HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

, also known as ( jv, ꦮꦪꦁ, translit=wayang), is a traditional form of puppet theatre play originating from the
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
n island of
Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mos ...
. refers to the entire dramatic show. Sometimes the leather puppet itself is referred to as . Performances of wayang puppet theatre are accompanied by a ''
gamelan Gamelan () ( jv, ꦒꦩꦼꦭꦤ꧀, su, ᮌᮙᮨᮜᮔ᮪, ban, ᬕᬫᭂᬮᬦ᭄) is the traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. T ...
'' orchestra in
Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mos ...
, and by '' gender wayang'' in Bali. The dramatic stories depict mythologies, such as episodes from the
Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
epics the ''
Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
'' and the ''
Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the s ...
'', 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 Circumcision is a procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a circumcision device may be placed, after which the foreskin is excised. Top ...
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, puppet shows are used as cultural tourism attractions. is one of the peaks of Indonesian culture, which is the most prominent among many other cultures. traditions include acting,
singing Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or with ...
,
music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...
,
drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...
,
literature Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include ...
,
painting Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...
,
sculpture Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable ...
, carving, and symbolic arts. The traditions, which have continued to develop over more than a thousand years, are also a medium for information, preaching,
education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty ...
,
philosophical Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...
understanding, and
entertainment Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have developed over thousa ...
.
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
designated – the flat leather shadow puppet ('' wayang kulit''), the flat wooden puppet (), and the three-dimensional wooden puppet (''
wayang golek ''Wayang golek'' ( Sundanese: ) is one of the traditional Sundanese puppet arts from West Java, Indonesia. in contrast to the wayang art on other area of Java island that use leather in the production of wayang, wayang golek is a wayang art m ...
'') theatre, as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on 7 November 2003. In return for the acknowledgment, UNESCO required Indonesians to preserve the tradition.


Etymology

The term is the Javanese word for ' shadow' or 'imagination'. The word's equivalent in Indonesian is . In modern daily Javanese and Indonesian vocabulary, can refer to the puppet itself or the whole puppet theatre performance.


