The Lion Dance Of Thailand

The Lion Dance of China is a traditional folk art which has developed over a longperiod of time into its current form. The dance is an iconic part of Chinese culture andtradition. As it was developing in China, it was also spreading to other countries. Overtime the specific aspects of the dance developed differently in different regions. As theLion Dance spread to other places, the local cultures mixed with the dance’s distinctlyChinese cultural elements. One such culture was in Thailand.Thailand shares borders with several Southeast Asian countries: Myanmar to theWest, Cambodia and Laos to the East, and Malaysia to the South. Thailand hastraditionally had a close relationship with China as well, despite differences ofgovernment, economy, and culture. Throughout history, the two countries have freelyexchanged people and ideas, leading to rich cultural origins. Thailand has one of thehighest concentrations of Overseas Chinese in the world. These immigrants brought theLion Dance with them, mixing it with local Southeast Asian culture. The Lion Dance isno longer exclusively Chinese, but rather a Southeast Asian folk art.According to Chinese tradition, the lion is an auspicious creature, so those whowatch the Lion Dance can enjoy good luck. Therefore the Lion Dance is a celebration ofculture that spreads happiness and pride. However, in modern times, it has also becomea competitive sport with both local and international competitions.The Lion Dance has had an undeniable impact on cultural beliefs surrounding thelion as a symbolic creature, as well as an impact on general cultural beliefs, values, andaesthetic senses. The Lion Dance symbolizes a great deal of culture and tradition,important beliefs and values, and a mixture of Chinese and Southeast Asian ideas. Itencapsulates many important aspects of peoples’ lives and is of great culturalsignificance. Thus it is worthy of careful research.The present study examines several aspects of the Thai Lion Dance. First is thespread of the art from China, followed by its development in Thailand, and finally itseffects in modern Thai culture. The aim of this study is to raise awareness andunderstanding of the art in Thailand.