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( , ) is a traditional form of puppet theatre play originating from the island of Java. The term refers both to the show as a whole and the puppet in particular. Performances of wayang puppet theatre are accompanied by a gamelan orchestra in Java, and by gender wayang in Bali. The dramatic stories depict mythologies, such as episodes from the Hindus epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, as well as local adaptations of cultural legends. Traditionally, a is played out in a ritualized midnight-to-dawn show by a dalang, an artist and spiritual leader; people watch the show from both sides of the screen.
performances are still very popular among Indonesians, especially in the islands of Java and Bali. performances are usually held at certain rituals, certain ceremonies, certain events, and even tourist attractions. In ritual contexts, puppet shows are used for prayer rituals (held in temples in Bali), ritual (cleansing children from bad luck), and ritual (thanksgiving to God for the abundant crops). In the context of ceremonies, usually it is used to celebrate (Javanese wedding ceremony) and ([[circumcision]] ceremony). In events, it is used to celebrate Independence Day, the anniversaries of municipalities and companies, birthdays, commemorating certain days, and many more. Even in the modern era with the development of tourism activities, wayang puppet shows are used as cultural tourism attractions.
traditions include [[acting]], [[singing]], [[music]], [[drama]], [[literature]], [[painting]], [[sculpture]], [[carving]], and [[symbolic|Symbolic system]] arts. The traditions, which have continued to develop over more than a thousand years, are also a medium for [[information]], [[preaching]], [[education]], [[philosophical]] understanding, and [[entertainment]].
is the traditional puppet theatre of [[Indonesia]]. It is an ancient form of storytelling known for its elaborate puppets and complex musical styles. The earliest evidence of comes from medieval-era texts and archeological sites dating from late 1st millennium CE. There are four theories concerning where originated (indigenous to Java; Java–India; India; and China), but of these, two are more favored: [[Java]] and [[India]].
Regardless of its origins, states Brandon, developed and matured into a Javanese phenomenon. There is no true contemporary puppet shadow artwork in either China or India that has the sophistication, depth, and creativity expressed in in Java, Indonesia. However, shadow play, the earliest form of shadow puppet theatre likely originated in Central Asia-China or in India in the 1st millennium BCE.Fan Pen Chen (2003), Shadow Theaters of the World, Asian Folklore Studies, Vol. 62, No. 1 (2003), pp. 25-64 By at least around 200 BCE, the figures on cloth seem to have been replaced with puppetry in Telugu people Indian tholu bommalata shows. These are performed behind a thin screen with flat, jointed puppets made of colorfully painted transparent leather. The puppets are held close to the screen and lit from behind, while hands and arms are manipulated with attached canes and lower legs swinging freely from the knee.
G. A. J. Hazeu also says that came from Java. The puppet structure, puppeteering techniques, and storytelling voices, language, and expressions are all composed according to old traditions. The technical design, the style, and the composition of the Javanese plays grew from the worship of ancestors.
J. Kats argues that the technical terms come from Java and that was born without the help of India. Before the 9th century, it belonged to the Javanese. It was closely related to religious practices, such as incense and night / wandering spirits. Panakawan uses a Javanese name, different from the Indian heroes.
A. C. Kruyt argues that originated from shamanism, and makes comparisons with ancient archipelago ceremonial forms which aim to contact the spirit world by presenting religious poetry praising the greatness of the soul.
Some characters such as the Vidusaka in Sanskrit drama and Semar in are very similar. Indian mythologies and characters from the Hindu epics feature in many major plays, which suggests possible Indian origins, or at least an influence in the pre-Islamic period of Indonesian history. Jivan Pani states that developed from two art forms from Odisha in eastern India: the Ravana Chhaya puppet theatre and the Chhau dance.
Old Javanese inscription called Kuṭi, probably issued in the mid-10th century by Maharaja Sri Lokapala from East Java, mention three sorts of performers: (), (), and / (). is described in an 11th-century Javanese poem as a leather shadow figure.
Mpu Kanwa, the poet of Airlangga's court of the Kahuripan kingdom, writes in 1035 CE in his kakawin (narrative poem) Arjunawiwaha, "", which means, "He is steadfast and just a screen away from the 'Mover of the World'." As is the Javanese word for the screen, the verse eloquently comparing actual life to a performance where the almighty (the mover of the world) as the ultimate (puppet master) is just a thin screen away from mortals. This reference to as shadow plays suggested that performance was already familiar in Airlangga's court and tradition had been established in Java, perhaps even earlier. Inscriptions from this period also mention some occupations as and .
is a unique form of theatre employing light and shadow. The puppets are crafted from buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. When held up behind a piece of white cloth, with an electric bulb or an oil lamp as the light source, shadows are cast on the screen. The plays are typically based on romantic tales and religious legends, especially adaptations of the classic Indian epics, the ''Mahabharata'' and the ''[[Ramayana]]''. Some of the plays are also based on local stories like [[Panji tales]].
are without a doubt the best known of the Indonesian . means 'skin', and refers to the leather construction of the puppets that are carefully chiselled with fine tools, supported with carefully shaped buffalo horn handles and control rods, and painted in beautiful hues, including gold. The stories are usually drawn from the Hindu epics the ''Ramayana'' and the ''Mahabharata''.
