BIG-HEADED MONK MASKS

The dai tou fut is most popular of the masked roles. The Chinese words literally mean “big-headed buddha”, but really, he represents a lesser monk, not Siddhartha himself. The dai tou fut brings laughter and humor to performances with his wacky antics. This role is traditionally reserved for seasoned performers because performing the part correctly requires the performer to demonstrate skills in various disciplines, including martial arts, acrobatics, Chinese opera, Chinese folk dance, pantomime and improvisational comedy.

Style A Item #A001 $300

Style B Item #A002 $65

Style C Item #A003 $80

Custom painting service (on client-provided mask) Item #A004 $280

Performer’s Corner

There’s a lot more to the role than merely donning a mask and shaking a fan. At higher levels, the performer must have intimate knowledge of Chinese literature, culture, and customs in order to help the lion correctly solve certain traditional puzzles. In the past, many lion dance skits included intricate choreography and interaction between the lion and the dai tou fut. There are even performances during which only the dai tou fut performs! Sadly, such performances have become so rare they are all but forgotten.