Lion dance

Guangzhou's lion is known as the Southern Lion. It has distinct southern characteristics, including a high and narrow brow, large and expressive eyes, a wide smiling mouth, a broad back, a flat nose, full cheeks, and teeth that can be hidden or revealed. During the Guangzhou lion dance, someone in a mask leads the lion and holds a fan to entice it. This person is known as the lion leader or, colloquially, the big-headed Buddha. This painting depicts the big-headed Buddha holding a folding fan in his right hand and tossing an embroidered ball to the lion.