There is a family of characters in Javanese called punokawan; they are sometimes referred to as "clown-servants" because they normally are associated with the story's hero, and provide humorous and philosophical interludes. Semar is actually the god of love, who has consented to live on earth to help humans. He has three sons: Gareng (the eldest), Petruk (the middle), and Bagong (the youngest). These characters did not originate in the Hindu epics, but were added later.Eckersley. M. (ed.) 2009. Drama from the Rim: Asian Pacific Drama Book. Drama Victoria. Melbourne. 2009. (p. 15) They provide something akin to a political cabaret, dealing with gossip and contemporary affairs.
The puppet figures themselves vary from place to place. In Central Java, the city of Surakarta (Solo) and city of Yogyakarta have the best-known traditions, and the most commonly imitated style of puppets. Regional styles of shadow puppets can also be found in Temanggung, West Java, Banyumas, Cirebon, Semarang, and East Java. Bali's are more compact and naturalistic figures, and Lombok has figures representing real people. Often modern-world objects as bicycles, automobiles, airplanes and ships will be added for comic effect, but for the most part the traditional puppet designs have changed little in the last 300 years.
Historically, the performance consisted of shadows cast by an oil lamp onto a cotton screen. Today, the source of light used in performance in Java is most often a halogen electric light, while Bali still uses the traditional firelight. Some modern forms of such as (from Bahasa Indonesia, since it uses the national language of Indonesian instead of Javanese) created in the Art Academy at Surakarta (STSI) employ theatrical spotlights, colored lights, contemporary music, and other innovations.
Making a figure that is suitable for a performance involves hand work that takes several weeks, with the artists working together in groups. They start from master models (typically on paper) which are traced out onto skin or parchment, providing the figures with an outline and with indications of any holes that will need to be cut (such as for the mouth or eyes). The figures are then smoothed, usually with a glass bottle, and primed. The structure is inspected and eventually the details are worked through. A further smoothing follows before individual painting, which is undertaken by yet another craftsman.
Finally, the movable parts (upper arms, lower arms with hands and the associated sticks for manipulation) mounted on the body, which has a central staff by which it is held. A crew makes up to ten figures at a time, typically completing that number over the course of a week. However, there is not strong continuing demand for the top skills of craftspersons and the relatively few experts still skilled at the art sometimes find it difficult to earn a satisfactory income.Simon Sudarman, ' Sagio: Striving to preserve wayang', The Jakarta Post, 11 September 2012.
The painting of less expensive puppets is handled expediently with a spray technique, using templates, and with a different person handling each color. Less expensive puppets, often sold to children during performances, are sometimes made on cardboard instead of leather.
Little is known for certain about the history of wayang golek, but scholars have speculated that it most likely originated in China and arrived in Java sometime in the 17th century. Some of the oldest traditions of wayang golek are from the north coast of Java in what is called the Pasisir region. This is home to some of the oldest Muslim kingdoms in Java and it is likely that the wayang golek grew in popularity through telling the wayang menak stories of Amir Hamza, the uncle of Muhammad. These stories are still widely performed in Kabumen, Tegal, and Jepara as wayang golek menak, and in Cirebon, wayang golek cepak. Legends about the origins of the wayang golek attribute their invention to the Muslim saint Wali Sunan Kudus, who used the medium to proselytize Muslim values.
In the 18th century, the tradition moved into the mountainous region of Priangan, West Java, where it eventually was used to tell stories of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata in a tradition now called wayang golek purwa, which can be found in Bandung, Bogor and Jakarta. The adoption of Javanese Mataram kejawen culture by Sundanese aristocrats was probably the remnant of Mataram influence over the Priangan region during the expansive reign of Sultan Agung. While the main characters from the Ramayana and Mahabharata are similar to versions from Central Java, some (servants or jesters) were rendered in Sundanese names and characteristics, such as Cepot or Astrajingga as Bagong, and Dawala or Udel as Petruk. Wayang golek purwa has become the most popular form of wayang golek today.
