An Evolution of Lion Dance in Hong Kong from the Perspective of Cultural Symbols

Abstract

Lion dance is a popular folk custom or living culture in Hong Kong. It is often performed during major festivals and celebrations. From three dimensions of cultural guarding, diaspora and subjectivity, cultural hybridity and innovation, this article illustrates the change of Hong Kong people's attitude towards traditional Chinese culture reflected by lion dance as a set of cultural symbols in the social and historical context of Hong Kong since the late Qing Dynasty. 1) Before 1950s, lion Dance deeply reflected traditional Chinese culture, that is, warding off evil spirits, guarding and auspiciousness; 2) From the 1950s to the 1970s, lion dancers strongly exhibited the ideology of resistance and self-awareness in the context of diaspora; 3) Since the early 1980s, with the return of Hong Kong in 1997 and under the background of globalization and multi-culture, lion dance is still a set of typical cultural symbols in Hong Kong, has been constantly innovated in terms of form, performance, communication and others and integrated into the global lion dance cultural community.