Kylin dance to become part of intangible cultural heritage of humanity
PASSIONATE DANCE - Múa lân sư rồng (kylin-lion-dragon dance) is often performed by the ethnic Hoa (Chinese-Vietnamese) who account for around 4 per cent of HCM City’s population. The dance is a mixture of dance, martial arts and passion. VNA/VNSPhoto by Thông Hải. |
HCM CITY — HCM City has submitted a document to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to name the art of kylin-lion-dragon dance by local people on the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity of Việt Nam.
Local authorities are working with experts from the city’s Kylin-Lion-Dragon Dance Union to recognise the dance as a national intangible cultural heritage of humanity, according to the Department of Culture & Information.
Múa lân sư rồng (kylin- lion- dragon dance) is often performed by the ethnic Hoa (Chinese-Vietnamese) who account for around 4 per cent of HCM City’s population. Many Hoa people live in Chợ Lớn (Big Market) in District 5 and District 11.
The dance is usually performed to bring luck and happiness during the traditional Tết (Lunar New Year) Festival, Rằm Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival) on the 15th day of August in the lunar calendar, and at ceremonies to open a new business or build a new house.
HCM City has 60 amateur and professional troupes of kylin-lion-dragon dance, including Nhơn Nghĩa Đường and Kiến Thắng Đường of Chợ Lớn, which have 100-200 members each.
Lân (kylin), sư (lion) and rồng (dragon) are symbols of power, wisdom and good fortune. They chase away evil spirits and bring happiness, longevity and good luck.
The performers wear black and white costumes that symbolise the balance of âm (yin) and dương (yang), as well as red fabric belts that show their passion for martial arts.
During Tết (Lunar New Year), they use red clothes for luck. They play different drums to excite the audience and also perform circus acts.
PASSIONATE DANCE - Múa lân sư rồng (kylin-lion-dragon dance) is often performed by the ethnic Hoa (Chinese-Vietnamese) who account for around 4 per cent of HCM City’s population. The dance is a mixture of dance, martial arts and passion. VNA/VNSPhoto by Thông Hải. |
Múa lân sư rồng of the ethnic Hoa in Chợ Lớn consists of both traditional and modern performances.
Modern dances feature the ông địa (God of Earth) and a dragon dancing together.
One of the featured kylin dance in traditional style called Lân Lên Mai Hoa Thung (Kylin Climbs Mountains).
The dance presents a kylin head to the highest mountain. The lead dancer has to jump from the lowest pole of one metre high to the highest of 1.7 metres. There are 10 poles spaced metres apart.
Masters of the dance and veteran performers at leading troupes have taught dance techniques and skills to younger generations for hundreds of years.
Skilled performers spend two years practising difficult dances.
“Múa Lân Sư Rồng of the Hoa in Chợ Lớn is a mixture of dance, martial arts and passion. I think the Vietnamese dragon dance art has developed very well,” said master Lưu Kiếm Xương, head of Nhơn Nghĩa Đường, who has 40 years of experience.
Nhơn Nghĩa Đường was established in 1936. Since the 1990s, the troupe has won several top prizes at international kylin dance festivals.
City authorities have worked to support Nhơn Nghĩa Đường and other troupes to preserve their art.
In January, the city organised the Kylin-Dragon Dance Festival, attracting 50 troupes from 15 cities and provinces across the country.
The event aimed to highlight the quintessence of the art, and promote the cultural and tourism products of District 5 and the city as a whole to local people and international visitors.
See also
Hanoi – World’s Leading Culinary City Destination
16:15 | 10/10/2024 Lifestyle
Born in Hà Nội: the capital's 70th jubilee
10:28 | 04/10/2024 Lifestyle
The restoration of the Hoàng A Tưởng mansion to be completed in October
10:03 | 26/09/2024 Lifestyle
Awards ceremony for literature, arts contest scheduled for December
17:06 | 25/09/2024 Lifestyle
New Children's Cultural Complex in Hà Nội opens to the public
16:56 | 25/09/2024 Lifestyle
A blast from the past
08:50 | 25/09/2024 Lifestyle
See more news
Vietnam wins first-ever medal at Women's World three-cushion Championship
10:05 | 18/09/2024 Lifestyle
Concert featuring BOND string quartet to support victims of Yagi typhoon
09:54 | 13/09/2024 Lifestyle
Free stay for those affected by floods in Thái Nguyên
09:33 | 11/09/2024 Lifestyle
Deaf café goes with the flow
11:01 | 07/09/2024 Lifestyle
Impressive cultural event at Moc Chau Island
17:00 | 04/09/2024 Lifestyle
Hanoi Pho: National intangible cultural heritage
09:22 | 29/08/2024 Lifestyle
Three Vietnamese dishes among top 86 best salads in Asia
16:06 | 28/08/2024 Lifestyle
