According to Yang Shenghan, an old artist from Yangjiazhuang, Yicheng (born 19 10), his family has been playing flower drums for more than 30 generations. When it comes to playing flower drums, he will sing a lyric that has been circulated for countless generations: "When Taizong settled in Chang 'an, the people were happy. Lantern Festival is held every year. What the country belongs to, what the people enjoy, and what the country enjoys. "Several old people in the same village recalled that this lyric was engraved on a wooden sign with a height of 100 cm and a width of 70 cm, and was sacrificed as a family heirloom to the Yangjia ancestral hall. This sign is "the tenth day of the first month of the third year of Tang Zhenguan" (the wooden sign of the ancestral hall was burned by the Japanese army on 1939). It can be seen that flower drums should appear in Yicheng at the latest during the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty. The flower drum in Yicheng has been popular since the Ming Dynasty. According to local legend, Li Niangniang, the mother of Wanli Emperor in the Ming Dynasty, grew up in Xiguan Village. When she came home, Yicheng organized many such social fire activities to welcome her. Among them, Empress Li was very interested in flower drums, and got 3,200 pieces of silver on the spot. From then on, Yicheng Huagu became famous, and the more it spread, the better.
The first page of Yicheng annals revised in 16, the thirtieth page of Yicheng annals revised in 16, and the commemorative volume of Yicheng annals revised in 16 are all recorded. According to legend, Li Taihou (a native of Xiguan, Yicheng) returned to his hometown in Yicheng to worship his ancestors after his father died, which coincided with the Lantern Festival.
The origin of Yicheng Flower Drum is closely related to temple fairs, competitions, societies and social fires. Generally, these activities are inseparable from playing flower drums. In the Qing Dynasty, this activity was clearly recorded. During the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, Yicheng Flower Drum has become one of the important programs for people to celebrate harvest, festivals and temple fairs. People offer sacrifices every year and hold social fires every year, which promotes the development and spread of Yicheng Flower Drum. The so-called "walking in the northwest and southeast of the city, smelling flower drum lanterns everywhere" is a true portrayal of this situation.
Yicheng Flower Drum has a long history and is closely related to people's production and life. When spring ploughing is about to begin, people wake up the earth with deafening gongs and drums and energetic assemblies and parades, urge spring ploughing, and wish a good weather and a good harvest in the new year. Therefore, the flower drum has become the spiritual strength of the farming nation, which contains the will to bless and pray for a bumper harvest and happiness. In addition, when the temple fair welcomes the gods, there are also large flower drums. This mass rally is a grand Han folk cultural and recreational activity.