Northern (Peking) Lion: 

The Beijing or Northern lion dance is most commonly used by ths Chinese circus and was used in ancient times to entertain the Emperor and foreign emissaries.  However, within it's origins are the Lama Martial Arts of Tibet.

Nobody knows for sure when the Golden Lion was initially spotted, there is one speculation that it was first sighted during the Tang Dynasty.  The dance however was believed to have originated well over a thousand of years ago.

According to one story within Chinese mythology, the Golden Lion has it’s origins from Tibet.  Bordering the country of Tibet are the Himalayas in the South and the Kun-lun Mountains in the North.  In this amazing land of greenery, there were temples headed by abbots that dotted the landscape for its people are faithful followers of the Lama Order.

In these awesome mountains, mysterious beasts supposedly traversed.  Because of the danger they posed, these Lamas, besides having to devote their time in their religious studies, also had to learn martial arts to defend themselves.  One day, an old monk found a pair of lion cubs in the Kun-Lun Mountains.  The cubs being adorable and harmless, with their coats of golden fur, immediately found favor with the old monk who named them “Golden Lions”.

Since that auspicious day, the old monk raised the cubs to mature as ferocious lions.  Since these lions were fierce in nature, no one dared go near them.  Fortunately, upon the blessings of the gods, the lions were tamed and they became inseparable companions of the old monk.  However, this is just one story within the rich mythos of the Chinese Culture.

                   
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