Green Lion Mask, history of a symbol

Few people know that General MacArthur, Japanese's great friend, who also indirectly saves Taiwan from the communist’s disaster. Before the Korean War happened, the strategists said that Taiwan "can become an aircraft carrier that cannot be sunk" This idea was awakened President Truman about the importance of the island which make Taiwan become an "American defences in the Pacific" to block communist China's progress. Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) escaped but Taiwan is put to face mainland once again. The island is droped in the same identical story of General Zheng Chenggong (郑成功) with the "Overthrow The Qing To Restore The Ming Movement " (反清 复明) nearly three hundred years ago. Both chose Taiwan as a base, followed them are officials deeply attached to the old regime, combined with immigrants from the mainland who refused to surrender the new regime. The ultimate goal of both officials and immigrants is recaptured what was once theirs.

Ramble a bit to see that the resistance spirit of Taiwan to Mainland has deep roots in its history. Though times ups and downs, this mainstream thinking is never broken, it leaves very interesting physical evidence called Green Lion Mask as the way of expressing the spirit into action. It is a proof as a symbol for the resistance spirit of Taiwanese immigrants through many turbulent periods of Chinese history.

Green Lion mask

青狮 (Green Lion) is pronounced Shi Qing totally similar with 清 师 (Qing army) is invoking the troops of the Qing, so the mask becomes an allusion of the enemy that those who belong to "Overthrow The Qing To Restore The Ming Movement" assigned to it. Green Lion appeared in a lion dance originated in Fujian, where nurturing and most sustained Anti-Manchu movement after the collapse of Ming Dynasty.

This mask is not same both kinds of traditional North Lion (北 獅) and South Lion (南 獅) head of China. It is round and flat and not have bulky shapes as usual.

The Green Lion mask in my collection

The explanation for this simple form might have derived from its intended use. Initially Green Lion mask is used as a tool to practice martial arts, the enemy showed on a support tool is obviously effective soldiers stimulating. The simple, handy and easy to make are required elements for a weapon of rebel have been incorporated into this Green Lion mask. Can do it from any circular objects in everyday life, such as baskets, dustpan... The only special requirement is that it must be drawing an extremely aggressive face as a reference about the brutality of the Qing army in the conquest of Han Chinese in southern China.

Bulging eyes, sharp fangs on the agressive face

Overthrow The Qing To Restore The Ming Movement failure after the Qing took Taiwan island from the hands of General Zheng Chenggong in 1683, then the Qing dynasty collapsed in 1912 but Green Lion mask still remains in the land of Taiwan, it is especially popular in Fujian community. Symbol of hatred gradually be transformed into a mascot symbol of protection same as the consciousness that the Chinese think of lions for centuries.

The original natural feelings gradually moulding into standard shapes like a lot of the traditional symbols of this country. Green Lion mask must follow the regulations on the origin of the Chinese culture combined with the characteristics of native Taiwanese life. Green is the colour of the island located warm area in the southern with dense trees, and fertile farm to feed its population, so green now have the sense of security than threat one. The protective meaning is further highlighted by the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) drawn on the forehead as a sign of power to dispel evil spirits of this mascot.

Detail decoration of Bagua, Wang word, clouds and mouth on the mask

Underneath the bagua never lack of Wang (王) character represent the lion has been tamed and no longer a beast. Down below is the gold ingot shape mouth symbol of wealth and prosperity. Decorative yellow cloud on the cheeks represents unconcern spirit, lineage and endless luck.

The parts of the face are symmetrically arranged of horizontal and vertical follow Three Mountains and Five Mountains  possition principle. Three Mountains is the vertical arrangement of the forehead, nose and chin. Cheeks are two other mountains are arranged horizontally across the face, combining them together to form the Five Mountains in a precise and close arrangement. It is not only in accordance with the scientific concepts but also the sense of fairness and justice.

Mask always drawn by five colours white, blue, black, red, and yellow are symbolizing the five elements that correspond to metal, wood, water, fire and earth. The Chinese believe that the fluctuations of the five elements will affect the fate of a people and impact on the cycles of the universe. Both cosmology and worldview of China are perfectly combined in this simple mask.

