fei had a quick temper and loved to fight. This lion is used by clubs that were just starting out or by those wishing to make a challenge.

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Zhao Zi Long (趙子龍)

Later an additional three lions were added to the group. The green faced lion represented Zhao Zi Long, he has a green tail with white beard and fur and an iron horn. He is often called the fourth brother, this lion is called the Heroic Lion because it is said he rode through Cao Cao's million man army and rescued Liu Bei's infant and fought his way back out.

-Best Regards

Ken Ngan Chi Keung