[Concurrent] Li Yongmao, the inheritor of national intangible cultural heritage
Our Zhuang lion dance is different from other lions. It is more vivid. You can see that it has patterns on its face. This pattern represents a pattern belonging to the Zhuang brocade.
[Explanation] Li Yongmao, 74 years old this year, is from Tianyang District, Baise City, Guangxi. He was born in a family of martial arts. He liked martial arts since he was a child. At the age of 24, he embarked on the road of inheritance of Zhuang lion dance skills.
[Explanation] The Tianyang Zhuang lion dance has the characteristics of high, difficult, thrilling, dangerous, strange and beautiful.
For hundreds of years, the inheritance of strong lion skills has never been interrupted, and it has been innovated to form difficult stunts such as "lions on the golden mountain", "lions crossing overpasses", "knife-tip lion skills", "flying lions on high piles" and "golden lions".
In 2009, the Tianyang Zhuang lion dance technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage, and Li Yongmao became the cultural inheritor of this technique.
[Concurrent] Li Yongmao, the inheritor of national intangible cultural heritage
The three tables above, a lion, two people, and a lead lion, three people, dance in four piles, you can only stand one each, how to dance?
This is not the most dangerous one. It is the most dangerous to go up Knife Mountain. There is also the one who walks the tightrope over the overpass. This is our characteristic.
[Explanation] Tianyang Zhuangshi once went abroad to perform and became famous at home and abroad.
In several China-ASEAN lion dance competitions, Tian Yang's lion dance skills made a stunning appearance, attracting Chinese from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and other ASEAN countries to come to learn the arts.
[Concurrent] Li Yongmao, the inheritor of national intangible cultural heritage
We went to Germany in 1994 to perform the show Shang Knife Mountain. The Lions on Knife Mountain won praise from foreigners, they said that we are the most amazing nation.
[Explanation] In the glass cabinet of the Tianyang Zhuang Lion Dance Art Troupe training base, hundreds of medals and trophies are displayed showing the glorious history of the Lion Dance Troupe.
However, the simple training venue and outdated props and equipment reflect the dilemma that the lion dance troupe has gone from a peak to a valley, and the lion dance stunt is on the verge of being lost.
[Concurrent] Li Yongmao, the inheritor of national intangible cultural heritage
Nowadays, many young people like to go out to run, because it is more money to work outside. We do not have a fixed salary in the local lion dance, and when there is no subsidy, it is very difficult. What is my part-time job now? I often contact the business performance. , strive for some commercial performances to subsidize them. Before 2012, our performances were particularly high, reaching 160 performances a year.
[Commentary] Despite facing many difficulties, Li Yongmao, who is over old, still supports the lion dance troupe, trying every means to find business performance opportunities, in order to expand his reputation and increase the income of the lion dance troupe.
He also tried his best to train his sons Li Zhouwen and Li Zhouming to become the inheritors of Tianyang Zhuangshi.
[Explanation] According to the official introduction of Tianyang District, in the past few years, Tianyang Zhuang Nationality Lion Dance Skills Inheritance and Protection Base has held lion dance training classes under the leadership of Li Yongmao. There are 17 folk lion dance groups in the county, 4 Zhuang nationality lion dance teams, The team has more than 1,000 members.
Li Yongmao and Li Zhouwen went to primary and secondary schools to carry out lion dance culture training on campus, which was welcomed by students and parents.
[Concurrent] Li Yongmao, the inheritor of national intangible cultural heritage
After we went to the school for counseling, we found a few good (aspects), what did the performance show? A school welcomes, students are hobbies, and parents are satisfied, so this lion dance develops well in the school.
[Explanation] "Post-90s" Huang Wenxian began to learn from Li Yongmao at the age of ten.
Learning lion dance is very hard and difficult, and injuries are common, but because of his love for national culture, Huang Wenxian chose to persevere.
In addition, he also released lion dance performance scenes through WeChat Moments, Douyin and other platforms.
In this way, more people can understand and like the Zhuang lion dance.
[Concurrent] Huang Wenxian, a member of Tianyang Lion Dance Team
I hope to carry it forward to the whole world, to carry forward our Chinese lion dance, and to pass it on despite the difficulties in the future.
[Explanation] On both sides of the training base, there are two big characters of "Inheritance, Promotion and Development" and "Struggle and Development", encouraging Li Yongmao and his apprentices to continue to persevere and carry forward this Zhuang miracle.
Chen Qiuxia, Lin Yanhua, Tang poetry, Guangxi Tianyang reported
Responsible editor: [Ji Xiang]