Drum player is the general conductor of the troupe.
We will have to trace back to Tang dynasty when talking about its origination. Li Longji, called Xuanzong, an emperor in Tang dynasty, liked music and dance when he was young. When he was 6 years old, his grandmother Wu zetian held a grand banquet to fete the chancelleries in the palace. His consummate show won the chancelleries' great appreciation. After Li Longji was crowned, he appointed a pear garden in the palace as a location to practice music and dance.