Recently, the 2nd Johor Bahru Sultanah Fatimah Foundation Cup - 2024 International Southern Lion High-Pile Competition was held in Johor Bahru, Johor State, Malaysia. Eighteen lion king teams from China, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and other countries gathered to compete for the pinnacle of lion dance artistry.

At the site, amidst the resounding beats of gongs and drums, the "lion king teens" danced and leaped on the uneven plum blossom piles, each displaying their "signature skills," bringing an unforgettable visual feast to the local citizens. The venue erupted in thunderous applause and continuous cheers.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia. Currently, China and Malaysia are jointly applying to include lion dance in the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The competition was supported by the Johor Bahru Sultanah Fatimah Foundation. "Mejar China" David Wong Khong Soon, a respected Chinese elder in Johor State, said, "The relationship between Malaysia and China has been maintaining a positive development momentum for 50 years. We hope that through this lion dance competition, we can further strengthen the friendly relations between China and Malaysia."

Guangdong lion dance is one of the first batch of national intangible cultural heritages in China and is widely spread in overseas Chinese communities. Guangdong lion dance shares the same roots and origins with Malaysian lion dance, both belonging to the Southern lion dance of China.

China and Malaysia have a broad civilian foundation in the field of lion dance and have maintained frequent civilian exchanges for a long time. Wong Khong Soon expressed his hope that the excellent traditional Chinese culture represented by lion dance will continue to be inherited, disseminated, and developed in Malaysia.

Zhao Weibin, the provincial representative inheritor of Guangdong lion dance and the president of the Guangzhou Dragon and Lion Dance Association, almost annually brings his lion team to engage in exchanges and practice with Malaysian lion teams.

He stated, "The competition is an excellent platform for exchange. Although the participants come from different countries and regions and belong to different ethnic groups, they fully express the spirit of the Chinese nation represented by the awakening lion. We also hope to spread Chinese lion dance culture around the world and look forward to lion dance becoming a cultural heritage shared by people worldwide."

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country, including Malays, Chinese, Indians, and several indigenous groups.

According to Zhang Wenhui, the president of the Malaysia Johor Loong & Lion Dance Sport Association, the demographic participating in lion dance in Malaysia is no longer limited to the Chinese. Malays and Indians are also widely involved. "There are nearly a thousand lion dance teams in Johor State alone, with about 200 being quite active."

Zhang Wenhui further explained that lion dance has now transcended different ethnic groups and beliefs, becoming a cultural activity enjoyed by the Malaysian public. It is invited to celebrate weddings and new store openings, "and we believe that lion dance will have a broader future."

Source: Lingnan On the Cloud

中马醒狮再续前缘！多国“雄狮少年”齐聚马来西亚角逐狮艺巅峰

日前，第二届柔佛州苏丹后法蒂玛基金会杯——2024国际南狮高桩争霸赛在马来西亚柔佛州新山市举行。来自中国、马来西亚、新加坡、越南等国家的18支狮王队伍齐聚一堂，角逐狮艺巅峰。

比赛现场，在一片铿锵的锣鼓声中，“雄狮少年”们在高低错落的梅花桩上飞舞跳跃，纷纷秀出“看家本领”，为当地市民群众带来一场难忘的视觉盛宴。现场掌声雷动，叫好声此起彼伏。

今年是中马建交50周年，目前，中国和马来西亚正联合申请将舞狮列入联合国教科文组织人类非物质文化遗产代表作名录。

本次比赛得到马来西亚柔佛苏丹后法蒂玛基金会的支持。柔佛州华人尊长、拿督黄匡顺表示：“马来西亚和中国的关系一直保持着良好的发展势头，已经持续50年。我们希望通过这次舞狮比赛，进一步强化中马两国间的友好关系。”

广东醒狮是中国首批国家级非遗，广泛流传于海外华人社区。广东醒狮与马来西亚舞狮同根同源，同属中国南狮。

中马两国在舞狮相关领域有着广泛的民间基础，长期以来保持着高频的民间交流。黄匡顺表示，希望以舞狮为代表的中华优秀传统文化继续在马来西亚传承、传播与发展。

广东醒狮省级代表性传承人、广州市龙狮协会会长赵伟斌几乎每年都会带着狮队与马来西亚狮队展开交流切磋。

他表示：“比赛是个绝佳的交流平台。虽然参赛队员们来自不同国家地区，属于不同民族，但他们把醒狮所代表的中华民族精气神演绎得淋漓尽致。我们也希望把中国舞狮文化传播到世界各地，期待舞狮能成为世界人民所共享的文化遗产。”

马来西亚是个多族群国家，包括马来人、华人、印度人和多个原住民族。

据马来西亚柔佛州龙狮文化总会会长张文辉介绍，如今在马来西亚参与舞狮的人群已不仅仅是华人，马来人、印度人都有较广泛的参与。“仅柔佛州的狮队就有近千个，比较活跃的狮队大约200个。”

张文辉进一步介绍，舞狮如今跨越了不同族群、不同信仰，成为马来西亚群众喜闻乐见的文化活动，新人结婚、新店开业都会邀请醒狮助兴，“相信舞狮未来将走向更广阔的天地。”

文｜记者 周欣怡 朱绍杰
图｜黄诚林
翻译｜赵凡
审校｜林佳岱