Puppet tradition prevalent in other Countries of World

Puppetry is an ancient art which is widely spread in different countries of the world. All four forms of puppet tradition, i.e.-string, shadow, glove puppet and rod puppet have popularity in different parts of the world.

There are no fixed evidences of the origin of marionette or string puppetry. According to many scholars Italy is the home of early marionette. Marionette was used by Christian Church to perform plays of morality. Scholars claim that the word word marionette came from the little figures of the Virgin Mary. Due to the entry of comedy into marionette performance of church, banned was imposed on marionette. As a result Puppeteer began to perform puppetry outside cathedrals and become more popular. However scholars of India claim that string puppet was born in India and from here it migrated to Indonesia and Japan.String puppet tradition of Japan is called Bunraku. The puppets are three to five feet in height. Serious drama and puppetry is deeply related in east Asian countries including Japan. Bunraku was originated in temple of “Shinto”. However very soon it broke its boundary of religion and came to outside of temple as a popular and aristocrat puppet dance. Bunraku puppets are keeps in four feet high and manipulated by hand, rod and trigger. Three people engage in manipulating one puppet.The chief puppeteer controls head part. His helpers control shoulders and second foot of the puppet. Puppeteer pays great concentration during performance. The puppeteers wear black dress called Kimons and other ther then chief,other two puppeteer hides their face with black hoods.

“Bunraku” shares many of the characteristics of its human counterparts.Musical accompaniment underlies the words and movement.A chanter narrates the action and recites the speeches. Many scripts have been taken directly from the human theatre, and vice versa.

European countries have ancient tradition of string puppets. In Europe, puppetry is recognizing as very effective medium of communication. Particularly in rural Europe, puppets are use as tool of education for the people without letter or illiterate.Stories of Bible was described through puppet for illiterates. Initially puppets were used in Church for various purposes.Till 17^th century puppets were used in church.However puppetry was banned due to its contact with secular themes. In 18th and 19^th century,puppetry was so popular in Europe that,puppeteers started permanent theatre and performance of Puppet operas. In England also,puppetry was very popular performing art. Folk tales and popular Old Testament stories were performed by puppetry of England. Punch and Judy are two very populra character of Glove puppetry of England.These two characters Punch and Judy were influenced by Pulcinella of Italy.Glove and shadow puppet tradition was popular in England.Influencing by popularity of Punch and Judy, puppeteers of other European countries also created their own puppet characters.Franch puppet character “Guignol”is one of such example.Puppet character “Petrushka” in Russia and Kasperl and Hanswurst evolved in Germany become very popular. Turkish shadow puppet is another puppet tradition of Europian countries. In the beginning of 14^th century, Europe witnessed the performance of Giant puppets. Giant puppets become indispensible part of civic and religious festivals of Western Europe. Besides India, Asian countries like Japan, China,Vietnam,Afganistan, Korea, Java, Thailand and Iran also have the tradition of puppetry. It is said that from India, puppetry migrated to another Asian countries embracing epic themes. In Asian countries,traditional puppet troupes generally portrays religious epics.Therefore, puppetry is considered as very sacred.

Shadow puppet tradition has great popularity in Thailand, Malayasia, Indonesia and Cambodia. Influence of Indian Shadow puppet theatre is distinct on shadow puppet tradition of Thailand. Shadow Puppet tradition of Thailand is called “Nang Yai”. Scholars believe that the shadow puppet tradition came to Thailand from India. Story of the Ramayana and the Jataka are main source of themes of shadow puppet tradition of Thailand. The Ramayana is called Ramakien in Thai language. Local language of Thailand is used here. Puppets are carved out from the buffalo or cowhides. The height of puppets ranges from 1 ½ feet to 2 feet weighing about three to four kilogram.The technique of presentation has similarity with shadow puppet tradition of India.The chief puppeteer along with his accompanists throw dialogue and give music from behind the white screen in which puppets movements are reflect.

The Shadow puppet theatre of Malayasia and Java is known as Wayang kulit.It has similarity with shadow puppet tradition of Thailand.Puppets are made from leather and manipulated by sticks. Puppets are six to three feet high. They stands with the support of Buffalo horn.

The Shadow puppet tradition of Cambodia can classified under three heads-Nang Sbeak Thom which means large leather hide, Sbek Touch which means small leather hide and the third one is Sbek Por which means colored leather hide. The main source of theme is adopted from the Reamker which is the Cambodian version of the Ramayana. Rama, Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman and Ravana are main characters of Cambodian play for shadow puppetry.The puppets are made of cow hide.

