Wayang

Wayang Puppet Theatre
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
The Wayang Kulit performance by the Indonesian famous "dalang" (puppet master) Manteb Soedharsono, with the story "Gathutkaca Winisuda", in Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Indonesia, on 31 July 2010
Country	Indonesia
Criteria	Performing arts, Traditional craftsmanship
Reference	063
Region	Asia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	2008 (3rd session)
List	Representative List
Wayang Kulit (the leather shadow puppet), Wayang Klithik (the flat wooden puppet), Wayang Golek (the three-dimensional wooden puppet)

Wayang
Types	Traditional puppet theatre
Ancestor arts	Javanese people
Originating culture	Indonesia
Originating era	Hindu - Buddhist civilisations

This article is a part of the series on
Indonesian mythology and folklore (Mitologi dan folklor Indonesia)
show Cultural mythologies Adat Balinese mythology Batak mythology Malay folklore Ghosts in Malay culture
show Traditional folk religions Iban Kaharingan Kejawèn Marapu Parmalim Pemena Sunda Wiwitan
show Deities Acintya Agni Antaboga Barong Batara Guru Batara Kala Batara Sambu Brahma Chen Fu Zhen Ren Dewi Danu Dewi Lanjar Dewi Ratih Dewi Sri Ganesa Garuda Hainuwele Hanoman Hudoq Hyang Nyai Roro Kidul Raksasa Ratu Adil Sanghyang Adi Buddha Saraswati Satrio Piningit Setesuyara Siwa Sunan Ambu Warak ngendog Wisnu
show Mythological and folkloric creatures Beings Acintya Agni Aji Saka Bidadari Batara Guru Batara Kala Batara Sambu Brahma Calon Arang Chen Fu Zhen Ren Damarwulan Dewi Danu Dewi Lanjar Dewi Ratih Dewi Sri Ebu Gogo Hainuwele Hantu Air Hantu Bongkok Hyang Hudoq Ifrit Jenglot Jin Keong Emas Kuyang Langsuir Leak Malin Kundang Na Tuk Kong Nyai Roro Kidul Orang Bunian Orang Pendek O Tokata Pelesit Penanggalan Petruk Pocong Pontianak Putri Tangguk Raden Panji Raksasa Ratu Adil Sanghyang Adi Buddha Sangkuriang Saraswati Satrio Piningit Semar Setesuyara Silewe Nazarata Si Pitung Siwa Suanggi Sunan Ambu Sundel Bolong Tuyul Twalen Wewe Gombel Wisnu Animals Antaboga Babi ngepet Barong Burak Ganesa Garuda Hanoman Naga Taksaka Rangda Warak ngendog
show Wayang characters Wayang purwa Wayang panji Wayang menak
show Rituals and traditions Bomoh Dukun Pawang Ziarah
show Mythical and sacred locations Borobudur Kraton Mt. Tidar Prambanan Ratu Boko Tua Pek Kong Turgo
show Sacred objects Mythical texts Arjunawiwaha Hikayat Amir Hamzah Hikayat Banjar Hikayat Bayan Budiman Hikayat Iskandar Zulkarnain Hikayat Raja-raja Pasai La Galigo Mahabharata Bharatayuddha Bhāratayuddha (kakawin) Hariwangsa Nagarakṛtāgama Pararaton Pustaha Ramayana Ramayana (kakawin) Śiwarātrikalpa Smaradahana Sutasoma Tuhfat al-Nafis Wawacan Sulanjana Sacred weapons Kris Kujang Rencong Funerals Tau tau
show See also Hantu Indonesian folk religions Javanese sacred places List of Indonesian deities List of sacred places in Java
Indonesia portal  Mythology portal
v

Wayang, also known as wajang (Javanese: ꦮꦪꦁ, romanized: wayang), is a traditional form of puppet theatre play originated on the Indonesian island of Java.^[1][2][3] Wayang refers to the entire dramatic show. Sometimes the leather puppet itself is referred to as wayang.^[4] 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 Hindu epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, as well as local adaptations of cultural legends.^[2][5][6] Traditionally, a wayang 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.^[2][5]

