zhàng tóu mù ǒu (Rod Puppet)

The celebrated rod puppets of the Guangdong Province on the south coast of China have a long history. They became popular during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Generally referred to as ‘ghost opera’ (qui-a-xi), this form of rod puppetry shares many characteristics with Cantonese Opera. There are the four standard categories of performer: male (sang/sheng), female (daan/dan), clown (cau/chou) and painted faces (zing/jing), often reserved for martial or fighting characters. They wear elaborately embroidered costumes and perform classical Chinese legends and histories, with dramatic and stylized acrobatics, movements, voices and gestures. The likeness of the rod puppets to their human counterparts is enhanced further by the clever mechanisms that move the eyes and mouth. Like all forms of Asian theatre and puppetry, music is also an essential part of the performance: the accompanying orchestra generally consists of gongs, drums, violins and reed instruments. Almost every performance of puppet theatre in Guangdong is part of religious festivities. The stage is built opposite a temple or shrine. A performance usually starts with ritual blessings to bring peace and prosperity to the local community.

Puppet represents a lady of high social position.

Rod puppet (zhàng tóu mù ǒu), representing the character Dan (lady), with a headdress. Head and hands of puppet (part a) are carved from wood. Components painted beige. Character has a small nose, moveable eyes and large ears. The mouth is painted dark red, eyebrows are painted black. Eyes are black-rimmed and have pink eye shadow. She has thick black hair in a ponytail and a black headband tied around her forehead. Band is covered in large pink and silver sequins. The character is wearing a blue robe, with extended gauze-like sleeves that drape down. The robe has a front opening, secured with ties and metal buttons, and two small side slits. Neckline, cuffs and bottom edge of robe are bordered with a wavy pink ribbon. Robe has floral and geometric motifs throughout, done in light green, silver and dark pink-purple sequins. Dark brown undergarment beneath robe, covered in light brown and orange flowers. Puppet is operated by three bamboo rods- one large rod attached to her head, and two more are attached to each hand. Eyes are operated by a wooden rod inside of the central bamboo rod. Headdress (part b) is designed to look like a peacock. It consists of a metal frame filled in with cardboard, covered in black and light green fabric. A peacock head, made of metal and covered in thick green string, protrudes from the top centre of the headdress. Entire surface of headdress is covered in sequins, beads and rhinestones. Sequins are red and clear, beads are silver and clear, rhinestones are blue, red and green. Back of headdress is painted silver. There are two ties on either end of the headdress.