The unique craft of making lion heads.

Lion and dragon dance costumes are commonly seen during festivals, holidays, and grand openings, especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year, symbolizing good fortune, happiness, and prosperity, and ushering in auspicious events. In Thai Nguyen , driven by a love for the art, a group of young people have independently researched and learned to make lion and dragon dance heads in a systematic and professional manner. Currently, this is the only place in the province that produces handcrafted lion and dragon dance heads commercially in large quantities.

Following the bustling small street, we found the lion head crafting workshop (at Group 2, Tan Thinh Ward, Thai Nguyen City) owned by Mr. Doan Thanh Tung. In a house of about 100 square ^meters , Mr. Tung, the owner and also the head of the Long Nghia Duong Lion Dance Troupe, along with his members, were diligently completing the final batch of goods for delivery to the market in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Along with being overwhelmed by the colorful lion heads neatly arranged awaiting delivery to customers, we were presented with a plethora of materials for making handcrafted lion heads from rattan and bamboo, as well as gauze, paper, feathers, etc. Newly made handcrafted lion heads, covered with translucent white gauze, lay on racks, waiting for the glue to dry before being covered with paper and undergoing the next steps.

Most people are familiar with lion dance heads in a variety of vibrant colors, but the sight of lion dance heads being framed and covered with mosquito nets is probably something few people have had the chance to see firsthand.

In 2022, Tung and his brothers went to Dong Thap province to "learn the craft" of making handmade lion heads. Each person learned a different step in the process.

Although the materials used are rattan, bamboo, and paper, making a lion head is not a simple task. Each person must meticulously handle each stage, paying attention to every small detail so that the colorful lions retain the spirit of the lion while remaining sturdy and strong after the dance.

According to Mr. Tung: The stages from molding, twisting the frame, weaving, gluing paper to coloring the background and drawing patterns all require diligence, patience, and meticulousness from the craftsman; therefore, the craftsman must be like a true artist. In addition, the coordination of colors and decorations from the lion's head to its tail is very important to highlight the spirit, bravery, and majesty of this mythical creature.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Sang, a member of the Long Nghia Duong Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe, carefully bends the rattan sticks to create the frame for the lion's head, the first step in the lion head creation process.

These craftsmen prepare a frame according to standard dimensions, then weave and bend rattan to create each part of the lion's head. A satisfactory frame must ensure aesthetic appeal and clear lines to facilitate the subsequent steps.

The process of gluing the gauze and paper also requires the craftsman to glue the paper so that the surface is smooth. Because even a single flaw can affect the gluing of the gauze and paper, as well as the decorative painting. The glue used is made from cooked cassava starch, as has been done for hundreds of years.

The next step is painting the lion, which requires the artist's concentration and extensive practice to be able to draw the lines so soft, graceful, and capturing the spirit of the mythical creature.

To draw a beautiful lion dance costume, one must understand colors, color combinations, and the type of lion. Drawing the eyes is the most difficult step; each pair of eyes must convey its own unique expression. Whether the lion is strong, fierce, or gentle, it's all reflected in its eyes. The highlight of the mask is the broad, unrestrained smile.

The lion's head embodies the four auspicious features of the Four Sacred Animals: a dragon's jaw, a lion's nose, phoenix eyebrows, and a turtle's tail at the nape. Additionally, near the edges are spines resembling fish fins, as fish (or carp) symbolize success and advancement (e.g., fish leaping over the dragon gate, fish transforming into a dragon). The lion's head design emphasizes the distinctive features of the Four Sacred Animals to give the lion a majestic and powerful appearance, while remaining consistent with the community's traditional beliefs.

Lions come in many colors: white, yellow, red, green, and black. The three most popular lion heads are white, red, and black. These three lion heads often dance together, symbolizing the "Oath of Brotherhood in the Peach Garden": the yellow-faced, white-bearded lion (Liu Bei), the red-faced, black-bearded lion (Guan Yu), and the black-faced, black-bearded lion (Zhang Fei).

The final step in completing the lion's head is gluing the fur, making the beard, and attaching the tail. To make the body graceful, a type of shimmering sequined fabric must be used. With this fabric, the lion will sparkle in the sunlight or under artificial light.

Each product is meticulously crafted by the members. The lion heads are brought to life with exquisite detail. A finished lion head, in addition to its beautiful colors and shape, must have expressive eyes, a fierce yet cheerful mouth, be compact, lightweight, durable, and able to withstand impacts so that the students can perform challenging routines such as "Lion Climbing the Plum Blossom Valley," "Bamboo Green," and "Lion Playing with a Ball"...

Each lion head takes about 5-10 days from design to completion, so customers usually place orders in advance. After more than a year, the workshop has sold several hundred lion heads to markets both within and outside the province. During peak season, members sometimes have to stay up all night to ensure orders are fulfilled. Each handcrafted lion head sells for 4-6 million VND.

Despite the sweltering weather and busy work, the atmosphere here is very cheerful. Those who make lion heads seem to see this not only as a means of livelihood but also as a way to express their love and emotions through these seemingly inanimate materials, which bring joy to both children and adults every Mid-Autumn Festival.

Although making traditional lion heads doesn't bring in a very high income, the craftsmen here are all passionate about their work. In the midst of the bustling city, this small workshop still has people working tirelessly day and night with their passion.

Over a hundred years ago, the art of lion, dragon, and unicorn dance was introduced to Vietnam, and the craft of making lion heads developed accordingly. Using only bamboo and rattan sections that are whittled, shaped, and assembled, they fully express the majestic, powerful, dignified, and joyful spirit of the mythical creatures in this art form.

Lion dance art, or the lion heads themselves, are a quintessential art form deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture. Tung and these young people understand this, and they are continuing to preserve, spread, and enrich the cultural and spiritual life of the community by contributing to this tradition.