History

is the traditional puppet theatre in
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
. is an ancient form of storytelling that is renowned for its elaborate puppets and complex musical styles. The earliest evidence is from the late 1st millennium CE in medieval-era texts and archeological sites. There are four theories about the origins of (Indigenous of Java, Java-India, India, and China), but only two favourable theories: *Indigenous origin (
Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mos ...
): The experts who say that is authentic Indonesian are Brandes, G. A.J. Hazeu, Rentse, Kats and Kruyt. According to Brandes, puppets are native to Java. He presents the results of ancient Indonesian culture, such as
gamelan Gamelan () ( jv, ꦒꦩꦼꦭꦤ꧀, su, ᮌᮙᮨᮜᮔ᮪, ban, ᬕᬫᭂᬮᬦ᭄) is the traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. T ...
, the
monetary system A monetary system is a system by which a government provides money in a country's economy. Modern monetary systems usually consist of the national treasury, the mint, the central banks and commercial banks. Commodity money system A commodity m ...
, metric forms,
batik Batik is an Indonesian technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to the whole cloth. This technique originated from the island of Java, Indonesia. Batik is made either by drawing dots and lines of the resist with a spouted tool called a ''ca ...
,
astronomy Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, g ...
, how to grow wet rice fields, and
government administration The term administration, as used in the context of government, differs according to the jurisdiction under which it operates. In general terms, administration can be described as a decision making body. United States In American usage, the term ...
. is closely related to Javanese social
culture Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups ...
and religious life. Indian puppets are different from Javanese . All technical terms in the are Javanese, not
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
. was not derived from any of the other types of shadow puppet in mainland
Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...
, but was a creation of the Javanese themselves. This opinion is based on the use of terms related to the stage which are not borrowed from other languages; in other words, these terms are original Javanese terms. Similarly, some of the other technical terms used in the found in Java and Bali are based on local languages, even when the play overlaps with Buddhist or Hindu mythologies. Hazeu said that wayang came from Java. The structure of the puppet is composed according to a very old model (the way of telling the puppeteer, the height of the voice, the language, and the expressions). The technical design, the style, and the composition of the Javanese plays. It grows from the worship of the ancestors. Kats argues that the technical term clearly comes from Java and that was born without the help of India. Before the 9th century, it belonged to the native population. It was closely related to religious practices (incense and night/wandering spirits). Panakawan uses a Javanese name, different from the Indian heroes. Kruyt argues that originates from shamanism, comparing ancient archipelago ceremonial forms which aim to make contact with the spirit world by presenting religious poetry praising the greatness of the soul. *Indian origin:
Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
and
Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religions, Indian religion or Indian philosophy#Buddhist philosophy, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha. ...
arrived on the Indonesian islands in the early centuries of the 1st millennium, and along with theology, the peoples of Indonesia and Indian subcontinent exchanged culture, architecture and traded goods. Puppet arts and dramatic plays have been documented in ancient Indian texts, dated to the last centuries of the 1st millennium BCE and the early centuries of the common era. Further, the coastal region of Southern India (
Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...
and
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...
) which most interacted with Indonesian islands has had an intricate, leather-based puppet art called ''
tholu bommalata ''Tholu bommalata'' is the shadow puppet theatre tradition of the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. Its performers are part of a group of wandering entertainers and peddlers who pass through villages during the course of a year and offer to sin ...
'', which shares many elements with . 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 of the major plays performed, all of which suggest 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 Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...
in eastern India, the Ravana Chhaya puppet theatre and the
Chhau dance Chhau dance, also spelled Chhou dance, is a semi classical Indian dance with martial and folk traditions. It is found in three styles named after the location where they are performed, i.e. the ''Purulia Chhau'' of West Bengal, the ''Seraikell ...
. 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. The oldest known record concerning is from the 9th century. Old Javanese (Kawi) inscriptions called Jaha Inscriptions from around 840 CE, issued by Maharaja Sri Lokapala from the
Mataram Kingdom The Mataram Kingdom (, jv, ꦩꦠꦫꦩ꧀, ) was a Javanese Hindu–Buddhist kingdom that flourished between the 8th and 11th centuries. It was based in Central Java, and later in East Java. Established by King Sanjaya, the kingdom was rule ...
in Central Java, mention three sorts of performers: , , and . means ' puppet show', means 'mask dance show', and means 'joke art'. is described in an 11th-century Javanese poem as a leather shadow figure. In 903 CE, inscriptions called the Balitung ( Mantyasih) inscriptions were created by King Balitung from the
Sanjaya dynasty The Sanjaya dynasty () was an ancient Javanese dynasty that ruled the Mataram kingdom in Java during the first millennium CE. The dynasty was an active promoter of Hinduism in ancient Java. Origin and formation According to the Canggal insc ...
, of the Ancient Mataram Kingdom. They state , which means 'Galigi held a puppet show for gods by taking the story of Bima Kumara'. It seems certain features of traditional puppet theatre have survived from that time. Galigi was an itinerant performer who was requested to perform for a special royal occasion. At that event he performed a story about the hero Bhima from the ''
Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the s ...
''. Mpu Kanwa, the poet of
Airlangga Airlangga (also spelled Erlangga), regnal name Rakai Halu Sri Lokeswara Dharmawangsa Airlangga Anantawikramottunggadewa (born 1000/02 in Bali, Indonesia – died 1049 in Java), was the only raja of the Kingdom of Kahuripan. The Kingdom was ...
's court of the
Kahuripan Kahuripan (also spelt Kuripan) was an 11th-century Javanese Hindu-Buddhist kingdom with its capital located around the estuarine of Brantas River valley in East Java. The kingdom was short-lived, only spanning the period between 1019 and 1045, ...
kingdom, writes in 1035 CE in his ''
kakawin Kakawin are long narrative poems composed in Old Javanese, also called "'' Kawi''", written in verse form with rhythms and meters derived from Sanskrit literature. Poets used a formalized literary language, rather than the vernacular. Poets c ...
'' (narrative poem) ''
Arjunawiwaha ''Arjunawiwāha'' was the first ''kakawin'' appeared in the East Javan period of the Javanese classical Hindu-Buddhist era in the 11th-century. Arjunawiwaha was composed by Mpu Kanwa during the reign of King Airlangga, king of the Kahuripan Kingdo ...
'': , which means, "He is steadfast and just a screen away from the 'Mover of the World'." 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 earlier. An inscription from this period also mentions 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 The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
''. Some of the plays are also based on local stories like
Panji tales The Panji tales (formerly spelled Pandji) are a cycle of Javanese stories, centred around the legendary prince of the same name from East Java, Indonesia. Along with the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the tales are the basis of various poems and a ge ...
. File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Yogyakarta Midden-Java. Opvoering van Wajang Kulit spel met Gamelanbegeleiding ter gelegenheid van de vijftienjarige troonsverheffing van HB VIII in zijn oude huis op Sompilan 12 Ngasem TMnr 60043327.jpg, ''Wayang kulit'' performance with
gamelan Gamelan () ( jv, ꦒꦩꦼꦭꦤ꧀, su, ᮌᮙᮨᮜᮔ᮪, ban, ᬕᬫᭂᬮᬦ᭄) is the traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. T ...
accompaniment in the context of the appointment of the throne for
Hamengkubuwono VIII Hamengkubuwono VIII (3 March 1880 – 22 October 1939), also spelled as Hamengkubuwana VIII, was the 8th sultan of Yogyakarta, reigning from 1921 until his death in 1939. During his reign, he carried out the rehabilitation of the Kraton Ngayogyak ...
's fifteen years in
Yogyakarta Yogyakarta (; jv, ꦔꦪꦺꦴꦒꦾꦏꦂꦠ ; pey, Jogjakarta) is the capital city of Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, in the south-central part of the island of Java. As the only Indonesian royal city still ruled by a monarchy, ...
, between 1900 and 1940 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Een poppenspeler tijdens een wajang golek voorstelling TMnr 60031943.jpg, A ''dalang'' (puppeteer) in a (wooden puppet) performance, between 1880 and 1910 File:KITLV 3953 - Kassian Céphas - Wayang beber performance of the desa Gelaran at the home of Dr. Wahidin Soedirohoesoedo at Yogyakarta in the middle Dr. GAJ Hazeu - Around 1902.tif, Wayang Beber performance of the desa Gelaran at the home of Dr. Wahidin Soedirohoesodo at
Yogyakarta Yogyakarta (; jv, ꦔꦪꦺꦴꦒꦾꦏꦂꦠ ; pey, Jogjakarta) is the capital city of Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, in the south-central part of the island of Java. As the only Indonesian royal city still ruled by a monarchy, ...
; in the middle Dr. GAJ Hazeu, Dutch East Indies, in 1902


