CENTRAL VALUES OF LION DANCE
(MORAL VALUES AND GUIDELINES)

弘展技藝   發揚武德

忠
Loyalty

Nurturing the young generation to be loyal to one’s country, loyal to the organization, loyal to the work of Culture and Art, and loyal to one’s Master, trainer or coach is of the utmost importance. We must never be unfaithful to all the above mentioned after acquiring the knowledge and skills of Lion Dance. As disciples, we must always request the consent and Loyalty, Honest opinions from our master’s before setting up a new Lion Dance school.

正
Righteousness

We must never sway to either side, always in neutral and thinking straight. Promote the true arts of Lion Dance. Acquire the authentic characteristics, correct movements, and the correct procedures of the arts and never go against the original principles. If not, the Lion Dance will become a humiliating piece of work, the performance will be unsuccessful, and it will become a laughingstock to the audience.

毅
Endurance

Without endurance, no one can be successful. Bear the hard work, work conscientiously without feeling exhaustion or fatigue. Only then, can we achieve success. This is also true in learning the art of Lion Dance. Knowledge acquisition needs endurance and full commitment to be able to address and tackle all the problems along the journey. Our Performances may face difficulties, failures and mistakes, we might even lose a tournament one after another, yet we must remain persistent and endure until the end. Without endurance and the will power to succeed, it is difficult to complete one’s mission. To struggle and persevere from the beginning until the end is the true spirit of sportsmanship.

勇
Courage

Today’s lion dancers need the spirit of daringness and bravery. There will be times when dancers must perform the “green” picking on the pedestals, Jong (Pole) and on top of the roof, performing stunts with a high degree of difficulty. One must have the courage. The mental readiness, fighting spirit and the willingness to sacrifice for the sake of the art of performance are very important. Routine, consistent, and continuous training will improve one’s skill and confidence level. A courageous and skillful lion dancer will have no fear. Always be responsible and commit full heartedly to your troupe.

智
Wisdom

Plucking the “green” is a spontaneous experience for lion dancers. When faced with a difficult “Cheng” or a challenging set up, one must remain calm and think carefully. Do not simply use physical strength or be too eager to grab the “green”. Being brave and courageous will not solve all problems. Think it through and apply your wisdom. Always learn from the Masters, Coaches and teammates and listen to their advice and experiences. Applying your wisdom along the journey will get you through some of the difficult problems.

誠
Sincerity

We have to be sincere when learning Lion Dance. Only then will the Masters, instructors and teammates be willing to teach us. A good performance needs to be properly coordinated. The head, tail, drum, gong and cymbals must all be incorporated, and they must all complement each other. Only then can we provide our audience with the best performance. A sincere team will make a lasting troupe.

和
Harmony

Everything needs harmony. When we are with our masters, instructors, and teammates, we should work together happily and peacefully, helping each other under a conducive learning
atmosphere. To live in harmony is one of the factors to success. Understanding the meaning of unity (Dancers, drums, cymbals & Gong), complimenting, assisting one another regardless of ethnic background will lead to a peaceful world. Harmony is especially important in today’s multicultural society.

禮
Mannerism

The holy man once said, do not say, see, listen or do anything if you do not have manners. If everybody is humble and possesses manners, then the world will become a more peaceful place to live. Lion Dance also has its manners and prohibitions. For example, when lions meet other lions from a different group, the drumbeats must be slow, and the lion heads must bow past each other. They must not be raised or make unnecessary advancements like twinkling of the eyes, kicking, brushing whiskers, sharpening teeth, and smelling or biting the other lion’s tail. When entering a house, the lion must first bow at the entrance. After each performance, the lion should retreat with the tail exiting before retiring. If everyone follows the general rules and regulations, then there will not be any arguments and quarrels. All Lion Dance troupes will be united and Lion Dance will be spreading and gaining greater height.