These changes follow the history of the exodus

The Green Lion mask nowadays has drawn eyebrows are differently than the original which has two blades mounted on it. It is thought that master 干 德 源 Gan De Yuan held a concert in Quanzhou 泉州, in a symbolic act, a Green Lion head is cut to declare the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1912. This strike does not meant a break; it just cut off military nature of the performances. From that moment onwards, Green Lion no longer has two blades eyebrows and be used as a form of physical training (source: green lion).

Green Lion Head with two blades eyebrow (source: t85-topic)

Sishijia located in northwest Cianjhen District of Kaohsiung city are recognized as the earliest village has lion dance during the Qing Dynasty. Due to its geographical location surrounded by the ocean, it is often invaded by pirates in the early days when the residents follow General Zheng Chenggong to settle in the island. During free days after harvest time, the army and people here draw lion face on their dustpan, they use it for entertainment and training marital art for their people. There is martial art called Song Jiang Battle Array. A lion dance always performs a dance before the Song Jiang Formation sets off. This Green Lion is very famous known to its named Songjiang.

Song Jiang Green Lion head

It can be said that the history of the Green Lion mask attached to the Overthrow The Qing To Restore The Ming Movement with its related exodus. At first, in the second half of the 17th century, a large number of Han Chinese from Quanzhou and Zhengzhou district of Fujian Province has immigrated to Taiwan. Later, they call this group of people is Hokkien (Hokkien is another name of Fujian). Hokkien is probably the first ones invented Green Lions has round and flat form as mentioned.

Clip below shows the performance of the Green Lion Dance in martial forms of South Shaolin lion dance troop in Singapore.

And this clip also shows eye opening ceremony of blades eyebrow and white eyebrow of Green Lions of a different lion dance troupe

In 1683, after defeat General Zheng Chenggong, Qing government ban Han migrate to Taiwan, the ban was lifted in 1760 create a new big migration wave to this island, most of immigrants are Hakka people in this tim (source: lich su di dan dai loan). Hakka people coming from the south, but move slowly and live mainly in the north of Taiwan, they created a new variant of Green Lion with mouth can open. This Green Lion head style exists only in the Hakka community and seems a hybrid between bulk form of traditional lion head with the flat form of Hokkien Green Lion.

Hakka style Green Lion Head (source: Hakka Green Lion)

In addition to bulk form, the biggest feature of this Green Lion mask is the upper part of the head have round and the lower half is square shape. It reflects the concept "round heaven and square earth" in thinking about the universe of traditional China.T his is also a unique feature creates a uniquely difference of this lion.

Hakka Green Lion dance in Xiashan, Taiwan (source: Hakka Green Lion)

Taiwan history recorded an immigrant after Chiang Kai Shek's losses on the mainland in 1949 again. The government officials and a large number of people under the KMT leading to the island to build a base for the resistance war to communist. They make Taiwan become a diversify nation with many more races come from over China, old Taiwan immigrants called people come on this time is "other provinces". Those who bring the southern style, then the northern style lion head into Taiwan. They have little impact on original Green Lion making, such as the lion's mouth can open become popular in northern Taiwan and the colour of lion head becomes much more diverse since the period.

Green Lion head in Northem Taiwan (source: librarywork)

The disorder time is not support for artistic development so much, but just make it turns bad. The 1950s and 1960s witnessed the lion dance troupe associated with gangs tightly increasing. Guild originated from the "Overthrow The Qing To Restore The Ming" time is the hotbed of shady activities, violence characters in the troupes and in the fighting between different troupes has created a bad reputation for the arts of lion dance during this dark period.

In 70s and 80s Taiwan transformed itself under the industrialization. The belief in a protector and bring good things mascots placed on the shoulders of lion again. The lion dance becomes a commercial performance and more complex, by professional dance troupe performed. It almost lost its martial arts roots nowadays.

Echo of the symbol

Although only a temporary symbol of a historical period, Green Lion mask has successfully story more than its temporary role. Green Lion mask subject art history writers define one more type of lion dance which copyright belong to Taiwanese.  Its powerful light was obscured its origin, people only known Green Lion mask of Taiwan, very few people know its origin in Fujian.

Upon seeing the Green Lion masks, one can see a clear example of how history impacts on the formation of the characters of a nation. Taiwanese prefer utilitarian and fighting; they seek immediate interests, but always ready to strive for a long term future. This small island with its outstanding migrants made Taiwan prosperous by their strong energy and wise behaviour throughout its history.