Art form


''Wayang kulit''

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. They provide something akin to a political
cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining o ...
, 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 Yogyakarta (; jv, ꦔꦪꦺꦴꦒꦾꦏꦂꦠ ; pey, Jogjakarta) is the capital city of Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, in the south-central part of the island of Java. As the only Indonesian royal city still ruled by a monarchy, ...
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 West Java ( id, Jawa Barat, su, ᮏᮝ ᮊᮥᮜᮧᮔ᮪, romanized ''Jawa Kulon'') is a province of Indonesia on the western part of the island of Java, with its provincial capital in Bandung. West Java is bordered by the province of Banten ...
, Banyumas,
Cirebon Cirebon (, formerly rendered Cheribon or Chirebon in English) is a port city on the northern coast of the Indonesian island of Java. It is the only coastal city of West Java, located about 40 km west of the provincial border with Central J ...
, Semarang, and
East Java East Java ( id, Jawa Timur) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia located in the easternmost hemisphere of Java island. It has a land border only with the province of Central Java to the west; the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean bord ...
. 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 An oil lamp is a lamp used to produce light continuously for a period of time using an oil-based fuel source. The use of oil lamps began thousands of years ago and continues to this day, although their use is less common in modern times. Th ...
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. 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. wayang kulit'' figures (leather shadow puppet)"> File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajang kulit pop voorstellende Kumbakarna. TMnr 8-276.jpg,
Kumbakarna Kumbhakarna (Sanskrit: कुम्भकर्ण, lit. ''pot-eared'') is a powerful rakshasa and younger brother of Ravana from the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Despite his gigantic size and appetite, he is described as a virtuous character an ...
,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, before 1914 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajangfiguur van perkament voorstellende Gatot Kaca TMnr 8-273.jpg, Gatot Kaca,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, before 1914 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajangpop van karbouwenhuid voorstellende Wibisana TMnr 809-29a.jpg, Wibisana,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, before 1933 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajangpop TMnr 4833-101.jpg, Princess Shinta,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, before 1983 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajang kulit pop voorstellende Yudhistira TMnr 8-264.jpg,
Yudhishthira ''Yudhishthira'' (Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर, IAST: ''Yudhiṣṭhira'') is the eldest among the five Pandava brothers. He is mentioned in the ancient epic Mahabharata. He was sired by King Pandu of the Kuru Dynasty and his firs ...
,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, before 1914 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajangfiguur voorstellende de hemelnymf Dewi Tari TMnr 883-13.jpg, Princess Tari,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, before 1934


''Wayang golek''

( Sundanese: ) are three-dimensional wooden rod puppets that are operated from below by a wooden rod that runs through the body to the head, and by sticks connected to the hands. The construction of the puppets contributes to their versatility, expressiveness and aptitude for imitating human dance. is mainly associated with the Sundanese culture of
West Java West Java ( id, Jawa Barat, su, ᮏᮝ ᮊᮥᮜᮧᮔ᮪, romanized ''Jawa Kulon'') is a province of Indonesia on the western part of the island of Java, with its provincial capital in Bandung. West Java is bordered by the province of Banten ...
. In Central Java, the wooden is also known as , which originated from Kudus, Central Java. Little is known for certain about the history of , 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 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 grew in popularity through telling the stories of Amir Hamza, the uncle of
Muhammad Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد;  570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the mo ...
. These stories are still widely performed in Kabumen, Tegal, and Jepara as '' wayang golek menak'', and in
Cirebon Cirebon (, formerly rendered Cheribon or Chirebon in English) is a port city on the northern coast of the Indonesian island of Java. It is the only coastal city of West Java, located about 40 km west of the provincial border with Central J ...
, ''
wayang golek cepak , also known as ( jv, ꦮꦪꦁ, translit=wayang), is a traditional form of puppet theatre play originating from the Indonesian island of Java. refers to the entire dramatic show. Sometimes the leather puppet itself is referred to as . Perfor ...
''. Legends about the origins of the 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 West Java ( id, Jawa Barat, su, ᮏᮝ ᮊᮥᮜᮧᮔ᮪, romanized ''Jawa Kulon'') is a province of Indonesia on the western part of the island of Java, with its provincial capital in Bandung. West Java is bordered by the province of Banten ...
, where it eventually was used to tell stories of the ''Ramayana'' and the ''Mahabharata'' in a tradition now called , 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 today. wayang golek ''Wayang golek'' ( Sundanese: ) is one of the traditional Sundanese puppet arts from West Java, Indonesia. in contrast to the wayang art on other area of Java island that use leather in the production of wayang, wayang golek is a wayang art m ...
'' figures (3D wooden puppet)"> File:Cepot in wayang golek form, 2015-05-14 03.jpg, Cepot, a Sundanese Punokawan,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
File:Puppet (AM 2004.89.151-1).jpg,
Rahwana Ravana (; , , ) is a rakshasa king of the island of Lanka, and the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana'' and its adaptations. In the ''Ramayana'', Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and rakshasi Kaikesi. He ab ...
,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
in 2004 File:Puppet (AM 2004.89.149-1).jpg, Ramawijaya,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
in 2004 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Houten wajangpop voorstellende Gatot Kaca TMnr 4283-3.jpg, Gatot kaca,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
in 2015 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Houten wajangpop voorstellende de reus Kumbakarna TMnr 4283-8.jpg, Kumbakarna,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
before 1976 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Houten wajangpop voorstellende Draupadi TMnr 4283-70.jpg, Dewi Drupadi,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
before 1976


