What are the skills of the traditional lion dance team?

In the rural areas of northern Guangdong, the traditional lion dance team not only knows martial arts, but also knows literature. Only a lion regiment (team) with both civil and military skills can have Jianghu status. In the lion dance performance of Lianzhou Hakka Lion Group (Team), besides kung fu, we should also sing "Zanhua Song" (called "Huahong Song" in Yangshan Hakka area and "Guangfu" in Yingde Hakka area). The so-called "hairpin flower" means that the main family hangs red flowers for the lion after it grabs the green. "Golden Flower", with golden paper flowers stuck on the wire, symbolizes the champion in the imperial examination. Before hanging red flowers and golden flowers, there will be a chorus of poems between the host family and the Lions, usually seven words and four sentences, with basic sentences and more improvisation. Neck and neck, Zanhua sang for two or three hours.

If the lion regiment (team) is stumped and does not deserve it, the lion will be left behind and will not be allowed to go out for three years.

The traditional lion dance is called "literary allusions green", which is decorated according to the articles used by famous people in famous folklore or literary classics, such as the fishing rod used by Jiang Ziya in the List of Gods, the golden hoop stick used by the Monkey King in The Journey to the West, the Guan Dao used by Guan Gong in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and the gun used by Zhao Zilong. This green color is collected in the form of "Zanhua".

Therefore, besides practicing martial arts, members of the lion dance team also need to practice calligraphy. This is also the tradition of Hakka worshipping literature and martial arts.