Holiday Ayo - Chinese New Year celebrations are usually synonymous with lion dance performances. A traditional Chinese performing art uses a sarong that resembles a lion. This art also has a history of thousands of years.

The first records of Barngosai can be traced back to the Chin Dynasty around the third century BC. However, it became popular during the South-North Dynasty (Nan Bei) in 420-589 AD.

It is said that at that time the troops of King Song Wen Di were overwhelmed by the attack of King Fan Yang's elephant troops from Lin Yi's country. Then the warlord Zhong Que made an imitation of a stuffed lion to repel King Fan's army. And the effort was successful until it finally became a legendary art until now.

Another source said the lion dance appeared as a weapon to scare away evil spirits. Which is believed to be more violent at the beginning of the Chinese New Year. Because at the beginning of the Lunar New Year, the gods returned to heaven to face the Heavenly Emperor.

While this art in Indonesia is estimated to have entered the 17th century when there was a great migration from South China. Barongsai in Indonesia experienced its golden age in the era when the Tiong Hoa Hwe Koan association existed. In various regions in Indonesia, each of these associations is almost certain to have an art group.

The name lion dance is a term that only exists in Indonesia. In its home country, China, this art is known as "Wu Shi", and internationally it is more popular as "Lion Dance".

The term is the result of acculturation between Nusantara culture and Chinese culture. The word “barong” refers to Balinese, Indonesian art, a dance that features puppets or costumes. While "sai" comes from the Hokkien language which means lion.

Although many refer to it as the form of a lion, it is actually a lion dance that is a combination of several animals. Each part of his body is formed from five different animal or creature elements that have their own philosophical meanings.

The excitement of this art performance is not only due to the attraction and the beat of the music, it is also due to the striking colors of its body. Barongsai musical instrument also adds liveliness to each performance. Usually, there are three main musical instruments: drums, cymbals, and gongs.

The sound of the drums gives emphasis and direction to the movements and maneuvers of the attraction, while the cymbals and gongs convey the emotional side.