''Wayang klitik''

or figures occupy a middle ground between the figures of and . They are constructed similarly to figures, but from thin pieces of wood instead of leather, and, like figures, are used as shadow puppets. A further similarity is that they are the same smaller size as figures. However, wood is more subject to breakage than leather. During battle scenes, figures often sustain considerable damage, much to the amusement of the public, but in a country in which before 1970 there were no adequate glues available, breakage generally meant an expensive, newly made figure. On this basis the figures, which are to appear in plays where they have to endure battle scenes, have leather arms. The name of these figures is onomotopaeic, from the sound that these figures make when worked by the . figures come originally from eastern 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 A cockfight is a blood sport, held in a ring called a cockpit. The history of raising fowl for fighting goes back 6,000 years. The first documented use of the ''word'' gamecock, denoting use of the cock as to a "game", a sport, pastime or ente ...
. The ''
Damarwulan Damarwulan is a Javanese legendary hero who appears in a cycle of stories used in the performance of wayang klitik, as well as Langendriya (female dance-opera) and '' ketoprak'' (popular theater). These stories tell of the struggles between the ...
'' 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 The Blambangan Kingdom was the last Javanese Hindu kingdom that flourished between the 13th and 18th centuries, based in the eastern corner of Java. The capital was at Banyuwangi. It had a long history of its own, developing contemporaneously ...
and mighty enemy of Majapahit's beautiful queen Sri Ratu 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 is liable to incorporate the latest local gossip and quarrels and work them into the play as comedy. wayang klithik'' figures (flat wooden puppet)"> File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wayang Kelitik pop Menak Jingga voorstellende TMnr 2255-6.jpg, Menak Jingga,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, before 1953 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Platte houten wajangpop mogelijk Damar Wulan TMnr 809-30.jpg, Damar Wulan,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, before 1933 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wayang Kelitik pop Menak Jingga voorstellende TMnr 1964-24.jpg, Demon,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, before 1950 File:ZP 05 Batara Guru 02.jpg, Figure of
Batara Guru Batara Guru (also called Bhattara Guru, Debata Batara Guru and Batara Siwa) is the name of a supreme god in Indonesian Hinduism. His name is derived from Sanskrit ''Bhattaraka'' which means “noble lord".R. Ghose (1966), Saivism in Indonesia dur ...
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Houten wajangpop TMnr 5078-1.jpg, Duryudhana,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, before 1986 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajangpop voorstellend Raden Bratasena TMnr 195-43.jpg, Brathasena,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, before 1986


''Wayang beber''

relies on scroll-painted presentations of the stories being told. has strong similarities to narratives in the form of illustrated ballads that were common at annual fairs in medieval and early modern
Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...
. They have also been subject to the same fate—they have nearly vanished, although there are still some groups of artists who support in places such as Surakarta (Solo) in Central Java. Chinese visitors to Java during the 15th century described a storyteller who unrolled scrolls and told stories that made the audience laugh or cry. A few scrolls of images remain from those times, found today in museums. There are two sets, hand-painted on hand-made bark cloth, that are still owned by families who have inherited them from many generations ago, in Pacitan and Wonogiri, both villages in Central Java. Performances, mostly in small open-sided pavilions or auditoriums, take place according to the following pattern: The gives a sign, the small gamelan orchestra with drummer and a few knobbed gongs and a musician with a (a violin-like instrument held vertically) begins to play, and the 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. wayang beber'' scenes"> File:Abb32,Gedompol.jpg, Final fight in
alun-alun An ''alun-alun'' ( Javanese, correctly hyphenated but occurs occasionally without hyphen; also found as ''aloen-aloen'', ''aloon aloon'', and erroneously ''alon-alon'') is a large, central, open lawn square common to villages, towns and citi ...
in Kediri,
East Java East Java ( id, Jawa Timur) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia located in the easternmost hemisphere of Java island. It has a land border only with the province of Central Java to the west; the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean bord ...
. Tawang Alun kills Klana.
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
17th century File:Abb36,Gedompol.jpg, Princess Sekar Taji, mbok Kili (left), and Ganda Ripa or Panji (right) in the palace in Kediri, 17th century File:Abb43,Geleran.jpg, Radèn Gunung Sari on horse says goodbye to his advisers Tratag and Gimeng before travelling to princess Kumuda Ningrat, 18th century File:Abb17,Gedompol.jpg, Princess Sekar Taji and Panji meet in Paluhamba market, 17th century File:Abb31,Gedompol.jpg, Princess Sekar Taji in palace garden approached by Klana, 17th century File:Abb68;Gelaran.jpg, Competition between Panji Sepuh (left) and Jaya Puspita (right), 18th century


