Bamboo and paper highly decorated festival mask with moving eyes and mouth.
Part of the costume used in the Lion Dance, a traditional dance which occurs at festivals as the lion is a lucky mascot in China. The dance is thought to keep people safe and bring good fortune. The lion dance is accompanied by three instruments; a large drum, cymbals, and a gong, which play a variety of tempos to match the lion's actions. Typically the dance is done by two people - one controlling the head and one controlling the body. Originally, the lion dance was performed by Buddhist monks and students of local kung fu schools, as the correct movement of the lion dance involves kung fu positions. The most important and grand performance of the Lion Dance takes place at the Fantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month and the end of celebrations for Chinese New Year.
