![]() ![]() It spreads knowledge, promotes cultural values and entertains the community, especially the youth. Chinese shadow puppetry also passes on information such as cultural history, social beliefs, oral traditions and local customs. The relevant skills are handed down in families, in troupes, and from master to pupil. Some puppeteers are professional, while others are amateurs performing during slack farming seasons. Shadow plays are performed by large troupes with seven to nine performers and smaller troupes of only two to five, primarily for entertainment or religious rituals, weddings and funerals and other special occasions. Many puppeteers also carve the puppets, which can have between twelve and twenty-four moveable joints. They master special techniques such as improvisational singing, falsetto, simultaneous manipulation of several puppets, and the ability to play various musical instruments. Many elder shadow puppetry artists can perform dozens of traditional plays, which are orally transmitted or found in written form. Manipulated by puppeteers using rods, the figures create the illusion of moving images on a translucent cloth screen illuminated from behind. Todays Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique variation on the ancient Asian puppet tradition. Water puppetry, a unique traditional art genre only exists in Vietnam.© China Puppet and Shadow Art Society, 2009Ĭhinese shadow puppetry is a form of theatre acted by colourful silhouette figures made from leather or paper, accompanied by music and singing. Water puppetry is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. Stage puppetry has several forms such as hand and rod puppets from Dong Minh in Hai Phong Port City and Te Tieu in Ha Tay province, string puppets from Moc Thieu Hy in Cao Bang and Bac Thai provinces. Vietnam’s puppetry has been known with its two main genres: Stage puppetry and water puppetry. In fact this is a perfect harmony between art, nature and human beings. ![]() Amidst romantic scenery, spectators have a chance to contemplate an artistic genre in which land, water, green trees, cloud, wind, fire and smoke are present, so are curved red tile-roofed communal houses. Few theatrical performances show such a perfect harmony with the natural scenes as does the water puppet show. In the past, water puppet shows used to be staged in the broad daylight and in the open air. ![]() This is the uniqueness, attractiveness and creativeness of water puppetry. It’s like they are commanded by magic power”. But it also becomes seething and furious during naval battles or when powerful yellow dragons are emerging.Ī French newspaper article wrote: “The puppet figures are manipulated with an unimaginable cleverness. The peaceful water surface gently undulating with a flock of swimming ducks becomes romantic in the illusory veil of smoke when a group of fairies land for singing and dancing. Water is also involved in the show together with the puppets as it was once commented, “Water also becomes a character of the puppet show”. Water gives breath to puppet figures and makes them look more lively and cheerful. The way of using water to activate the puppets and to hide the manipulating apparatus and the maneuvering of the puppet figures constitute the most splendid creativity. The French called water puppetry with gentle puppet figures “The soul of the Vietnamese rice fields”, and commented, “With creativeness and sense of discovery, water puppetry can rank among the most important performing art forms of the puppetry theater”. In the past, water puppet shows usually took place when the farm work had been generally completed, in springtime or in village festivals. For this reason, Vietnamese peasants have created water puppetry into a unique performing art of the country. Under the natural conditions and their agricultural activities, the Vietnamese people have been close to the water. The Sung Thien Dien Linh stele erected at Long Doi Pagoda, Doi Son commune, Duy Tien district, in Ha Nam province in 1121 under the Ly Dynasty bears the inscription that the puppet show was first staged in honour of the King’s longevity. It originated from the wet rice civilization since the Hung Kings founded the country. Puppetry is a traditional performing art long existed among the ethnic groups living in Vietnam. Music and audio, either recorded or live, accompany the performances. Performances are based on traditional folklore or historical events. The stage is a small pool, with a scenic backdrop, hiding the puppeteers. Roi Nuoc are controlled by a puppeteer by way of long poles that are hidden under water. They most closely resemble marionettes, with jointed arms, legs and heads. Roi Nuoc is a traditional Vietnamese performance art using colorfully painted and costumed wooden puppets. ![]()
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