''Wayang wong''

, also known as (literally 'human '), is a type of Javanese theatrical performance wherein human characters imitate the movements of a puppet show. The show also integrates dance by the human characters into the dramatic performance. It typically shows episodes of the ''Ramayana'' or the ''Mahabharata''. File:Wayang Wong Bharata Pandawa.jpg, Pandava and
Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
in a performance File:Duryodana dalam pertunjukan wayang wong di Semarang, Jawa Tengah.jpg, King Duryodana in a performance in Taman Budaya Rahmat Saleh, Semarang, Jawa Tengah,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
File:Pementasan Wayang Orang.jpg, Giants in a performance File:Punakawan di Taman Budaya Rahmat Saleh, Semarang, Jawa Tengah.jpg, '' Punokawan'' in a performance File:Rama dan Sinta.jpg,
Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...
and Shinta in a Ramayana Ballet performance File:Wayang Orang Taman Sriwedari.jpg, Opening of performance, usually showing traditional
Javanese dance Javanese dance ( id, Tarian Jawa; jv, ꧋ꦠꦫꦶꦗꦮ) is the dances and art forms that were created and influenced by Javanese culture in Indonesia. Javanese dance movement is controlled, deliberate and refined. Javanese art often displays ...


''Wayang topeng''

or theatrical performances take themes from the Panji cycle of stories from the kingdom of
Janggala The Kingdom of Janggala is one of the two Javanese kingdoms that was formed when Airlangga abdicated his throne in favour of his two sons in 1045. The other Kingdom was Kediri. The Kingdom of Janggala comprised the northeastern part of the King ...
. The players wear masks known as or . The word comes from which, like '' topeng'', means 'mask'. 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 (the Hindu goddess of love) and Panji was an incarnation of Kamajaya (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 Yogyakarta (; jv, ꦔꦪꦺꦴꦒꦾꦏꦂꦠ ; pey, Jogjakarta) is the capital city of Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, in the south-central part of the island of Java. As the only Indonesian royal city still ruled by a monarchy, ...
and Surakarta. In the course of time, it spread to become a popular and folk form as well. File:Menari Topeng Malang.jpg, Dancing in Malang File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Studioportret van een groep wajang topeng spelers TMnr 60027221.jpg, Studio portrait of actors File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Een wajang wong voorstelling bij de regent van Malang TMnr 10017908.jpg, Malang File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Een wajang wong voorstelling TMnr 60018012.jpg, in
Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mos ...
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Portret van een groep wajang wong spelers in de buitenlucht TMnr 60043366.jpg, in
Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mos ...
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Een wajang wong voorstelling aan het hof van de Sultan van Jogjakarta TMnr 60046822.jpg, in
Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mos ...


Stories

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, natively developed in Java during the
Kediri Kingdom Kediri Kingdom (also known as Panjalu) Javanese script : ꧋ꦥŋꦗꦭꦸ, was a ''Hindu-Buddhist'' Javanese Kingdom based in East Java from 1042 to around 1222. This kingdom is centered in the ancient city ''Dahanapura'', despite the lack o ...
; these stories are set in the twin Javanese kingdoms of
Janggala The Kingdom of Janggala is one of the two Javanese kingdoms that was formed when Airlangga abdicated his throne in favour of his two sons in 1045. The other Kingdom was Kediri. The Kingdom of Janggala comprised the northeastern part of the King ...
and Panjalu (Kediri).


''Wayang purwa''

