Lion-cat dance, a cultural heritage imbued with the identity of Xu Lang

In Lang Son, the lion-cat dance not only demonstrates the beauty of the ethnic culture but also plays an important role in the spiritual life of the people, expressing the desire for luck and prosperity in every Tet.

Lion-cat dance team in Coc Lao village, Hoi Hoan commune, Van Lang district performing at the Tay and Nung ethnic group lion-cat dance competition in 2022

To better understand the meaning of lion-cat dances, we met Dr. Hoang Van Pao, Chairman of the Provincial Cultural Heritage Association. He said: “The lion-cat dance is a unique folk art form of the Tay and Nung people (two ethnic groups account for over 80% of Lang Son’s population). The lion-cat also carries in itself a symbol of luck, majesty, chivalry, wherever it goes, it brings prosperity, happiness, fullness and joy there. Therefore, on the first day of the New Year, the Tay and Nung people often invite lion-cat dance teams to their house to dance with the expectation that the lion appears will drive away evil spirits, prevent disease, and show peace, harmony and belief in a prosperous new year.”

Lion dance in Lang Son has many different names suitable to the language and accent of each region such as Ky Lan, Phu, Loong Phu, Phu meo… But the common name most popularly used nowadays is lion-cat dance. It is a synthetic art form containing many elements including music, art, dance, etc., which have historical, cultural, social and other values that are vividly expressed about views of human, views of life, , thoughts, feelings and aspirations of the Tay and Nung, which are associated with human values that are oriented towards good. These values have created a cultural identity that is preserved and passed on by the Tay and Nung ethnic communities from generation to generation.

With those characteristics, the lion-cat dance of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups in Lang Son province is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, according to Decision No. 1852 of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) on May 8, 2017. Since then, the conservation of this heritage has received more attention from all levels, sectors and people in the province, contributing to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural identity in modern life.

Mr. Nguyen Phuc Ha, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said: “The preservation, protection and promotion of the lion-cat dance heritage has always received great attention of the industry through many solutions such as research, survey, evaluation, etc. collecting information and documents on lion-cat dance heritage, promoting the role of folk artists to pass on heritage, creating space to practice lion dance; organizing cultural events of ethnic groups associated with local tourism development… Besides, we have advised the Provincial People’s Committee to develop and implement the Project “Preserving and promoting the value of the lion dance of Tay, Nung people in Lang Son province, period 2021-2030” with specific contents, tasks and solutions.”

Accordingly, from 2016 until now, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has coordinated with relevant units to collect and inventory over 100 documents, artifacts and images related to cultural heritages located in the list of national intangible cultural heritage in general, and the lion dance of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups in particular. As a result, a number of traditional dances and martial arts are in danger of disappearing, such as dancing around the four corners of the table (dết xoòng, dết xoòng tài), dancing over the bamboo stick (bua tẹm, vòng tẹm),), jumping through a ring of fire (quá tu phầy) … which are now initially studied for restoring and replication.

Along with the research, from 2016 to now, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lang Son province has chaired and coordinated with the People’s Committees of districts and Lang Son city to organize 60 courses of teaching lion dance, attracting nearly 200 students. These practitioners gradually become the one popularizing and teaching it in the community, contributing to the preservation and passing down the traditional dances.

Additionally, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has paid attention and cooperated with local authorities to pilot the establishment and maintenance of lion dance teams of Tay and Nung ethnic groups at tourist destinations such as Quynh Son community cultural tourism village, Hoan Trung, (Bac Son district), Ky Lua walking street (Lang Son city) to serve visitors. At the same time, artisans Hoang Choong (Mai Pha commune, Lang Son city), Hoang Van Huy (Hoi Hoan commune, Van Lang district) were invited to design and produce souvenir from lion dance. Thereby, it increases the attractiveness of the destination.

Ms. Nguyen Thu Ha, a tourist from Hanoi, said: “I am very happy to participate in the vibrant space of Ky Lua Walking Street. I was especially impressed with the lion-cat dance, which was very nice and unique. Before I returned home, I bought a model of a lion-cat head as a gift for my children. Next time I will bring my friends here to enjoy these unique dances.”

At the same time, the Culture, Sports and Tourism sector also focuses on performance of this dance, introducing and promoting in cultural and tourism events inside and outside the province. Specifically, there were more than 1,000 exchanges, performances and competitions of lion dance held in the province during the 2016-2021 period. Notably, the first provincial-level lion-cat dance competition was held in October 2022, gathering 10 competition teams from 8 districts with nearly 200 folk artisans, creating a spill-over effect.

Lam Van Cuong, Binh Gia district, Lang Son province said: “I have been learning lion dance since I was 6 years old, I really enjoy it because I become healthier, more resilient and even more confident when I practice this dance. It has been 3 years since I started learning, I can do well some dances and perform in many places. Recently, I participated in the provincial lion-cat dance competition. Receiving the cheering of people, I am so proud and love the lion dance of my hometown.”

Another new year has come, surely every person who has the opportunity to enjoy the traditional lion-cat dances will further love and respect the cultural treasures that our forefathers have worked so hard to develop and preserve. It is even more precious when this heritage is jointly preserved and promoted by the whole community. In this modern rhythm of life, the heritage of lion-cat dance is increasingly spreading and affirming its vitality.