Zhang Guolao shadow puppet with separate head (part b) and membranophone fish drum (part c). He has a cutout face, which is heavily lined. He has a long white beard, and wears a scarf(?) on his head. His robe is a deep blue-green, with circular motifs in black, and outlined in red. He wears black shoes with three red decorations down the side, and a red pompom at the toe. Limbs jointed with fibre at the shoulders, elbows, wrists and hips. Operated by three rods. The membranophone is a long piece of orange-yellow bamboo with dried fish skin stretched over one end. Two smaller rods with green cloud-like feet extend from the base of the bamboo. There is a small loop for the puppet's fingers.

• Specific Techniques

  The cowhide is scraped extremely thin which, together with their jointed limbs, makes these puppets highly flexible when they perform high kicks, jumps, and flips. When performing, their distinctive designs and vibrant colours are visible on the glowing screen, enhancing the magical effects of the characters in motion.

• Iconographic Meaning

  The puppet is made in a classic north-eastern design (Luanzhou), from Luanzhouzhen in Heibei Province, one of the historically renowned regions of shadow puppetry in China.

• History Of Use

  The clothing of this puppet character, Zhang Guolao, is indicative of an older male scholar, or other learned individual--one of the Eight Immortals. Based on a real-life person, he was a learned magician, and medicinal herb and qigong master. His accessory is a membranophone fish drum (a bamboo tube with two iron mallets inside that make a vibrating 'noise'). This piyingxi (shadow puppet) character is from the classic Chinese narrative, “Journey to the West,” sometimes known as “Monkey King,” which is full of action, acrobatics, and martial arts. Puppets 3338/8-20 represent the four main characters (Pigsy, Monkey King, Sandman, Buddhist Monk), their horse, and the Eight Immortals, who are associated with the stylized clouds (3338/21-22), which indicate their identities as immortal beings.

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• Type of Item puppet
• Culture Chinese
• Material cow skin, fibre, bamboo grass, steel metal, watercolour paint, lacquer
• Measurements height 58.0 cm, width 8.5 cm, depth 1.0 cm (overall) height 11.5 cm, width 2.8 cm, depth 0.1 cm (part c)

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• Creator Lu Family
• Previous Owner Lu Family
• Received from Lu Family, Museum of Anthropology Exhibitions Budget

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• Made in Tangshan

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• Creation Date during 2018
• Ownership Date before December 21, 2018
• Acquisition Date on December 21, 2018

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• Condition excellent
• Accession Number 3338/0015 a-c