Title
Dragon water puppet
Creator
Year/Period
c. 1996
Region
Hanoi, Vietnam
Object Type
Technique
Dimension
Object size: L157.0 x W34.0 cm
Accession No.
2001-01185
Collection of
This dragon is constructed of carved sections which are joined underneath by a metal bicycle chain – an ingenious method that is both durable and flexible. The dragon is part of a water-puppetry ensemble that includes a master of ceremonies called Teu, a lion, a fairy, and a boy on buffalo. The dragon dance includes a pair of dragons that spew fireworks and jets of water from their mouths. The origins of water-puppetry are thought to date to the 12th century although it is possible that it was a folk art that developed even earlier in the rice-farming villages of north Vietnam.
