The short video above is the grande finale of Phan Thiet's Nghinh Ong Festival (this year September 4-6); The Ky Lan Dance. The Ky Lan is a mythical Chinese creature described by Confucius. Also borrowed by the Vietnamese, the Ky Lan is a chimera incorporating parts of a deer, lion and other creatures, though here resembles more of a dragon. The creature is believed to only appear very rarely (if I'm not mistaken, just once in a century... or is it 1000 years?) and a bringer of very good fortune. Phan Thiet's Ky Lan requires about 25 people to operate and is the longest in Southeast Asia. Body segments, head, mouth, eyes and ears all move independently, and he even snorts smoke and confetti!
No comments:
Post a Comment