Kanji 蛇 snake, serpent, hard drinker Related words 獅し 子し 舞まい Lion dance, another traditional performance often seen at festivals. While 龍踊り features a long dragon manipulated by multiple people, 獅子舞 typically involves one or two performers inside a lion costume.
Written forms 龍踊じゃおど り
Standard kanji spelling for the dragon dance, especially associated with the Nagasaki Kunchi festival.
蛇じゃ 踊おど り
Alternate spelling using 蛇 (snake), reflecting the serpentine appearance of the dragon. Less common than 龍踊り .
Etymology Compound of 龍 (dragon) or 蛇 (snake) and 踊り (dance). The reading じゃ is an older Sino-Japanese reading for 蛇 /龍 , preserved in this festival term. The dance itself is believed to have been introduced from China.
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