Chinese Lion Dancing is a very obscure subject and there are many versions of its origin, some based on fiction and stories brought down from generations and some have facts and history to back their version. In gathering all these versions, it could be derived that the Lion dance has had a very long history.

In Chinese culture the Lion Dance symbolizes courage, strength, energy, wisdom, prosperity and good luck. Unlike the fierce Tiger, the Lion is viewed as a peaceful and playful creature, displaying such virtues as goodness and kindness.

In China, the Lion Dance has been performed for many hundreds of years for festivals and celebrations such as Chinese New Year, the opening of businesses, the purchase of a new home, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival and others. This tradition continued with the Chinese Immigrants who came to different parts of the Globe, including Canada and the United States.  Lion Dances were then seen in Chinatowns throughout the world.  Lion Dance Performances continue in strength today, not only for Chinese Celebrations and businesses, but also for many North American Celebrations.

Lion Dance origins are based on superstition and folklore.  The Southern Lion is a composite of magical and mystical elements. Depending on its place of manufacture in China, the head of the Lion can take one of two shapes, the Hok Shan and Fut San Lion.

The Southern Lion head and accompanying body come in various overall color schemes. These color schemes give the Lion type its name, which is based on Three Generals or Heroes known as the 'Three Sworn Brothers of the Peach Garden' from Chinese history and immortalized in the Chinese classic novel "Romance Of The Three Kingdoms".

Their names and hence the Lion's name (based on the color theme) are Liu Bei (yellow face, white beard, Gwan Gung (red face, black beard) and Zhang Fei (black or green face, black beard).  These Generals were brothers and are also known as first, second and third sons, Liu Bei being 'big or first brother', Gwan Gung being the 'second brother' and Zhang Fei being the 'Third brother'.  Liu Bei is the most auspicious and wise Lion and is the one used by long established Kung Fu Training Halls or Associations.  Liu Bei is also the one most often used in Lion dance performances where good luck and prosperity want to be ensured.  Gwan Gung is the brave and loyal Lion and is used by more newly established Kung fu Training Halls or Associations, while Zhang Fei is known as the fighting Lion because of its brash and pugnacious nature and is used by new Training Halls or Associations wishing to establish themselves in the community.

Today there are also many other colors of Lions, with Gold (Huang Joon) being very popular. Other features incorporated into the Southern Lion are the horn of the Phoenix, the ears and tail of the Unicorn, the beard of a Dragon and a mirror on its forehead to ward off evil or demons (demons are prevalent in Chinese superstition and mythology).  In essence the Southern Lion dance performance is a rite of exorcism to bring good luck and prosperity.

Since the fall of the Ming Dynasty and the insertion of the foreign Ching (Manchu) Dynasty, Lion Dance has been associated with Southern Systems of Kung Fu.  With the overthrow of the Ming Dynasty, secret societies were formed consisting of revolutionary martial artists and Shaolin Monks , whose purpose was to overthrow the Ching Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty. They used the Lion Dance as a secret means of communication and the performances as a means to travel undetected, while at the same time carrying out covert operations against their rulers.  They also used the Lion Dance as a means to secretly practice and enhance their martial art skills.  Since that time, the Lion Dance has been primarily associated with Southern systems of Kung Fu and Martial Artists.

Southern systems of kung Fu do not consider a Training Hall to be complete without having a Lion Dance Team.  With this honor comes great responsibility to train hard and conscientiously, for the Training Hall is often judged by the skills of it's Lion Dance Team in performances and competitions.  The colorful Lion and its skilful acrobatics along with the dramatic musical accompaniment of Drum, Cymbals and Gong make for a most exciting and memorable experience of a unique and traditional aspect of Chinese Culture.