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By Perry Gil S. Mallari
No Chinese New Year celebration
would be complete without it. An enthralling spectacle to behold,
the lion dance was said to have originated in China more than a
thousand years ago. The act can be seen in different variations in
the various regions of Asia, especially in such special occasions
like the start of the Lunar New Year or in store openings and big
business-related events.
Today in Manila’s Chinatown,
the lion dance heralds the coming of the Chinese New Year, but those
who know its history lament that much has changed in the character
of this popular symbol of ancient Chinese culture. In an exclusive
interview with The Times, veteran lion dance instructor, kung fu
sifu (teacher) and businessman Arnold Buenviaje shares how the lion
dance was traditionally formed and practiced, the rules and
etiquette it beholds, and how the present generation perceives this
unique ritual.
Buenviaje, whose Chinese name is
Cai Ming Ren, explains that the art of performing the lion dance is
basically divided into two categories, namely, the northern and the
southern styles. “The northern type, the one that is fully
clothed, is more identified with Chinese opera,” he relates,
continuing, “ The southern style on the other hand, is more
ceremonial in nature and contains martial arts connotations.”
He reveals that originally,
students of kung fu academies commonly called kwoons studied and
performed the lion dance. “It was something that was taken
seriously and there are etiquettes to follow,” he adds. He points
out that in the presence of another lion dance group, one should
refrain from raising a single leg for the gesture signifies
challenge. “You should never sniff the tail of the other lion for
this will be perceived as an insult,” he says, adding, “It’s
like you’re insinuating that the other lion is a female.”
Buenviaje also explains that it is customary for a lion dance group
to bow whenever passing by a temple or a kwoon as a sign of respect.
“You should not touch the horn of the lion and whenever exiting
from an establishment, the tail must go out first,” he names two
more essential practices in the lion dance.
Buenviaje’s exposure to the
lion dance began in 1977, the same year he started training in kung
fu. He recalls witnessing a few brawls in Manila’s Chinatown
resulting from the breach of lion dance etiquettes. “There was one
incident wherein students from two different kung fu schools engaged
in a street fight and they even used martial arts weapons. I even
spotted one participant bleeding profusely on the head. The breach
of etiquette can result to serious consequences.”
The master of lion dance bemoans
that much has changed in the practice and character of the lion
dance being performed these days. “Now you don’t have to be a
kung fu practitioner to be part of a lion dance group. I know a
couple of pedicab drivers and bums from the street corner that were
suddenly turned into lion dancers. Basta marunong ka lang magtambol
ayos na [So long as you know how to bang the drums, it’s ok]” he
says. He also expresses his sadness on the way people now look at
lion dance performers, “Yung iba pag nakakita ng lion dance ang
iniisip kaagad nanghihingi ng limos, parang pulubi ang tingin sa
performers [Some people immediately associate lion dance with asking
alms and a few look down on the performers, as if they are
beggars]” he intones.
An expert on the Seven Star
Praying Mantis style of kung fu and several other Chinese martial
arts, Buenviaje stresses that performing the dance ritual is both
physically and aesthetically demanding. “To me, capturing the
expression and emotion of the lion is more important than
acrobatics,” he emphasizes. Having traveled around Asia at times
as a judge of lion dance competitions, he opines that the Malaysians
have the most flamboyant version of the lion dance. “Yes, it
originated in China, but the Malaysians have added a lot of
innovations to the lion dance particularly in the aspect of
acrobatics, thus making it a truly an audio-visual spectacle,” he
explains, adding that the Malaysian version, which involves
frolicking on stilts 10-feet high, also involves a lot of risks.
“It can result to really nasty injuries if you goofed,” he adds.
Buenviaje elaborates on an
interesting gesture of the lion called cai qing, which literally
means “plucking the green” wherein the lion grabs a bunch of
green leaves and chew them. “It is a symbolic move that originated
in the Qing Dynasty. It signifies the Han, which is composed of the
majority of Chinese dislodging the Qings or the Manchus from
power,” he narrates.
He also adds that there are
certain rituals needed to be done before a lion mask can be used.
“It is known as the “dotting the eyes” ceremony wherein the
lion’s eyes, mouth, ears, nose, horn, body and feet are dotted
with cinnabar or chicken blood that will supposedly give it life. He
relates that traditional lion mask-making is a craft that is passed
down from generation to generation. There is an interesting legend
about the origin of lion dance. “There are really no lions in
China but there are tigers,” he narrates, adding, “One legend
tells of a certain beast that attacked an entire village in China,
marauding its livestock. Upon its return, the villagers decided to
scare the animal by constructing a beast made of paper and making
loud noise using various objects and utensils. The strategy worked
and from that time on, the villagers used the ritual to celebrate
bountiful harvests and other festivities.”
Though unspoken, it is evident
that Buenviaje sees himself as a paladin of the authentic lion dance
tradition. “I am willing to teach anyone who’s interested to
learn lion dance in its proper form,” he says, almost whispering.
Indeed, his commitment offers a glimmer of hope for those who desire
to behold an authentic lion dance performance.
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