Dishes cooked from sea snails help put Việt Nam on the world culinary map
10:19 | 27/08/2024 Lifestyle
Pho spreads value of Vietnamese culinary “ambassador”
13:10 | 24/08/2024 Lifestyle
Hanoi launches culinary tourism app
11:36 | 22/08/2024 Lifestyle
Ca Mau Province accelerates public investment disbursement
17:29 | 11/10/2024 Investment
East Asian Summit calls for cooperation to enhance mutual understanding
17:22 | 11/10/2024 Cooperation
PM attends 12th ASEAN-US Summit in Vientiane
17:18 | 11/10/2024 News and Events
Vietnam ready to turn off 2G service
16:34 | 11/10/2024 Science - Technology
WTO highlights Vietnam’s role in restructuring of global supply chains
14:37 | 11/10/2024 Trade
Multimedia
Hanoi Liberation: Important milestones
15:39 | 09/10/2024 Infographic
Vietnam makes active contributions to ASEAN development
09:15 | 09/10/2024 Infographic
France becomes Vietnam's 8th Comprehensive Strategic Partner
08:57 | 08/10/2024 Cooperation
Two historic battles of the capital’s armed force and people
09:53 | 07/10/2024 Infographic
Numerous cultural, tourism activities to welcome 70th Hanoi’s Liberation Day
10:43 | 05/10/2024 Infographic
Multiple laws under review for revisions
08:55 | 11/10/2024 Policy
Top leader attends Hà Nội's Liberation Day anniversary, highlights potential to drive growth
20:31 | 10/10/2024 Policy
Vietnam, Cuba bolster defence cooperation
16:36 | 10/10/2024 Policy
NA urges capital market revitalisation
20:15 | 09/10/2024 Policy
MoIT approves price framework to purchase electricity from Laos
08:38 | 11/10/2024 Energy
Foreign investors interested in green development, semiconductor industry in Vietnam
17:34 | 09/10/2024 Industry
Việt Nam seeks Japan's cooperation in hydrogen energy development
14:33 | 09/10/2024 Energy
Việt Nam's industrial production saw positive growth in nine months
14:20 | 08/10/2024 Industry
Ca Mau Province accelerates public investment disbursement
17:29 | 11/10/2024 Investment
HCM City approves US$9b Cần Giờ coastal urban development project
10:04 | 11/10/2024 Investment
Bac Ninh leads nation in FDI attraction in nine months
18:05 | 09/10/2024 FDI
Total social investment capital disbursed in nine months up 6.8%: GSO
14:41 | 08/10/2024 Investment
PM urges WB to provide concessional loans for key infrastructure projects
08:52 | 11/10/2024 Finance-Banking
DIC Corp completes buyback of $18.6 million in bonds
09:25 | 10/10/2024 Finance-Banking
Update on exclusive partnership between Manulife Vietnam and Techcombank
14:52 | 08/10/2024 Finance-Banking
VPBank, LOTTE C&F cooperate to provide financial service with “Buy now pay later” product
09:31 | 07/10/2024 Finance-Banking
Leveraging power of community to protect unique Yok Đôn ecosystem
14:49 | 09/10/2024 Environment
Little cooperation from zoo operators in mass deaths of tigers, lions, panther: authorities
09:18 | 08/10/2024 Environment
Issuing “passports” for forest visits
22:12 | 05/10/2024 Environment
Vietnam’s forestry sector leads in achieving net negative emissions
09:16 | 04/10/2024 Environment
Vietnam ready to turn off 2G service
16:34 | 11/10/2024 Science - Technology
Digital infrastructure strategy approved
09:50 | 11/10/2024 Science - Technology
Vietnam, India seek further development through sci-tech cooperation
09:46 | 11/10/2024 Science - Technology
Digital transformation creates new momentum for national development
16:35 | 10/10/2024 Science - Technology
Implementation of Red River Delta Region Planning approved
09:00 | 11/10/2024 Society
Nine Vietnamese universities make global rankings 2025
17:05 | 10/10/2024 Society
Hanoi develops as dynamic, pioneering, innovation city: Int’l media
11:33 | 10/10/2024 Metropolis
Hà Nội's remarkable transformation after 20 years
11:25 | 10/10/2024 Metropolis
Fifteen Vietnamese banks named in the global top 500 banking brands
16:24 | 10/10/2024 Vietnamese Brands
Việt Nam's second rice brand enters picky Japanese market
09:03 | 10/10/2024 Vietnamese Brands
Ben Tre to export first batch of fresh coconuts to China in October
09:41 | 08/10/2024 Vietnamese Brands
Mê Linh harnesses the potential of OCOP products
09:36 | 07/10/2024 Vietnamese Brands
Việt Nam promotes location opportunities at Busan International Film Festival
09:41 | 11/10/2024 Culture
Hanoi – World’s Leading Culinary City Destination
16:15 | 10/10/2024 Lifestyle
Pride and patriotism: the ‘expat’ view
09:19 | 10/10/2024 Culture
German Film Awards winner opens Kinofest in Hà Nội
09:16 | 10/10/2024 Culture
Hà Nội develops tour to explore Thường Tín’s craft villages
09:32 | 11/10/2024 Tourism
Vietnam Airlines promotes tourism in Germany
09:27 | 10/10/2024 Tourism
Việt Nam sees surge of tourists from visa-exempt countries in 2024
09:46 | 08/10/2024 Tourism
Cultural tourism requires more investment to become cultural industry
09:24 | 08/10/2024 Tourism