In Foshan, Guangdong, the "Human and Dragon Dance" is performed every Chinese New Year to pray for good weather and good luck. As the inheritor of the "Human and Dragon Dance", 75-year-old Hong Kong resident Lin Huixuan still leads his son, granddaughter and apprentices to practice the "Human and Dragon Dance" every year. They are the epitome of the "Human and Dragon Dance" that has lasted for hundreds of years. Traditional culture is passed down from generation to generation.
At 7 o'clock in the evening, when the reporter came to Guanghua Village in Shunde, Foshan, the place was bustling with gongs and drums and was very lively. I saw 20 young men carrying the young man lying on his shoulders, and linked together to form a human dragon nearly 30 meters long. Under the guidance of "Dragon Ball", the rhythm changes with the drum beat.
Lin Huixuan, leader of the Human Dragon Dance Team in Guanghua Village, Foshan City:
Because we are all made of human dragons, many audiences welcome us when we dance.
This "human dragon" is composed of a "dragon body" at the bottom and a "dragon body" above. The "dragon body" is the core of the entire human dragon's power. When the drum beats, the adult who serves as the "dragon body" will set up his horse. The boy in charge of the "dragon body" quickly climbed onto the shoulders of the "dragon body", lay back, imitated the "dragon claws" with his hands, and interlocked with his companions in front and behind, creating a lifelike "human dragon" appear in the night sky.
Lin Huixuan, a 75-year-old Hong Kong resident, is originally from Foshan. He has been practicing the human dragon dance with his father since he was 7 years old. For the past 20 years, Lin Huixuan has returned to his hometown from Hong Kong every weekend to coach the members of the Human Dragon Dance.
Lin Huixuan, leader of the Human Dragon Dance Team in Guanghua Village, Foshan City:
I learned martial arts from my father when I was seven years old and learned the basic skills of the Human Dragon Dance. The Human-Dragon Dance has been passed down from generation to generation and has become a national cultural heritage. We must not lose this human-dragon dance, because it was created by our ancestors and must be passed down from generation to generation, hoping that there will be successors.
For Foshan people, the dancing "human dragon" means good weather in the new year. During the Spring Festival, "human dragons" of up to a hundred people will shuttle through the streets and alleys, presenting an exciting visual feast.
For the team members, the "Human and Dragon Dance" parade is not only a performance, but also a deep love for the traditional culture of their hometown. These team members are usually busy with their work or studies during the day, but in order to present a perfect performance during the festival, they will come to Guanghua Village every weekend night before the Spring Festival for nearly three hours of training.
Lin Huixuan, leader of the Human Dragon Dance Team in Guanghua Village, Foshan City:
It is very difficult to train one by one. At the beginning, you need to learn martial arts and Hongquan, learn martial arts, and practice horse steps and waist. If the horse steps are not stable, the dragon face will be very easy to move. Fall easily.
"Human Dragon Dance" requires a certain amount of martial arts skills, and Foshan is known as the hometown of martial arts. Many areas have a tradition of martial arts practice, so this precious cultural heritage can continue here for hundreds of years.
For Lin Huixuan, the Human-Dragon Dance is not only his biggest hobby, but also a responsibility on his shoulders. Now he has more than 100 apprentices, and the most special ones are his son Lin Kangfa and granddaughter Lin Zhiqing.
Lin Huixuan's son, Lin Kangfa:
When we were young, we learned from our father at home every day at this age. When we were young, we were a little scared when it was high or low. To make the human-dragon dance look good, rhythm is very important. I am now in charge of the "dragon head" at the front, and I have to cooperate with the dragon beads to control the dragon's rhythm.
As he grew older, Lin Kangfa took over from his father and became the backbone of the team. The "leading" position he was responsible for was extremely difficult to perform. Not only did he have to hold a child playing the role of "dragon tongue" in front of him, he also had to carry a child on his shoulders. He has to carry his daughter who is holding the "dragon horn".
Lin Huixuan's son, Lin Kangfa:
Worried about hurting her, worried about her getting hurt, but he also hoped that she would continue to learn and not give up. The human-dragon dance is a symbol of our village. The wonderful human-dragon dance requires one-stop coordination and tacit understanding. When danced together, it represents the power of unity. From my grandfather to my father, and now to us, there is a feeling that it must be passed down.
The people and dragon dance team in Guanghua Village include elders in their 70s and children under 10 years old. The son ties the headscarf for his father, and the father tightens the belt for his daughter. Year after year, this "century-old intangible cultural heritage" is still alive and well, passed down from generation to generation. The traditional culture full of nostalgia is also endlessly tumbling with pairs of little hands.
Jiang Jinkun, a member of the Human Dragon Dance Team of Guanghua Village, Foshan City:
I have been practicing for two years. When I lay down, I just slowly, and suddenly someone helped me, and I felt less scared. I want to grow up and let younger children ride on me and make dragon faces, so that this human-dragon dance can be passed down.
Li Zhaocong, a member of the Human Dragon Dance Team of Guanghua Village, Foshan City:
You must exercise centripetal force, physical strength, and mental strength, especially if you have brothers and sisters to teach you and work together to perform a better show for the audience, because I It's from this village, and I want more people to see it. There is a queue in Shunde, in Guanghua Village, here.
On winter nights, it was not only the people and dragon dance team members who persisted regardless of rain or shine, but also the neighbors who came from all over the world to cheer on. In the dance of lions and dragons, the flavor of the new year is gradually awakened, and in the sound of gongs and drums, the moment of reunion is ushered in.
(CCTV reporter Wang Yan, Li Xin, Qiao Yamei, Guangdong Channel)