THE IMAGE OF THE CLOWN IN TAIWANESE CULTURE AND PSYCHE: AN ADOLESCENT’S JOURNEY

Journal of Sandplay Therapy, Volume 25, Number 2, 2016
Lunfen Huang
Taipei, Taiwan

KEY WORDS: Sandplay therapy, symbol, clown, jester, fool, trickster, joker, “clown sense”, Taiwan, culture. heart defect, anxiety, repression, isolation, fear, ego strength, opposites, life and death, heart, feeling, shadow, Self, container, clinical example, daughter, mother, female, adolescent, atrial septal defect, “Mad Monk”, “You”, “Chou”, Lunar New Year ceremony, self regulation.

ABSTRACT: In this article the author explores how the image of the clown has been woven throughout the cultural heritage and psyche of the Taiwanese people. In Taiwan, clowns are closely connected with the sacred. Centuries old and colorful figures such as the jester, known as “You”, the clown in Chinese Opera (“Chou”), the famous Lion/Clown dance announcing the Lunar Year celebrations and the poignant tales of “Mad Monk” are discussed. It seems that the inclusion of the clown figurine in sandplay scenes may be associated with eventual increased ego-strength and expansion of the patient’s capacity to feel. The author further elaborates the concept of “clown sense” and how it may help people cope with frustrating or frightening situations. In sandplay therapy sometimes the appearance of the image of the clown, jester or fool may precede an experience to the Self. The author describes the therapy and sandplay scenes of a fourteen year old girl who suffered from an untreated heart defect and from anxious personal and family reactions to her diagnosis. By the end of the therapy, she was able to reconnect her feeling and to develop self-regulation.

 

In German

DAS BILDNIS DES CLOWNS
IN DER TAIWANESISCHEN KULTUR UND PSYCHE:
DER PROZESS EINES JUGENDLICHEN

Lunfen Huang
Taipei, Taiwan

SCHLÜSSELWÖRTER: Sandspieltherapie, Symbol, Clown, Narr, Dummkopf, Trickster, Clown sense, Taiwan, Kultur, Herzproblem Repression, Isolation, Angst, Ich-Stärke, Gegensätze, Leben und Tod, Herz, Gefühl, Schatten, Selbst, Behälter, Fallbeispiel, Tochter, Mutter, weiblich, Frau, Jugendlicher, Vorhofseptum, „Mad Monk, You, Chou,“ Mondneujahres Zeremonie.

ABSTRACT: In diesem Beitrag beschreibt die Autorin die Wichtigkeit des Clownbilds im kulturellen Erbe und der Psyche des taiwanesischen Volkes. Clowns sind in Taiwan mit dem Heiligen verbunden, Figuren wie der Narr als You bekannt, der Clown der chinesischen Oper (Chou), Der Löwe/Clown Tanz und die Legende des „Mad Monk“ werden besprochen. Die Autorin beschreibe die Therapie eines 14 jährigen Mädchens die and einem unbehandelten Herzfehler litt. Sie zeigte Angstzuständen die mit ihrer Diagnose und Familienreaktionen zusammenhingen.

 

In Spanish

LA IMAGEN DEL PAYASO
EN TAIWANESE CULTURA Y PSYCHE:
EL VIAJE DE UN ADOLESCENTE

Lunfen Huang
Taipei, Taiwán

PALABRAS SIGNIFICATIVAS: Terapia de sandplay, símbolo, payaso, bufón, tonto, “sentido de payaso”, Taiwán, cultura, defecto del corazón, ansiedad, represión, soledad, miedo, fuerza del ego, vida y muerte, corazón, sensación, sombra, Yo, sensación, sentimiento, emoción envase, ejemplo clínico, hija, madre, hembra, adolescente, comunicación interauricular, “Mad Monk,” “Usted,” “Chou,” ceremonia del año nuevo lunar.

 

In French

L’IMAGE DU PITRE
EN CULTURE TAIWANESE ET PSYCHE:
LE VOYAGE D’UN ADOLESCENT

Lunfen Huang
Taipei, Taïwan

MOTS CLES: Sandplay, therapie par le jeu de sable, symbole, pitre, bouffon, filou, “clown sense”, Taïwan, culture, défaut cardiaque, anxiété, répression, isolement, peur, force de l’ego, contraires, vie et mort, coeur, sentiment, ombre, Soi, conteneur, exemple clinique, fille, mère, adolescente, “Mad Monk,” “Vous”, “Chou”.

 

In Portuguese

THE IMAGE OF THE CLOWN
IN TAIWANESE CULTURE AND PSYCHE:
AN ADOLESCENT’S JOURNEY

Lunfen Huang
Taipei, Taiwan

PALAVRAS CHAVE: Terapia de sandplay, símbolo, palhaço, bobo, “trickster”, “clown sense”, Taiwan, cultura, defeito do coração, ansiedade, repressão, isolação, medo, força egoica, opostos, vida e morte, coração, sentimentos, sombra, Self, recipiente, exemplo clínico, filha, mãe, feminino, adolescente, defeito atrial séptico, doença cardiaca, “Mad Monk”, “You”, “Chou”, ano lunar.