VietNamNet Bridge - The four mascots (dragon, unicorn, tortoise and phoenix) made of 300 kg of onion and garlic, the specialties of Ly Son island of Quang Ngai province, are on display at the exhibition "Hoang Sa - Truong Sa with island and sea cultural heritage" at the Museum of Quang Ngai Province.

April festival to honour Hoang Sa Flotilla

Requiem for Hoang Sa flotilla 

On the occasion of the exhibition, which will open until April 29, Mr. Nguyen Tai Dat, an employee of the Quang Ngai Culture-Sports Center and his colleagues made four mascots with garlic and onions. In picture: the 3.5m long dragon with two prominent colors of purple onion mixed with white garlic.

According to folklore, the four supernatural creatures derived from four deities, including: Blue Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise and Red Phoenix. Every year people hold rituals for the four mascots to pray for peace and prosperity, good weather, lush plants, growth for living beings and happiness for human.

Dat and his colleagues made the four sacred animals in over two weeks, to promote Ly Son’s specialties and the spiritual life, cultural beliefs of Ly Son people on the occasion of the "Sea and Island Culture Week 2013 of Quang Ngai". In picture: The unicorn is 1.8 meters long and 1.5 meters tall.

The tortoise is 2 meters long, 80 cm tall.

The phoenix looks just like the real thing.

Artisan Vo Hien Dat from Ly Son island district contributed to the exhibition five models of old boats used by the Hoang Sa flotilla to go to the East Sea to defense the country’s marine sovereignty centuries ago.