Li Wanzhen and the 200-Year Legacy of the Foshan Li Family Lion

Some crafts rely on records. Others live on through memory, passed from one generation to the next without written words, only countless repeated movements. For over 200 years, the Foshan Li Family Lion has been preserved in exactly this way, says Li Wanzhen, fifth-generation inheritor of the Li Family Lion and a National Intangible Cultural Heritage representative inheritor.

The Weight of Inheritance

"Inheritance is a spirit of perseverance, craftsmanship, self-improvement and unity," Li says. While the words may sound simple, she believes each generation spends a lifetime learning what they truly mean. Passing on a craft is about more than techniques. It is about carrying forward the values and cultural spirit that define it.

One Lion, Two Generations

If asked to create a lion head for her daughter, Li would choose a traditional design, featuring classic motifs such as a soaring eagle and symbolic decorative elements passed down through generations. As for her daughter's creation, Li imagines it would reflect more contemporary aesthetics and innovative thinking. Different in expression, yet rooted in the same tradition, the two lion heads would represent a dialogue between heritage and evolution.

A Mother, A Master

Balancing the roles of mother and master is never easy. A parent offers patience and encouragement, while a teacher demands discipline and precision. Through years of learning together, Li hopes to show her daughter that mastery comes not from shortcuts, but from dedication, repetition and persistence. Along the way, both have come to better understand the meaning of six generations of commitment.

Through The Soaring Eagle Liu Bei Lion, Li hopes audiences can feel the resilience, integrity and cultural spirit embodied within the lion head.

Exhibiting the work at MGM holds special meaning. It allows local residents, visitors and even those encountering lion culture for the first time to experience a craft that has been preserved for more than two centuries. For Li, inheritance happens not only in the workshop, but in every moment when someone pauses to look, learn and connect.

Culture survives because each generation reimagines it, practices it and passes it on. Through collaborations with inheritors, artists and the wider community, MGM continues to explore new possibilities for lion culture and its future.