Culture

Wayang Kulit

The short answer

Wayang kulit is Javanese and Balinese shadow puppetry with carved leather puppets, led by a single puppeteer (dalang) who voices every character, often all night, accompanied by gamelan.

Where

Indonesia/Malaysia

Category

Performance Art

When

Ceremonial

Origin

9th Century or earlier

What it is

A traditional form of shadow puppetry using intricately carved leather puppets to tell epic stories like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Why it matters

A centuries-old art carrying Hindu epics and Javanese philosophy. Wayang puppet theatre was proclaimed a UNESCO Masterpiece in 2003 and inscribed on the Representative List in 2008 (Indonesia).

Fun fact

The dalang traditionally performs from about 9 p.m. until dawn and also conducts the gamelan with taps of a wooden mallet.

Kungfucius says: One dalang, hundreds of characters, nine hours, no coffee break. Your 'speaking practice' is fine.

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