( Javanese for 'ancient' or 'original ') refer to that are based on the Hindu epics the ''Ramayana'' and ''Mahabharata''. They are usually performed as , , and dance dramas. In Central Java, popular characters include the following (Notopertomo & Jatirahayu 2001): ; Satriya *
Bima Bima (Indonesia: ''Kota Bima'') is a city on the eastern coast of the island of Sumbawa in central Indonesia's province West Nusa Tenggara. It is the largest city on the island of Sumbawa, with a population of 142,443 at the 2010 census and 155,1 ...
* Arjuna * Dursasana * Nakula * Sadewa * Antareja * Ghatotkaca * Antasena * Abimanyu * Wisanggeni * Irawan * Sumantri * Wibisana ;
Raja ''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested f ...
* Arjuna Sasrabahu * Rama Wijaya * Dasamuka * Destarata * Pandu Dewanata * Subali and Sugriwa * Barata * Baladewa * Duryudana *
Kresna Kresna ( bg, Кресна ) is a town and the seat of Kresna Municipality in Blagoevgrad Province in Bulgaria. It is located in the southwestern part of Bulgaria. Geography The town of Kresna lies in Sandanski–Petrich Valley at the north en ...
*Karna *Yudhishthira, Yudhistira ;Deva (Hinduism), Dewa *Acintya, Sang Hyang Tunggal *Sang Hyang Wenang *Narada, Batara Narada *
Batara Guru Batara Guru (also called Bhattara Guru, Debata Batara Guru and Batara Siwa) is the name of a supreme god in Indonesian Hinduism. His name is derived from Sanskrit ''Bhattaraka'' which means “noble lord".R. Ghose (1966), Saivism in Indonesia dur ...
*Dewa Ruci *Batara Indra *Batara Surya *Batara Vishnu, Wisnu *Sang Hyang Nagaraja *Nandi bull, Lembu Andini *Ganesha, Batara Ganesha ;Rishi, Resi *Hanuman, Anoman *Bhisma *Drona, Durna *Parashurama, Rama Bargawa ;Princess, Putri *Sita, Sinta *Kunti *Draupadi, Drupadi *Subhadra, Sumbadra *Shikhandi, Srikandi ;Punakawan, Abdi * Semar *Gareng *Petruk *Cepot, Bagong ;Raksasa *
Kumbakarna Kumbhakarna (Sanskrit: कुम्भकर्ण, lit. ''pot-eared'') is a powerful rakshasa and younger brother of Ravana from the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Despite his gigantic size and appetite, he is described as a virtuous character an ...
*Shurpanakha, Sarpakanaka *Indrajit, Indrajit Megananda *Sukrasana *Kalabendana *Cakil File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajangfiguur voorstellende Anggada TMnr 15-954-31.jpg, ''Wayang kulit'' (shadow puppet) Anggada,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection, Indonesia, before 1900 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajangfiguur voorstellende Jayadrata TMnr 15-954-23.jpg, ''Wayang kulit'' (shadow puppet) Jayadrata,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection, Indonesia, before 1900 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajangfiguur voorstellende Kendran TMnr 15-954-13.jpg, ''Wayang kulit'' (shadow puppet) Kendran,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection, Indonesia, before 1900 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajangfiguur voorstellende Sangruda TMnr 15-954-40.jpg, ''Wayang kulit'' (shadow puppet) Sangruda,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection, Indonesia, before 1900 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajangfiguur voorstellende Duryadana TMnr 15-954-91.jpg, ''Wayang kulit'' (shadow puppet) Duryadana,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection, Indonesia, before 1900 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajangfiguur voorstellende Gatakaca TMnr 15-954-93.jpg, ''Wayang kulit'' (shadow puppet) Gatakaca,
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
collection, Indonesia, before 1900


''Wayang panji''

Derived from the Panji (prince), Panji cycles, natively developed in Java during the
Kediri Kingdom Kediri Kingdom (also known as Panjalu) Javanese script : ꧋ꦥŋꦗꦭꦸ, was a ''Hindu-Buddhist'' Javanese Kingdom based in East Java from 1042 to around 1222. This kingdom is centered in the ancient city ''Dahanapura'', despite the lack o ...
, the story set in the twin Javanese kingdoms of
Janggala The Kingdom of Janggala is one of the two Javanese kingdoms that was formed when Airlangga abdicated his throne in favour of his two sons in 1045. The other Kingdom was Kediri. The Kingdom of Janggala comprised the northeastern part of the King ...
and Panjalu (Kediri). Its form of expressions are usually performed as (masked ) and dance dramas of Java and Bali. * Raden Panji, alias Panji Asmoro Bangun, alias Panji Kuda Wanengpati, alias Inu Kertapati *Galuh Chandra Kirana, alias Sekartaji *Panji Semirang, alias Kuda Narawangsa, the male disguise of Princess Kirana *Anggraeni


''Wayang Menak''

is a cycle of puppet plays that feature the heroic exploits of Wong Agung Jayengrana, who is based on the 12th-century Muslim literary hero Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib, Amir Hamzah. stories have been performed in the islands of Java and Lombok in the Indonesian archipelago for several hundred years. They are predominantly performed in Java as , or wooden rod-puppets, but also can be found on Lombok as the shadow puppet tradition, . The tradition most likely originated along the north coast of Java under Chinese Muslim influences and spread East and South and is now most commonly found in the South Coastal region of Kabumen and Yogyakarta. 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 Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد;  570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the mo ...
. 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''. The wooden is similar in shape to ; it is most prevalent on the northern coast of Central Java, especially the Kudus area. * Wong Agung Jayengrana/Amir Ambyah/Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib, Amir Hamzah * Prabu Nursewan * Umar Maya * Umar Madi * Dewi Retna Muninggar File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Houten wajangpop Amir Hamza alias Menak alias Jayengrana voorstellend TMnr 6148-5-4a.jpg, Wayang Golek, ''Wayang golek'' , Jayengrana, a collection from
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
, the Netherlands, before 2003 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Houten wajangpop Umarmaya voorstellende TMnr 6148-5-1a.jpg, Wayang Golek, ''Wayang golek'' , Umarmaya, a collection at
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
, the Netherlands, before 2003 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Houten wajangpop TMnr 6148-5-7.jpg, Wayang Golek, ''Wayang golek'' , Umarmadi, a collection at
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
, the Netherlands, before 2003 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Houten wajangpop TMnr 6148-5-5.jpg, Wayang Golek, ''Wayang golek'' , Jiweng, a collection at
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
, the Netherlands, before 2003 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Houten wajangpop TMnr 6148-5-6a.jpg, Wayang Golek, ''Wayang golek'' , Putri Murtinjung, a collection at
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
, the Netherlands, before 2003 File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Houten wajangpop TMnr 6148-5-8a.jpg, Wayang Golek , King Maktal (Albania), a collection at
Tropenmuseum The Tropenmuseum ( en, Museum of the Tropics) is an ethnographic museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1864. One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of tem ...
, the Netherlands, before 2003