In Indonesia shadow puppet theatre is known as Wayang.The influence of Tholu bommalata of south Indian shadow puppet tradition is distinct in Indonesian shadow puppet theatre.

Java and Bali also have shadow puppet tradition.The popular style of shadow puppet tradition of Java and Bali is known as Wayang kulit.The puppets are made of buffalo hide and techniques of presentation are same with the shadow puppet performance of india.Wayang kulit has recognised as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2003.

China is called the birthplace of shadow puppetry. The shadow puppet tradition of China is called “pi–yung xi”. Puppets are made of hide of buffalo and cow and prepare them for performance by dying in attractive colour. Music is integral part of Chinese puppet performance.There are reference of existence shadow puppety since ancient time in China. Besides shadow puppetry performance, there are different types of puppet prevalent in china. Evidence says that there was a form of water puppet along with Glove and wire puppet in China. During Song period, puppetry was very popular in China. There was patronage of Song dynasty to puppet. Puppet groups were often invited to royal palace for performance. Beside Song Dynasty, Puppetry was very popular during Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty. Puppet was finely made to portrayed characters feelings of happiness, sorrowness, anger etc. Fujian province was the main centre of puppet tradition. String puppet of Fujjian province was very attractive. The puppets have more than 30 strings attached to them, which makes it complex to manipulate them. Glove puppet and shadow puppet is prevalent in China.

The shadow puppet tradition of Turkey is very popular.It is known as Kargoz. Kargoz is the comic character. And the shadow puppet tradition of turkey is named after this comic character. The Kargoz play originated in Turkey and latter it migrated to Greece and North Africa.

Vietnam has one very unique tradition of puppetry known as water puppet. Vietnam is called the birthplace of water puppet. Water puppet is performed in water.Until1960, water puppet was not familiar outside of Vietnam.

Later on the North Vietnamese government began promoting water puppetry as a national art form.

“Besides these basic forms of puppet, there are some special forms of puppet. Brief description of them are given below-

Finger puppet: Finger puppets are small puppets manipulated by fingers. This kind of puppet depicts chicks, snakes, birds etc.

Bodi puppets: These types of puppets can wear by a man. These puppets have the facility of adjustable arms and legs.

Exhibit puppets: These puppets resembles to toy puppets but bigger in size. They are manipulated with a bamboo sticks attached to strings. Dolls are of generally two to three pieces. These are highly appreciated by kids. Beautifully made bird, animals etc. are generally used as Exhibit puppet.

Trick puppets

Fun box puppets are used sometimes in between a show to get a relief or for magic tricks. Mainly trick and joker puppets are used in this form–with puppets kept in a

box and popping up suddenly when the box is opened!^”19

“Humanetts are also called Bib Puppets, this form uses the actual head of the puppeteer from behind the screen as the puppet head.The rest of the body and limbs of the puppet hang like a bib and are manipulated from behind by string. The static nature of the puppet is compensated by a lot of choral music.Often,instead of screen,the puppeteer uses a cloak to perform in dim light for singing songs, reciting poems,showing magic, playing instruments or juggling balls–but not for serious acting.”^[1]

“Giant puppets:

Giant puppets are very big in size. Generally, giant puppets are used in street production and displayed in processions. Manipulation of this puppet needs three persons. Giant puppets are manipulated with rod and they are made from simple materials.Giant puppets are very popular in USA and Canada.In India using of this puppet is rare. Famous puppeteer Suresh Dutta have used Giant puppet as demon

“Tadaka” in Ramayana and another well known puppeteer Shampa Ghosh used Giant puppet in Ichchhapuran for the character “Ichchhadevi”.

Heroic puppets:

Heroic puppets are very large puppet; up to ten feet high. Manipulation of them is quite tough. At least two persons are mandatory to manipulate them successfully.One puppeteer stands on a very high platform to manipulate the puppet while another puppeteer offers support to him from the ground. These types of puppets are generally seen in various fairs and religious festivals of Odhisa. Puppets are half figures up to the waist from which hangs a long skirt. Man enters into the puppets to manipulate and carry them. Puppets are made to dance with the accompanied music.

Some another puppets like–Yampuri, Marottes, Vent puppets, Tabletop Puppets are also there in different parts of world.^”21

Puppetry is popular art form and occupying important place in the history of culture of the world. However, the origin of puppetry is not free of controversy.The position of puppetry is also declining in India.To coping with modern tools of entertainment is now a big challenge for puppetry.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ghosh Shampa, Banerjee Utpal Kr.: Indian Puppets, Abhinav Publications,2006,p; 30