giân giân

Electricity Leopard Cat Child “giân giân”

Using Taiwan’s endemic leopard cat as the sacred embodiment of an Electricity Child, this work is the eleventh piece in the Electricity Divine General series. Its costume draws on the form of the kao, a traditional theatrical martial costume, with five-colored flags representing the five directions arranged across the back. The three-dimensional floral and avian motifs distributed across the costume depict rare and endemic species of Taiwan.

At the shoulder ornament of the armor is the Taiwan yellow water lily (Nuphar shimadai), signifying: “Though the path is muddy, the flower remains unstained; though circumstances are difficult, the heart remains unchanged.” At the abdomen is the Taiwan grass owl (Tyto longimembris pithecops), signifying: “Stay low, yet fly high.” Other motifs include the Chinese ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes sinensis), Taiwan lily (Lilium formosanum), and peach blossoms, each carrying its own auspicious meaning.

The work is named “Leopard Cat Child” rather than the more familiar “Leopard Cat Tiger Lord” to evoke the innocence and childlike spirit of a child, while continuing the traditional belief in the Tiger Lord as a guardian of children. By transforming the leopard cat into the image of a child, the work also reminds us that protecting Taiwan’s endangered endemic species means protecting a sustainable future for the next generation.

*The work will undergo the traditional rites of consecration and spirit installation (kaiguang and rùshén) at Puji Temple in Tainan on November 29, 2026 (the 21st day of the tenth lunar month).