Lying Dragon Bamboo

...Water tricks have been used since the Kanbun period (1661-73). In the summer of 1729 (Kyoho 14), a spectacle called "Gariyuchiku" was exhibited at Shijo-gawara in Kyoto. Green bamboo with branches and leaves was planted in a water tank, and water was constantly spurting out from the bamboo. It amazed people with its ingenuity, as the water level in the tank did not increase or decrease at all. In 1806 (Bunka 3), a water trick was performed in Nagoya, and water was spurted out from various objects such as choshi, fruit, tobacco trays, kiseru, jars, and the body of a sword, and was called a "strange sight."

*Some of the terminology explanations that mention "Garyūdoku" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…水を利用した仕掛物は，すでに寛文期(1661‐73)から行われている。1729年(享保14)の夏に，京都四条河原で〈臥竜竹（がりゆうちく）〉と称されて見世物に出たのもその一種で，水槽の中に枝葉のある青竹を植え込み，青竹から絶えず水を噴出しているが，それによって水槽の水が少しも増減しないという精巧さで人々を驚かせたという。1806年(文化3)，名古屋で水からくりがあり，銚子，果物，たばこ盆，きせる，壺，刀の身などいろいろな物から水を噴射させて〈奇観〉と称されている。…

※「臥竜竹」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報