''Wayang Kancil''

is a type of shadow puppet with the main character of and other animal stories taken from ''Hitopadesha, Hitopadeça'' 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 Gamelan () ( jv, ꦒꦩꦼꦭꦤ꧀, su, ᮌᮙᮨᮜᮔ᮪, ban, ᬕᬫᭂᬮᬦ᭄) is the traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. T ...
. 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. File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajang Kantjil pop dwerghert TMnr 6189-5.jpg, File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajang Kantjil pop hond TMnr 6189-4.jpg, File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajang Kantjil pop tijger TMnr 6189-6.jpg, File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajang Kantjil pop krokodil TMnr 6189-7.jpg, File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajang Kantjil pop slak TMnr 6189-9.jpg, File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajang Kantjil pop dochter van de boer TMnr 6189-3.jpg,


Other stories

The historically popular typically is based on the Hindu epics the ''Mahabharata'' and the ''Ramayana''. In the 1960s, the Christian missionary effort adopted the art form to create . The Javanese Jesuit Brother Timotheus L. Wignyosubroto used the show to communicate to the Javanese and other Indonesians the teachings of the Bible and of the Catholic Church in a manner accessible to the audience. Similarly, has deployed for the religious teachings of Islam, while has used it as a medium for national politics. 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.


Cultural context

Its initial function, is a ritual intended for ancestral spirits of the ''hyang'' belief. Furthermore, undergoes a shift in role, namely as a medium for social communication. The plays that are performed in the , usually hold several values, such as
education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty ...
,
culture Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups ...
, and teachings of philosophy. functions as an effective medium in conveying messages, information, and lessons. was used as an effective medium in spreading religions ranging from
Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
to Islam. Because of the flexibility of puppets, they still exist today and are used for various purposes. functions can be grouped into three, namely:


''Tatanan'' (norms and values)

is a performance medium that can contain all aspects of human life. Human thoughts, whether related to ideology, politics, economy, social,
culture Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups ...
, law, defense (military), defense, and security, can be contained in . In the puppets contain order, namely a Social norm, 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.


''Tuntunan'' (guidelines)

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.


''Tontonan'' (entertainment)

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.


Artist


Dalang

The ''Dhalang, dalang'', sometimes referred to as or , is the puppeteer behind the performance. It is he who sits behind the screen, sings and narrates the dialogues of different characters of the story. With a traditional orchestra in the background to provide a resonant melody and its conventional rhythm, the ''dalang'' modulates his voice to create suspense, thus heightening the drama. Invariably, the play climaxes with the triumph of good over evil. The is highly respected in Indonesian culture for his knowledge, art and as a spiritual person capable of bringing to life the spiritual stories in the religious epics. 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. 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, , who command extravagant fees and are international celebrities. Some of the most famous in recent history are Ki Nartosabdho, Ki Anom Suroto, Ki Asep Sunandar Sunarya, Ki Sugino, and Ki Manteb Sudarsono.


''Sindhen''

Pasindhèn 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.


''Wiyaga''

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'.


Wayang Museum

The Wayang Museum is located in the tourist area of the Kota Tua Jakarta (old city) in Jalan Pintu Besar Utara No.27, Jakarta 11110, Indonesia. The Wayang Museum is adjacent to the Jakarta Historical Museum. This museum has various types of Indonesian collections such as , , , , , and another Indonesian . There is also a collection of masks ('' topeng''),
gamelan Gamelan () ( jv, ꦒꦩꦼꦭꦤ꧀, su, ᮌᮙᮨᮜᮔ᮪, ban, ᬕᬫᭂᬮᬦ᭄) is the traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. T ...
, and paintings. The collections are not only from Indonesia, but there are many collections of puppets from various countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Suriname, China, Vietnam, France, India, Turkey, and many other countries.


