Asian Festivals: China, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand

Asian Festivals
China, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand

Chinese Spring:
New Year
Festival
Chinese New Year is the longest and the
most important festivity in the Chinese
calendar.
 known as “Spring Festival” the literal
translation of the Chinese name Chunjie,
since the spring season in Chinese
calendar starts with lichun, the first
solar term in Chinese calendar year. It
marks the end of the winter season.
Thefestival begins on the first day of the first
month in the traditional calendar and ends with
the Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day
Chinese New Year’s Eve, a day where Chinese
families gather for their annual reunion dinner, is
known as Chuxi or “Eve of the Passing
Year.”
Because the Chinese calendar is lunar-solar,
the Chinese New Year is often referred to as the
“Lunar New Year.”
The Dragon Dance is a form
of traditional dance and
performance in Chinese
culture; like the lion dance it is
most often seen in festive
celebrations. Many Chinese
people often use the term
“Descendants of the Dragon,’”
(long de chuan ren) as a sign
of ethnic identity. The
emperor of China usually
used the dragon as a symbol
of his imperial power and
strength.
The Dragon dance is a
highlight of Chinese New Year
celebrations. The dragon
symbolizes power, strength,
and good luck. The dance
team mimics the supposed
movements of this river spirit in
a flowing, rise and fall manner.
The movements in a
performance traditionally
symbolize historical roles of
dragons demonstrating power
and dignity.
The main objective of
wearing Chinese
costumes is to maintain
the sanctity of their
tradition. They get
haircuts and makeovers
so that they are fully
ready to welcome the
New Year in a brand new
style.
Cheongsams
and qipaos Traditionally women
wear the cheongsams
and qipaos while the
men wear the
mandarin collared
shirts with the Chinese
dragon symbols, and
Kung Fu suits
traditionally kung fu
suits and coats.
Taiko Drum Festival
of Japan
A good example of a professional taiko
drumming troupe is the Kodo.
The name Kodo conveys two meaning:
Heartbeat the primal source of all rhythm
and, read in a different way.
Children of the drum, a reflection of
Kodo’s desire to play their drums simply,
with the heart of a child.
The main focus of the performance includes the
following:
 Uchite, the taiko drummer
 Different drums
 Other traditional Japanese musical instruments such
as fue and shamisen make an appearance on stage
 Traditional dance and vocal performance are part of
the performance.
Uchite
Kodo troupe
 Include pieces based on the
traditional rhythms of regional Japan,
pieces composed for Kodo by
contemporary songwriters, and pieces
written by Kodo members
themselves.
 Performances normally last for about
one hour and forty minutes.
History
Drums were used in ancient times to signify the
boundaries of a village. Peasant events such as rice
harvests or dance festivals were celebrated with
drums.
Drumswere used to pray for rain and other religious
ceremonies.
Drums lead warriors into battles in order to scare the
enemy.
Costumes and Props
Happi – coats over black with white calligraphy. A
baggy-sleeved short cotton jacket, tied with a sash
(obi) around the waist. It is usually a plain color,
typically blue or black, with a symbol printed on the
lapels and on the back.
Hachimaki – white headband
Tabi – shoes with big toe separated
Odaiko (big drum); Jozuke (medium); Chime
(small)
Happi
Balinese Dance
Festival of
Indonesia
Balinese dances are a
very ancient dance
tradition that is a part of
the religious and
artistic expression
among the Balinese
people.
General Description
The creative and reproductive balance is
often personified as Shiva’s wife, Durga,
sometimes called Uma, Parvati, or Kali.
This has significance in Balinese
Hinduism, since the common figure of
Rangda is similar in many ways to
Durga.
Shiva and Durga
Variations
In Bali there are various categories of
dance, including epic performances such
as the universal Mahabharata and
Ramayana. Certain ceremonies at village
temples features a special performance of
a dance-drama, a battle between the
mythical characters Rangda, the witch
representing the evil and Barong, the lion
or dragon, representing good.
Variations
♫ Among the dance traditions in Bali,
these terms deserve special mention:
♫ Barong, the Lion; Legong, a refined
dance form characterized by
intricate finger movements,
complicated foot work, and
expressive gestures and facial
expressions; and
Barong
Training of Bali Dance
♫ Balidancers learn the craft
from their mothers as soon as
they are born. In the womb,
they are played the Balinese
music and are taught to dance
with their hands before they
can walk.
Training of Bali Dance
♫ Official
training as a Bali
dancers starts as young as
seven. In Balinese dance the
movement is closely
associated with the rhythms
produced by the gamelan.
Movements
♫ Multiplelevels of articulations in the
face, eyes, hands, arms, hips, and
feet are coordinated to reflect layers
of percussive sounds.
♫ The number of codified hand
positions and gestures, the mudras,
is higher in India than in Java or
Bali.
Costumes of Balinese Dancers
Most Female dancers wear:
♫ Various colors of makeup
♫a crown
♫ both real and golden flowers in their hair
♫ Sarong and wrap a long sash from their hips to
their breasts as well as many gold decorations
♫ Crown and decorations are made from
cowhide
Costumes of Balinese Dancers
Most Male dancers wear:
♫ makeup (use more red color for their eyes and
cheeks and their eyebrows are colored to
enhanced masculinity)
♫a mask when they dance the topeng dance
♫a crown
♫a cloak or many pieces of these clothes around
their body
Lantern Festivals
of Thailand
Sky Lantern Festival (Yi Peng) Festival
This event is about the launching of lanterns
which are actually small hot air balloons.
Each release of a sky lantern is a petition, small
prayer, or good wishes of the person who
released the lantern.
This event is held on the full moon of the 12th
month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the
western calendar this usually falls in November.
The Chiang Mai area has been the scene of
mass sky lantern release. Some of the meaning
of releasing the sky lanterns are:
it sends a person’s bad luck and misfortune away
into the air, especially if it disappears from view
before the fire goes out.
people say a short prayer before launching the
lantern. Sometimes they will also write their
address in the lantern. Anyone who later finds the
lantern can then claim money from the sender. In
this way, the good fortune is shared.
It is considered good luck. Many Thai’s
believe these sky lanterns are symbols
of problems and worries floating away.
It can act as veneration to Pra Ged
Kaew Ju La Mannee (The crystal Chedi
in heaven in which Buddha’s hair is
kept.)
Loy Krathong
Festival
Loy or Loi Krathong Festival
This takes place on the
evening of the full moon of the
12th month in the traditional
Thai lunar calendar. In
western calendar this usually
falls in November.
Loy / Loi literally means “to float.”
while Krathong refers to the “lotus-
shaped receptacle” which can float on
water. Originally, the Krathong was
made of banana leaves or the layers
of the trunk of a banana tree or a
spider lily plant.
The festival is believed to originate in an
ancient practice of paying respect to the spirit
of waters. A krathong will be decorated with
elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers,
candles, and incense sticks. A low value coin
is sometimes included as an offering to the
river spirits. During the night of the full moon,
Thais will float their krathong on a river,
canal, or on a pond lake.
The tradition is said to have
begun in the 13 century
th
when a young queen made a

small boat adorned with
candles and sent it down the
river
It is a ritual honoring Pra Mae Kongka,
the goddess of water. The construction of
the colorful boats was a way of not only
giving thanks for the abundance of water,
but also a way to seek forgiveness for
oversue and pollution. Today, Loy Krathong
is a way for people to make wishes and
look toward the future.
Asian Festivals
China, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand
By: Fia P. Cajayon

Asian Festivals: China, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand

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China, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand

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