Wayang klitik figures come originally from East Java, where one still finds workshops turning them out. They are less costly to produce than figures.
The origin of the stories involved in these puppet plays comes from the kingdoms of eastern Java: Jenggala, Kediri and Majapahit. From Jenggala and Kediri come the stories of Raden Panji and Cindelaras, which tells of the adventures of a pair of village youngsters with their fighting cocks. The Damarwulan presents the stories of a hero from Majapahit. Damarwulan is a clever chap, who with courage, aptitude, intelligence and the assistance of his young lover Anjasmara makes a surprise attack on the neighboring kingdom and brings down Minakjinggo, an Adipati (viceroy) of Blambangan and mighty enemy of Majapahit's beautiful queen Kencanawungu. As a reward, Damarwulan is married to Kencanawungu and becomes king of Majapahit; he also takes Lady Anjasmara as a second wife. This story is full of love affairs and battles and is very popular with the public. The dalang is liable to incorporate the latest local gossip and quarrels and work them into the play as comedy.
The dalang gives a sign, the small gamelan orchestra with drummer and a few knobbed gongs and a musician with a rebab (a violin-like instrument held vertically) begins to play, and the dalang unrolls the first scroll of the story. Then, speaking and singing, he narrates the episode in more detail. In this manner, in the course of the evening he unrolls several scrolls one at a time. Each scene in the scrolls represents a story or part of a story. The content of the story typically stems from the Panji romances which are semi-historical legends set in the 12th–13th century East Javanese kingdoms of Jenggala, Daha and Kediri, and also in Bali.Ganug Nugroho Adil, "Sinhanto: A wayang master craftsman", The Jakarta Post, 22 June 2012.
centers on a love story about Princess Candra Kirana of Kediri and Raden Panji Asmarabangun, the legendary crown prince of Janggala. Candra Kirana was the incarnation of [[Dewi Ratih|Rati]] (the Hindu goddess of love) and Panji was an incarnation of [[Kamajaya|Kamadeva]] (the Hindu god of love). Kirana's story has been given the title ''[[Smaradahana]]'' ("The fire of love"). At the end of the complicated story they finally marry and bring forth a son named Raja Putra. Originally, was performed only as an aristocratic entertainment in the palaces of [[Yogyakarta]] and [[Surakarta]]. In the course of time, it spread to become a popular and folk form as well.
characters are derived from several groups of stories and settings. The most popular and the most ancient is , whose story and characters were derived from the Indian Hindu epics the ''Ramayana'' and ''Mahabharata'', set in the ancient kingdoms of Hastinapura, Ayodhya, and Alengkapura (Lanka). Another group of characters is derived from the [[Panji cycle|Panji tales]], natively developed in Java during the [[Kediri Kingdom]]; these stories are set in the twin Javanese kingdoms of [[Janggala]] and Panjalu (Kediri).
() refer to that are based on the Hindu epics the ''Ramayana'' and ''Mahabharata''. They are usually performed as , wayang golek, and dance dramas.[[Inna Solomonik]]. "Wayang Purwa Puppets: The Language of the Silhouette", ''Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde'', 136 (1980), no: 4, Leiden, pp. 482–497.
In Central Java, popular characters include the following (Notopertomo & Jatirahayu 2001):Notopertomo, Margono; Warih Jatirahayu. 2001. 51 Karakter Tokoh Wayang Populer. Klaten, Indonesia: Hafamina.
The word is a Javanese honorific title that is given to people who are recognized at court for their exemplary character even though they are not nobly born. Jayengrana is just such a character who inspires allegiance and devotion through his selfless modesty and his devotion to a monotheistic faith called the "Religion of Abraham." Jayengrana and his numerous followers do battle with the pagan faiths that threaten their peaceable realm of Koparman. The chief instigator of trouble is Pati Bestak, counselor to King Nuresewan, who goads pagan kings to capture Jayengrana's wife Dewi Munninggar. The pagan Kings eventually fail to capture her and either submit to Jayengrana and renounce their pagan faith or die swiftly in combat.
The literary figure of Amir Hamzah is loosely based on the historic person of Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib who was the paternal uncle of Muhammad. Hamzah was a fierce warrior who fought alongside Muhammad and died in the battle of Uhud in 624 CE. the literary tradition traveled from Persia to India and from then on to Southeast Asia where the court poet Yasadipura I (1729-1802) set down the epic in the Javanese language in the Serat Menak.Pigeaud, Th. G. "The Romance of Amir Hamzah in Java." In Binkisan Budi: Een Bundel Opstellen Voor P. S. Van Ronkel: A. W. Sijthoff's Uitgeversmaatschappij N.V., Leiden, 1950.
