PHOTO ESSAYS/DISCOVER TAIPEI -- The Ancient Art of the Lion Dance

A crowd has formed before a temple and the smell of firecrackers permeates the air. As you push your way through to see what the commotion is about, you are startled by a sudden explosion of raucous drums, and a wild scene comes into view. A multicolored lion with bulging eyes is crouching on the ground as if stalking its prey, and then without warning it vaults into the air and the crowd gasps in unison. The beast’s leonine movements are controlled by two concealed men, one carrying an elaborately decorated lion head with a snapping mouth, another at the rear operating the tail.

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