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Big Mouthed Celestial Animal
Feb 15th, 2007
Posted by handicraft
Travellers to Yunnan and Sichuan in southwest China are impressed by the colourfully painted wood ladles in the shape of strange animal hanging on the front doors of the dwellings of local Miao,Yi and Han residents.The animal looks grotesque with a wide-open mouth as if ready anytime to swallow the demons and goblins that dare to invade.Obviously the wood ladle is a talisman designed to ward the dwellings of evil and disaster.
A variation of masks worn by exorcising dancers in south China,this image of big-mouthed animal was born of totemism and primitive culture.It is found in different places--glazed on eaves tiles for decorating a temple,or carved on a stone pillar that stands by the road to guarantee good luck and rich harvest for local people.
Maling,a remote mountainous county of Sichuan,is best known for its renditions of this legendary animal,which features a bizarre look and a striking contrast betwween bright red and green colours that is somewhat neutralized with black and white.The Eight Diagrams is painted on its forehead to render a mysterious Taoist touch to the animal.The Maling style of big-mouthed animal is one of the major rural handicrafts of Sichuan.
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