Sports and Heritage:
A Review of the Chinese Lion Dance
Keywords:
Lion dance, Heritage, Sports, Perfomance art, ReviewAbstract
The Lion Dance is a globally renowned sport and performance art that boasts a primarily Chinese constituency. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the present state of lion dance research by gathering literature from both English and Chinese contexts. The results demonstrate that there exist numerous suppositions regarding the origins and symbolic
connotations of lion dance. As a sport, research on lion dance concentrates on methods to enhance athletic performance. Moreover, as a part of cultural heritage, the study of lion dance is presently transitioning from traditional research paradigms to critical heritage studies. Accordingly, we advocate for the adoption of Harrison's dialogical model (2013: 204) of heritage studies in lion dance research to reveal the significance of this captivating art form for both the present and future generations.
Article History: Received: 27 April 2023| Accepted: 1 December 2023 | Published: 9 December 2023
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