Gallery

File:Wayang Painting of Bharatayudha Battle.jpg, ''Wayang'' glass painting depiction of Bharatayudha battle. File:Gong Chimes and percussion, Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix, Arizona.jpg, A Wayang Kulit, ''wayang kulit'' set and a
gamelan Gamelan () ( jv, ꦒꦩꦼꦭꦤ꧀, su, ᮌᮙᮨᮜᮔ᮪, ban, ᬕᬫᭂᬮᬦ᭄) is the traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. T ...
ensemble collection, Indonesia section at the Musical Instrument Museum (Phoenix), Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, United States.
File:SANG DALANG.jpg, A show in Java island, Java, Indonesia, presenting a puppet. File:Dalang.jpg, Wayang Golek, ''Wayang golek'' (3D wooden puppet), Gatot Kaca,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
in 2017.
File:Wayang Golek Sunda PRJ 1.jpg, Sundanese Wayang Golek, ''wayang golek'' (3D wooden puppet),
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
.
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Een wajang kelitik voorstelling met gamelanorkest in Ngandong TMnr 60023519.jpg, A (flat wooden puppet) performance with a gamelan orchestra in Ngandong,
Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mos ...
, in 1918.
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Een gamelanorkest begeleidt het schaduwpoppenspel Wajang koelit. TMnr 60003354.jpg, ''Wayang kulit'' (shadow puppet show) accompanied by a
gamelan Gamelan () ( jv, ꦒꦩꦼꦭꦤ꧀, su, ᮌᮙᮨᮜᮔ᮪, ban, ᬕᬫᭂᬮᬦ᭄) is the traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. T ...
ensemble in
Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mos ...
, circa 1870.
File:Wayang (shadow puppets) from central Java, a scene from 'Irawan's Wedding'.jpg, (shadow puppets) from central Java, a scene from ''Iravan, Irawan's Wedding'', mid-20th century, University of Hawaii Dept. of Theater and Dance. File:Wayang Beber Opened.jpg, depiction of a battle. File:Wayangan (259).jpg, and (puppeteer), Ki Entus Susmono. File:Sisi Lain Seorang Dalang.jpg, performance in
Yogyakarta Yogyakarta (; jv, ꦔꦪꦺꦴꦒꦾꦏꦂꦠ ; pey, Jogjakarta) is the capital city of Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, in the south-central part of the island of Java. As the only Indonesian royal city still ruled by a monarchy, ...
.
File:Wayang show.jpg, ''Wayang kulit'' (leather shadow puppet) performance. File:Wayang Kulit; Kayonan (tree of life), Arjuna and Sumbadra from Java.JPG, Kayon (Gunungan (wayang), Gunungan). File:Costume dolls of Makassar couple.jpg,


See also

* Wayang kulit * Wayang golek * Wayang beber * Culture of Indonesia * Javanese culture * Gamelan * Wayang Museum


References

* Signell, Karl. ''Shadow Music of Java''. 1996 Rounder Records CD #5060, Cambridge MA. * This article was initially translated from the German-language Wikipedia article. * Poplawska, Marzanna. ''Asian Theatre Journal''. Fall 2004, Vol. 21, p. 194–202.


Further reading

* * Brandon, James (1970). ''On Thrones of Gold — Three Javanese Shadow Plays''. Harvard. * Ghulam-Sarwar Yousof (1994). ''Dictionary of Traditional South-East Asian Theatre''. Oxford University Press. * Clara van Groenendael, Victoria (1985). ''The Dalang Behind the Wayang''. Dordrecht, Foris. * Keeler, Ward (1987). ''Javanese Shadow Plays, Javanese Selves''. Princeton University Press. * Keeler, Ward (1992). ''Javanese Shadow Puppets''. OUP. * Long, Roger (1982). ''Javanese shadow theatre: Movement and characterization in Ngayogyakarta wayang kulit''. Umi Research Press. * Mellema, R.L. (1988). ''Wayang Puppets: Carving, Colouring, Symbolism''. Amsterdam, Royal Tropical Institute, Bulletin 315. * Mudjanattistomo (1976). ''Pedhalangan Ngayogyakarta''. Yogyakarta (in Javanese). * Signell, Karl (1996). ''Shadow Music of Java''. CD booklet. Rounder Records CD 5060. * Soedarsono (1984). ''Wayang Wong''. Yogyakarta, Gadjah Mada University Press.


External links


Historical Development of Puppetry: Scenic Shades (includes information about wayang beber, kulit, klitik and golek)


* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041104025934/http://www.indonesiatourism.go.id/gallery/traddance.htm Wayang Orang (wayang wong) traditional dance, from Indonesia Tourism]
Wayang Klitik: a permanent exhibit of Puppetry Arts Museum

Wayang Golek Photo Gallery, includes description, history and photographs of individual puppets by Walter O. Koenig

Wayang Kulit: The Art form of the Balinese Shadow Play
by Lisa Gold
Wayang Puppet Theatre
on the Indonesian site of
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

The Wayang Golek Wooden Stick Puppets of Java, Indonesia
(commercial site)

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090429070314/http://www.internationalfolkart.org/exhibitions/dancingshadows.html Wayang Kulit exhibition at the Museum of International Folk Art]
Wayang Kulit Collection of Shadow Puppets, Simon Fraser University Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology digitized on Multicultural Canada website

Contemporary Wayang Archive, by the National University of Singapore

Wayang Kontemporer, an interactive PhD dissertation on Contemporary Wayang Archive
{{Indonesian drama and theatre Wayang, Indonesian culture Puppetry Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity Traditional drama and theatre of Indonesia Indonesian words and phrases Theatre in Indonesia