The Hakka Lion is a performance art that combines elements such as theatre, martial arts, dance, and music. It is a rare form of lion dance performance in Taiwan, and is unique to the Hakka culture. Yet, due to long term neglect, it was at a point almost a lost art. Even though in recent years, the Hakka Lion is in the midst of a revival along with more prominence being placed on the Hakka culture, as there is little accompanying literature to introduce it, knowledge about the Hakka Lion is still quite limited.
(Photo: CNA)
Around the time of the Qing Dynasty (1642-1911), the Hakka Lion spread to Taiwan along with the Hakka people who came from Jiaying, Huizhou, and Chaozhou in China’s Guangdong Province. During the period of Japanese rule (1895-1945), it was suppressed and stopped, before reviving again post-WWII. In 1960s, with the prospering economy, youths flocked to work in the factories, again pulling the brakes on the tradition. With Hakka culture in prominence in the recent years, the Hakka Lion performance once again came into the public eye with the proliferation of cultural activities.
The Hakka Lion – also called the Box Lion due to the square shape of the lion’s mouth – possess a mouth that could open and close, complete with two rows of teeth and an exaggerated nose. The lion is mainly green in color, and a full performance consists of the Spirit Lion (靈獅), the Big Face (大面), and the Little Face (小面) along with gongs, drums, cymbals, and other instruments. The characters of Big Face and Little Face are a key feature of the Hakka Lion performance; the former is the God of Wealth while the latter is a monkey. The interaction between the three aforesaid characters is the most interesting aspect of the performance.

(Photo: CNA)
It is extremely time-consuming to craft the Hakka Lion head, taking at least a month. Currently, Hakka Lion heads are still made by hand using traditional techniques – and because it is so made, each head is a one-of-a-kind work of art, and the adornments are representative of the aesthetics of its crafter.
The head of the Hakka Lion is slightly heavy, and the performers not only need to be well-versed in the various characters, they would also need to be trained in martial arts and be nimble. The Hakka people train their body and spirit through the lion dance, and develop a camaraderie through teamwork, and thus become the entertainment during celebrations of key events. The Hakka Lion performance is known for its coordination between the dance moves and the music, and is truly an art that integrates music, dance, martial arts, and theatrical performance.
The Hakka Lion performance team was originally created as a resistance group against bandits, to protect their homes whilst strengthening their bodies and also providing the Hakka people with entertainment when they are not bogged down with agricultural duties. As the Hakka people settled down, a Hakka Lion performance team found its calling in livening up the atmosphere during temple festivals. As a traditional performance art, the Hakka Lion dance was believed to be able to ward off evil, rid the place of pestilence, be appreciated as a folk play, a staple act during festivals, evolving today to become a competitive sport. Culturally, it is seen as a sign of respect towards nature, a prayer against natural disasters, a reminiscent of the past, an appreciation of the present, and an encouragement for the coming future.