It’s a rare occasion for CAAN to welcome a new lion costume to the group, so we held a special ceremony for our new friend!
The eye-dotting ceremony, or 開光 (Kāi Guāng), is a sacred tradition in Chinese lion dance that marks the awakening of a new lion. During this ritual, the lion’s eyes, ears, mouth, and other key parts are dotted with red ink, symbolizing life, awareness, and spirit. This act transforms the lion from an inanimate object into a lively being, ready to bring luck, ward off evil, and perform its cultural duty.
Often the ceremony is conducted by a respected elder, leader, or guest of honor, so we had CAAN’s artistic director Jen-Jen Lin and long time lion dancer & coach Justin...