Two years ago, “Master Lim”, the founder of Lo Fo Chi Enterprise, was reported to be one of only 10 lion-head makers in the country. Despite overwhelming demand every Chinese New Year, the 77-year-old laments the lack of interest among younger generations in the art form.
His daughter, Seow Ling, told FMT that her ambition to continue in her father’s footsteps began as early as nine years old, when she was introduced to this traditional craft.
“I’ve watched my father work since I was young, and I grew to love it myself,” said the 45-year-old mother of two.
The traditional Chinese lion dance thrives in Malaysia thanks to the dedication of a community committed to preserving its heritage. It has now become an activity that transcends racial boundaries.
Every two years, a prestigious lion dance championship is held, where teams from various countries face off against Malaysia’s formidable champions. Behind all this grandeur, however, only a handful of artisans remain committed to ensuring the skill of crafting lion heads does not fade away.
Seow Ling acknowledges the complexity of creating a lion head, revealing that it took her over five years to master the art. Things get more challenging, she noted, when skilled labour is in short supply.
“It’s tough for one person to do everything. Many people need to be involved, as each step of the process requires a specific person or skillset,” she said.
Reflecting on her father’s journey of having transformed his Kepong workshop into a thriving craftsmanship hub, she said she hopes more people will take an interest in preserving this piece of cultural heritage.
“I want more people to learn. This has to be ours,” she stressed. “It’s a shame if no one wants to do it. I want to find more people who are interested and have them come here to learn.”
Meanwhile, Lim revealed that he has now crafted over 5,000 lion heads, sold both locally and internationally.
“Orders for my lion heads mostly come from overseas, while Malaysia only accounts for 50% of sales,” he said. “The largest buyers are from the United States, followed by Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Indonesia.”
Priced between RM3,500 and RM8,888 depending on the design, he shared that creating a lion head can take up to seven days.
Lim, who is also the founder and mentor of the Meng Kok Dragon & Lion Dance Troupe, added that lion dances are performed on various occasions including festivals, weddings, birthdays, and the openings of new businesses.
“For Chinese New Year, many customers prefer gold and silver colours. But for lion dance competitions, customers tend to choose black,” he explained.
In 2022, Lim was recognised as a lion dance master by the tourism, arts and culture ministry and the Malaysian Lion Dance Federation. - FMT
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