Traditional New Year painting - The crowing of the cock brings good luck (Vietnamese: Gà Dạ Xướng)
| Accession Nr.: | 2018.1.4 |
|---|---|
| Type: | woodblock print |
| Date of production: |
1960s
|
| Place of production: |
| Materials/Techniques: | paper, coloured woodblock print |
|---|---|
| Dimensions: | height: 43 cm width: 27.5 cm |
The caption of the picture, taken in the Đông Hồ workshop in Vietnam, reads: 'Cries out at night, brings harmony at the fifth watch.'
The traditional division of time divides the night into five two-hour watches, the fifth being the hour of the cock. In the upper left corner of the image, in medallion, is a stylised inscription of "long life" and "good fortune", with the figure of a bat between the two medallions. The word 'bat' is synonymous with the word 'happiness', and the bat is therefore traditionally regarded as a lucky animal. And the rooster, as a zodiac animal, brings luck to those born in the year of the rooster. In addition, the image also contains a play on words based on the same pronunciation of the words 'chicken' and 'luck'.
The traditional division of time divides the night into five two-hour watches, the fifth being the hour of the cock. In the upper left corner of the image, in medallion, is a stylised inscription of "long life" and "good fortune", with the figure of a bat between the two medallions. The word 'bat' is synonymous with the word 'happiness', and the bat is therefore traditionally regarded as a lucky animal. And the rooster, as a zodiac animal, brings luck to those born in the year of the rooster. In addition, the image also contains a play on words based on the same pronunciation of the words 'chicken' and 'luck'.