From card: "Of straw representing a woman. An expiatory offering. Loaned to Renwick 7/16/81. Returned 1983. [From Celebrations catalogue:] Expiatory Straw Effigy (cheyong; cheung; ch'oyong), ca. 1885. Korea. rice straw. 3 1/2 x 28 x 11 1/2 (8.9 x 71.1 x 29.2). When bad luck is portended for Koreans who rely on astrology, they may attempt to avert such predictions with a straw figure similar to the one shown here. On the night of January 14, those who have received ominous forecasts place cash and rice in various parts of such an effigy. Then they throw the straw figure on the side of a road or under a bridge in the hope that someone will tear it to pieces to find its contents. In this way a bearer of ill fortune transfers bad luck either to the straw figure or to the finder - especially if the original owner's name, birthdate, and astrological sign are enclosed in the effigy. When atoning for misdeeds, sinners may purchase similar straw figures from Buddhist priests. Repenters fill the effigy with a large sum of money. After they have cast the image aside, they hope that a poor person will tear it apart for the cash - an act that will relieve them of their guilt."
