Monk/Magician Black Hat (Shanag)

Bhutan

Late 20th century

Wood, lacquer, velvet, feathers

The Black Hat Dance is a purification ceremony performed by costumed monks to cleanse evil spirits from monasteries, temples, dzongs (fortresses), and other Buddhist structures. The dance also narrates the story of the assassination of the anti-Buddhist Tibetan king Langdarma by a monk, and the victory of good over evil. The carved skull on the Shanag is a reminder of life’s impermanence. In Bhutan, spectators at religious festivals may accrue merit and receive blessings through their immersion in the stories of their religion.