[New Year Chronicle] Gongs and Drums to Say Goodbye to the Old, Mythical Beasts, and to Celebrate the New Year——Hong Kong Kylin Dance Culture is passed on
[Explanation] It is the New Year of the Ox, and the colorful flags of Lincun Township, located in Tai Po District, Hong Kong, are flying.
The Qilin team in the village is visiting the villagers from house to house.
Qilin dance is a traditional custom in the village of Lincun. On festive occasions such as Taiping Qingjiao, ancestral hall consecration, new residences, welcoming wedding leave, Lunar New Year and other festive occasions, the Qilin team will be dispatched, or pay homage to sacrifices, perform Qingqing, or pay for the New Year from house to house. Wherever they went, there was a lot of joy and laughter, and the villagers prayed to the beasts for auspiciousness and blessing, and the weather was smooth and the country was peaceful.
Zhang Yuwen is the leader of the Lincun Kirin team. He has been in the industry for 13 years and has a deep affection for the Kirin.
[Concurrent] Zhang Yuwen, Vice Chairman of Lincun Township Miaoxiu Sports Association
I would think of Kylin culture, or I would use three words to talk about it.
I think it is a joy, unity and auspiciousness.
As soon as we attend, there will be a lot of villagers who will go to congratulate our Qilin together. We represent our village up and down to unite and celebrate the New Year together.
We will use Kylin on different festivals, which is also a celebration that is quite worthy of joy, which makes everyone united and happy.
As for the unicorn itself, it is an auspicious thing, which brings happiness and longevity, and even a symbol of giving off children. It is an auspicious meaning to bring blessings to the villagers.
[Explanation] There are 26 indigenous villages in Lincun Township, many of which are Hakka villages.
In the early years, the Hakka Kylin culture moved south with the Hakkas to the New Territories of Hong Kong, which led to the prosperity of the martial arts culture.
Male residents in many villages in the New Territories are good at dancing unicorns.
With the development of society, people's cultural life is becoming more and more abundant, and the unicorn dance is declining.
Nevertheless, there are still many young people in this small village who are willing to spend time learning this traditional art.
[Concurrent] Zhang Yuwen, Vice Chairman of Lincun Township Miaoxiu Sports Association
Regularly, at least every week, on Saturdays, from about 8:30 to 10:30, about two hours to do this training. Training includes unicorn training and Kungfu training, which are also very important. It is to learn etiquette training. Starting from grasping the unicorn tail, learning to play gongs, drums, cymbals, and even dancing unicorn heads, we all learn, so that we may be fascinated by our ears and eyes. We learn from childhood, and gradually come into contact with it. Fall in love with it, just like these kids.
[Explanation] In 2014, with the encouragement of the village elders, the Lincun Township Miaoxiu Sports Association was established with about 70 members, including 30 unicorn players, mainly composed of "post-90s" and "00s" from 5 villages in the township. Composed of "post" youths, the youngest of them is only 10 years old.
The 28-year-old Li Haolun is the main member of the unicorn team. He started to learn the unicorn at the age of 5 and is also the third-generation heir of the unicorn dance.
[Concurrent] Li Haolun, Vice Chairman of Lincun Township Miaoxiu Sports Association
My uncle passed on me from the previous generation, and passed it down to the second or third generation, and then passed it down to the next generation, the cousin is the fourth generation.
I started to learn unicorn dance when I was five years old, as if they were so young. Now I am 28 years old, and I have started teaching to some younger generations in the village.
[Explanation] Over the past two decades, the primary school apprentices of that year have grown into a new generation of Qilin masters and began to teach younger apprentices.
[Concurrent] Zhang Weifeng, a young member of Lincun Township Miaoxiu Sports Association
My name is Zhang Weifeng, I am 11 years old this year, and I have been practicing since I was 9 years old. I hope I can dance as well as the master.
[Concurrent] Zhang Yinghao, young member of Lincun Township Miaoxiu Sports Association
My name is Zhang Yinghao and I am 11 years old. I have been learning unicorn since I was 10. Now I want to be a unicorn head, but because the unicorn head is too heavy to hold, I want to dance the unicorn head like a master and also want to learn more kung fu .
[Explanation] At the end of 2019, Malaysia held the second World Kylin Competition. The Miaoxiu Sports Club of Lincun Township from Hong Kong won the gold medal in the traditional category and was awarded the title of "Kirin King".
Up to now, this young unicorn team has set foot in many countries and regions such as Malaysia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, and has achieved outstanding results in various international competitions.
[Concurrent] Zhang Yuwen, Vice Chairman of Lincun Township Miaoxiu Sports Association
Bringing our Chinese culture abroad, and then winning the award from abroad, and then bringing this honor and joy back to our region in China, I am very happy.
In fact, in the future, we hope that in Hong Kong, and even in different places in China, we hope to promote our traditional culture.
In Hong Kong, I hope that the World Kylin Competition can be held in the future, and it can be turned into a grand event in the unicorn world until it is promoted to more people.
[Explanation] The sound of gongs and drums, the dancing of unicorns, the mighty unicorn team adds an endless festive atmosphere to the quiet village hidden by the mountains.
This group of young people also made their New Year's wishes in their hearts, hoping to pass on the Chinese culture left by their ancestors from generation to generation, and dance the unicorn art that has been adhered to by generations out of the mountain village and to the world.
[Live Voice]
Happy new year and congratulations on getting rich.
Reporter Fan Siyi and Li Yue from Hong Kong
Editor in charge: 【Luo Pan】