The Daxi Elementary School Folk Lion Dance Team opened the event with a dynamic performance. The children’s nimble footwork made the ornate lion heads—featuring single horns and mirrored surfaces—glisten, while the expressive, moving parts of the lions animated a tale of encounter, conflict, and ultimate reconciliation. The team was established by Director Hung Shun-fu of “Chenfeng Society,” inheriting the Heshan lion system from the Southern lion tradition. Through educational guidance, the younger generation can experience folk culture in their daily lives.

Next was music from the Three Story Fu-an Society. Established in 1921 by local farmers devoted to the Five Grain Emperor, the society was inactive during the 1980s but has since been reorganized and remains active. The repertoire featured “Spring Series,” a common ceremonial transitional piece from a seasonal set, as well as the medleys “Golden Gourd” and “Fire God Incantation,” which must be performed together. Despite its revival, the society lost numerous Beiguan scores during its hiatus. Its members are now committed to preserving the remaining pieces and advancing the art of Beiguan music.

Beiguan music offers more than an auditory feast; it is a dynamic medium for bringing operatic stories to life. For their piece Western City, the troupe portrayed Zhuge Liang’s famed “Empty Fort Strategy” victory over Sima Yi from the Three Kingdoms era. Founded in 1935, the Tung-i Society evolved from a tea farmers’ group to a half-mining, half-farming operation. Its accompanying Fulu school Beiguan group ceased activities when the local mining industry faded. The pivotal change came in 1988 with the instruction of masters Chen Wan-i and Hsu Chao-wang, which established them as Daxi’s distinctive Xipi-school Beiguan group.

The ensuing performance of “One River Wind” continued the theme of divine might. This piece is commonly played to underscore the rallying of righteous armies. The performing group Hsichou Fushan Temple, a local religious center, originally offered spiritual and physical solace to ancestors through Master Qingshui’s divination. During the Japanese rule period, it established the Boxer Rebellion, which encompassed Taiwan’s Lion Dance and Beiguan arts, later developing into the Fushan Society. In 2004, Hsichou Fushan Group first joined Lord Guan’s grand procession with its divine generals.

Answering the majestic presence of the divine generals comes the Cute Divine Giants from Daxi Elementary School, charming the audience with its friendly and whimsical design. By fusing traditional belief with innovative music and design, this performance uses the charm of children’s dance to explore a fresh, dynamic future for local culture. Established in 2012 by Daxi Elementary School and the Daxi Township Office, the Cute Divine Giants connects with youth to foster a deeper commitment to preserving folk traditions.

The Dragon Dance Team of Yongfu Elementary School delivered a powerful finale. To driving drumbeats, the children performed a series of techniques—from water rolling to dragon bundling—animating the dragon into a sleek, agile form that seems to fly through clouds. The team’s skilled movements and coordination stem from the school’s dedication to tradition. Beyond training with the Daxi Kung-I Group, they frequently perform at neighborhood events, connecting the school with local community culture.