Qi Zhang
Guangzhou College of Technology and Business (Huadou campus), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
*Corresponding author: Qi Zhang
Abstract
Dragon has been considered as the avatar of god, which can give rise to cloud and rain. Thus, it plays a leading role in ritual of praying for rain. Long before Shang Dynasty (BC1600-BC1046), ancient Chinese people prayed for rain with a shaman. If she failed, her life would be sacrificed to the king of dragon (the God of Rain in Chinese mythology). Until Han Dynasty (BC220-206), the ritual praying for rain has evolved to an activity where eight people held paper dragon running like a flying dragon. At that period, dragon dancing has become a ritual with certain scale. Dragon dancing ritual has been inherited for thousands of years and its functional meaning has been transformed a lot. Changes have been taking place in dragon dancing array, dragon dancing method, and the gender of dancers and the training methods. In this article, firstly, it will analyzes the studies on the transformation of dragon dancing from ancient times to present, particularly the gender transformation of dragon dancer. Secondly, it will explores the reasons why dragon dancing has been inherited for thousands of years and some social factors. Thirdly, it introduces the performance and current living situation of dragon dancers. In the end, this article will explores the training system of dragon dancing in universities and rural areas.
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How to cite this paper
Exploration and Analysis on the Development of Chinese Dragon Dance and the Training System of Dragon Dancing in Universities
How to cite this paper: Qi Zhang. (2023) Exploration and Analysis on the Development of Chinese Dragon Dance and the Training System of Dragon Dancing in Universities. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science, 7(2), 461-464.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2023.02.040