英文摘要
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The dragon is one of the 12 symbolic animals associated with a 12-year cycle in China. Every time the year of dragon comes, fertility rate will be looking up drastically. In the Chinese communities, every parent wants their baby to be born in the year of dragon so that the baby can make a success in the future. In the viewpoints of ancient aristocracy the lion stands for being auspicious and wealth-creating, and denotes awe-inspiring and avoiding evil spirits. The purpose of this study is to explore (1) The origin and transformation of the dragon and lion dance in a festival and (2) The meaning and function of the dragon and lion dance in a festival. The approach to the study is to garner materials on the Internet, books and periodicals in the library, then conduct a literature analysis of the dragon and lion dance by its attributes. The conclusions are as follows: Firstly, the dragon and lion dance originated in Chinese communities as a ritual to worship ancestors and pray for rain, and by degrees it changed into an activity for recreation. Secondly, it has been seen as a ceremony to bring along good luck and add to an atmosphere of excitement. Nowadays the dragon and lion dance has become a kind of competition, including Asian Dragon Dance Open Championship, National Chung-Hwa Cup, and National Dragon & Lion Dance Championship held during Dachia Matsu International Tourism Cultural Festival. Finally, the dragon and lion dance is aimed at praying for the seasonable weather for crop raising, less bad luck, and more children to make the family prosperous. In the festival the dragon and lion is seen as recreational activities. On this occasion one becomes acquainted with one another, and thus the national spirit can be upheld. As a result, the nation can be safeguarded and people in it can be strong and healthy.
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