What Are Lion Dance Scrolls? Meaning, Tradition, and Symbolism Explained

Lion dance scrolls are used in a lion dance performance to display auspicious messages as part of a blessing. These scrolls are an iconic part of most lion dance performances, especially at weddings and business openings.

Since there is very little information about them online, we’ll go into a deep dive behind the traditions, history, and some of the most common blessings you’ll see on the scrolls.

What are lion dance scrolls?

A lion dance scroll is a long banner used during a performance with words of blessing printed on them.

The scrolls are usually about the height of a human being, often around five to six feet long. But the height may depend on their use. For instance, longer scrolls may be used for lion dance bench routines or pole routines as the lions are further off the ground. Shorter scrolls may be used for our junior lion team.

These scrolls will often be pounced on by the lions and unfurled, revealing the blessings printed to the audience.

What are lion dance scrolls made of?

Modern scrolls are often made out of cloth, designed using graphic design software, and printed using modern machines and dye. In the past, scrolls were hand-made, often being hand-painted on paper or silk.

Each scroll has a slot for a wooden dowel to be inserted at the top and bottom, making it easy to grip, roll up, and release. A piece of string, a ribbon, or some velcro may be used to keep the scrolls rolled tightly so they aren’t accidentally exposed during the performance.

Example phrases on lion dance scrolls

The type of event determines which scrolls and phrases are chosen. For example, wedding scrolls often evoke feelings of togetherness and happiness, while business scrolls usually feature themes of good fortune.

Depending on the request, most scrolls are written in traditional Chinese script, but it is becoming more common to have English scrolls as well. Vietnamese lion dances will have scrolls in their native language as well.

Here are some examples of Chinese and Vietnamese scrolls that we use in our lion dances. English scrolls are not listed here but will be shown to our clients by request. This is a non-exhaustive list – we have many more scrolls to choose from depending on the occasion.

Common lion dance scrolls and their English translations

Occasion	Scroll	Translation
Wedding	百年好合	One hundred years of happiness and togetherness
Wedding	永結同心	Two hearts as one
Wedding	Trăm Năm Hạnh Phúc	One hundred years of happiness
Business	開業大吉	Lucky grand opening
Business	生意興隆	Thriving and prosperous business
Lunar New Year	恭喜發財	Gong Hay Fat Choy
Lunar New Year/General	身體健康	Wishing you good health
Lunar New Year/General	萬事如意	All your wishes come true
Lunar New Year/General	大吉大利	Lots of fortune/luck
Lunar New Year/General	財源廣進	May your wealth be abundant
Lunar New Year	Chúc Mừng Năm Mới	Happy new year
Lunar New Year/General	Đại Cát Đại Lợi	Lots of fortune/luck
Birthday	生日快樂	Happy birthday
Birthday	福如東海	May your happiness and good fortune be boundless like the East Sea
Birthday	壽比南山	May you live as long as the Southern Mountain

If you’re in Vancouver and want to book a lion dance with our team, we will present a comprehensive list of scrolls for any occasion, including:

• weddings,

• tea ceremonies,

• grand openings for businesses,

• birthdays,

• 100-day celebrations, and

• community events.

We will happily recommend an auspicious combination of scrolls for an authentic experience.

Book a lion dance with Chau Luen Athletics

When are scrolls used in a lion dance?

Scrolls are often displayed near the end of the performance, serving as a finale for the blessing ceremony given by the lions. In the case of both business openings and weddings, this normally happens after the choy cheng (採青), or “picking of the greens”, where lettuce is showered through the air.

At this point, you will probably hear a drum roll before the lion(s) pounce onto the scrolls, which will have been discreetly placed on the ground at some point during the choy cheng. Another drumroll will follow, crescendoing into the scroll drop itself.

Who do the lions present the scrolls to?

The scrolls are always presented to the guests of honour, namely the bride and groom for a wedding or the owner of a business at a grand opening. The lions will then turn towards the audience so they can also see it, and there will be a photo opportunity for the VIPs as well.

If it’s a community event, the scrolls will be directly shown to the crowd. The scrolls will then be laid down and taken away by one of the team members before the lions close out the performance.

Depending on what the clients ask for, the scrolls may be dropped from a standing position on the ground or from a greater height. To accomplish this, the performer in the tail will boost the performer in the head onto their legs or head, making for a memorable show.

Keep an eye out for lion dance scrolls the next time you see a performance

Chinese lions are believed to bring good fortune and health and drive away evil spirits. And because of this, the act of giving blessings is one of the paramount aspects of lion dance.

At the next lion dance you witness, we encourage you to keep an eye out for these beautiful scrolls and try to decipher their meaning.

Lion dance scroll FAQ

Are lion dance scrolls only written in Chinese?

No, lion dance scrolls bestow blessings in any language. Most commonly, it is Chinese, but it’s not uncommon to see English or Vietnamese scrolls during performances, depending on the client. Other countries around the world may have customized scrolls based on their native language, either alongside or replacing Chinese.

Can you request a custom lion dance scroll?

Generally, most lion dance teams order scrolls from suppliers around the world, so this is generally not possible due to time constraints and budget. However, some lion dance teams make their own scrolls in-house and can accommodate these requests at an additional cost.

Can you provide your own lion dance scroll?

Normally, lion dance teams will allow you to use your own scroll, as long as the message is appropriate. Chau Luen Athletics has presented custom scrolls for clients such as the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, presenting branded scrolls and year-specific blessings.