The Game of the Dragon-Snake (rong ran)

3/13/2012

A large group plays the children's game rong ran (dragon-snake). In One person sits on a small hill or some location above the other players; he or she acts as the doctor. The other children stand in a line, holding each other's belts to form the body of the dragon-snake.

The dragon-snake approaches the doctor. The following dialogue occurs between the doctor and the head of the line: 

- Where are you going, dragon-snake?

- I’m searching for medicine for my son.

- How old is he, your son?

- He is one year old. - The doctor is not well.

- He is (two, three, four, five... repeated each time) years old.   
      - The doctor is not well.

 

The dialogue continues until the dragon-snake says:

- He is ten years old.

 

Then the doctor answers:

- All right, the doctor is well.

 

With this, the doctor stands up and says:

- Give me your head

- Nothing but the bones

 

Responds the dragon-snake

- Give me the body.

- Nothing but the blood.

- Give me the tail.

- Pursue at will!

 

At this, the doctor flies into a rage and attempts lo catch the child who represents the tail of the dragon-snake. The head of the line stretches his or her arms to bar the doctor while the dragon-snake tries to make a circle. If the dragon-snake succeeds in rolling into a circle before the physician can touch the tail, it wins. On the contrary, if the doctor catches the tail of the dragon-snake, the entire group loses the game. All losers must stretch out their hands, palms downwards, to the winner, who slaps them one after another.

Source TCDLVN

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