The wooden wayang menak is similar in shape to wayang golek; it is most prevalent on the northern coast of Central Java, especially the Kudus Regency area.
() is a type of shadow puppet with the main character of () and other animal stories taken from ''[[Hitopadeça|Hitopadesha]]'' and ''Tantri Kamandaka''. was created by [[Sunan Giri]] at the end of the 15th century and is used as a medium for preaching Islam in [[Gresik]]. The story of is very popular with the children, has a humorous element, and can be used as a medium of education because the message conveyed through the media is very good for children. is not different from ; is also made from buffalo skin. Even the playing is not much different, accompanied by a [[gamelan]]. The language used by the puppeteer depends on the location of the performance and the type of audience. If the audience is a child, generally the puppeteer uses Javanese Ngoko in its entirety, but sometimes Krama Madya and Krama Inggil are inserted in human scenes.The puppets are carved, painted, drawn realistically, and adapted to the puppet performance. The colors in the detail of the () are very interesting and varied. Figures depicted in the form of prey animals such as tigers, elephants, buffaloes, cows, reptiles, and fowl such as crocodiles, lizards, snakes, various types of birds, and other animals related to the tale. There are also human figures, including Pak Tani and Bu Tani, but there are not many human figures narrated. The total number of puppets is only about 100 pieces per set.
There have also been attempts to retell modern fiction with the art of , most famously Star Wars as done by Malaysians Tintuoy Chuo and Dalang Pak Dain.
is a performance medium that can contain all aspects of human life. Human thoughts, whether related to [[ideology]], [[politics]], [[economy]], [[social]], [[culture]], [[law]], defense, and [[security]], can be contained in . In the puppets contain order, namely a [[norm|Social norm]] or convention that contains [[ethics]] ([[moral]] [[philosophy]]). These norms or conventions are agreed upon and used as guidelines for the mastermind artists. In the puppet show, there are rules of the game along with the procedures for puppetry and how to play the puppet, from generation to generation and tradition, over time it becomes something that is agreed upon as a guideline (convention).
is an educational medium that focuses on moral and character education. Character education is something that is urgent and fundamental; character education can form a person who has good behavior.
is a communicative medium in society. is used as a means of understanding a tradition, an approach to society, lighting, and disseminating values. as a medium for character education lies not only in the elements of the story, the stage, the instruments, and the art of puppetry, but also the embodiment of values in each character. The embodiment of characters can describe a person's character. From the puppet one can learn about [[leadership]], [[courage]], [[determination]], [[honesty]], and [[sincerity]]. Apart from that, the puppets can reflect the nature of [[anger]], namely [[greed]], jealousy, envy, [[cruelty]], and [[wikt:ambition|ambition]].
puppet performances are a form of entertainment () for the community. performances in the form of theatre performances are still very popular especially in the islands of Java and Bali. Puppet shows are still the favorite of the community and are often included in TV, [[radio]], [[YouTube]], and other [[social media]]. performances present a variety of arts such as drama, music, dance, literary arts, and fine arts. Dialogue between characters, narrative expressions (, , ), , , , and are important elements in performances.
The figures of the are also present in the paintings of that time, for example, the roof murals of the courtroom in Klungkung, Bali. They are still present in traditional Balinese painting today. The figures are painted, flat (5 to at most 15 mm — about half an inch — thick) woodcarvings with movable arms. The head is solidly attached to the body. Wayang klitik can be used to perform puppet plays either during the day or at night. This type of is relatively rare.
today is both the most ancient and the most popular form of puppet theatre in the world. Hundreds of people will stay up all night long to watch the superstar performers, dalang, who command extravagant fees and are international celebrities. Some of the most famous dalang in recent history are Ki Nartosabdho, Ki Anom Suroto, Ki Asep Sunandar Sunarya, Ki Sugino, and Ki Manteb Sudarsono.
or (from Javanese) is the term for a woman who sings to accompany a gamelan orchestra, generally as the sole singer. A good singer must have extensive communication skills and good vocal skills as well as the ability to sing many songs. The title ''Sinden'' comes from the word which means 'rich in songs' or 'who sing the song'. can be interpreted as someone singing a song. In addition, is also commonly referred to as which is taken from a combination of the words and . The word itself means 'someone who is female' and which means 'itself'; in ancient times, the was the only woman in the or performance.
is a term in the musical arts which means a group of people who have special skills playing the gamelan, especially in accompanying traditional ceremonies and performing arts. is also called or which means 'gamelan musician'.
The Wayang Museum is located in Kota Tua Jakarta near the Jakarta History Museum.
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