Sung Chiang performances are accompanied by drums and gongs, and by standard bearers acting as commanders. What makes the Sung Chiang battle array particularly fascinating, though, is the wide variety of weapons used, the countless changes of formations and tactics during the performances, and the spectacular range of martial arts included. Sung Chiang performing groups are organized by temple priests, who have traditionally been at the forefront of martial arts training. The most famous martial arts temples in Chinese history, for example, were the Shaolin Buddhist temple in Sungshan, Honan province, and the Taoist temple at Mt. Wutang in Hupei province, each of which had an army of thousands. Most of the teams are made up of men, but there are also teams made up of women and youths.
Performances usually take place in temple courtyards.
The combination of traditional Chinese martial arts and weapons is based on the epic novel shui Hu Chuan, or All Men are Brothers. Superstition and Ritual Injuries often accompany Sung Chiang performances, since they resemble vigorous military exercises. Because of this, a body of superstition and ritual has grown up around them. The Sung Chiang battle array culture seems doomed to decline further in Taiwan as the island's society becomes more urbanized and more farm youths move to the cities. But there is some hope.