Wayang performances are still very popular among Indonesians, especially in the islands of Java and Bali. Wayang 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),^[7] ruwatan ritual (cleansing Sukerto children from bad luck),^[8] and sedekah bumi ritual (thanksgiving to God for the abundant crops).^[9] In ceremonies contexts, usually it is used to celebrate mantenan (Javanese wedding ceremony) and sunatan (circumcision ceremony). In events, it is used to celebrate Independence Day, the anniversary of municipals, companies, and someone's birthday, commemorating certain days, and many more. Even in this modern era where the development of tourism activities, wayang puppet shows are used as cultural tourism attractions.^[10]

Wayang is one of the peaks of the Indonesian's culture, which is the most prominent among many other cultures. Wayang traditions include acting, singing, music, drama, literature, painting, sculpture, carving, and symbolic arts. Wayang traditions, which continue to develop from time to time for more than a thousand years, is also a medium of information, preaching, education, philosophical understanding, and entertainment.^[11]

UNESCO designated Wayang the flat leather shadow puppet (wayang kulit), the flat wooden puppet (wayang klitik), and the three-dimensional wooden puppet (wayang golek) 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.^[1]

Etymology[]

The term wayang is the Javanese word for "shadow"^[3][12] or "imagination". The word's equivalent in the Indonesian is bayang. In modern daily Javanese and Indonesian vocabulary, wayang can refer to the puppet itself or the whole puppet theatre performance.

History[]

Wayang is the traditional puppet theatre in Indonesia.^[13][2][5] Wayang is an ancient form of storytelling that renowned for its elaborate puppets and complex musical styles.^[1] 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 wayang (Indigenous of Java, Java-India, India, and China), but only two favourable theories:

There are three main components of Wayang Kulit show including Dalang, Gamelan (Music and Sindhen), and Wayang Kulit itself

Blencong, Javanese oil lamp in the Form of the Mythical Garuda Bird for wayang kulit performance. before 1924

• Indigenous origin (Java): The experts who say that wayang 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, monetary system, metric forms, batik, astronomy, how to grow wet rice fields, government administration. Wayang is closely related to Javanese social culture and religious life. Indian puppets are different from Javanese wayang. All technical terms in the wayang are Javanese not Sanskrit. wayang was not derived from any of the other types of shadow puppet in mainland Asia, but was a creation of the Javanese themselves. This opinion is based on the use of terms related to the wayang stage which are not borrowed from other languages, or in other words, these terms are original Javanese terms. Similarly, some of the other technical terms used in the wayang kulit found in Java and Bali are based on local languages, even when the play overlaps with Buddhist or Hindu mythologies.^[14] 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, wayang was born without the help of India, a very old cultural image. Before the IX 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 wayang 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 and Buddhism 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.^[14][15][6] 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.^[16] Further, the coastal region of Southern India (Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu) which most interacted with Indonesian islands has had an intricate, leather-based puppet art called tholu bommalata, which shares many elements with wayang.^[2][17] Some characters such as the Vidusaka in Sanskrit drama and Semar in wayang 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.^[14] Jivan Pani states that wayang developed from two arts of Odisha in Eastern India, the Ravana Chhaya puppet theatre and the Chhau dance.^[18]

Regardless of its origins, states Brandon, wayang 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 wayang in Java, Indonesia.^[14]

The oldest known record that concerns wayang is from the 9th century. Around 840 AD an Old Javanese (Kawi) inscriptions called Jaha Inscriptions issued by Maharaja Sri Lokapala form Medang Kingdom in Central Java mentions three sorts of performers: atapukan, aringgit, and abanol. Aringgit means Wayang puppet show, Atapukan means Mask dance show, and abanwal means joke art. Ringgit is described in an 11th-century Javanese poem as a leather shadow figure.

In 903 AD, An inscription calls Balitung (Mantyasih) inscriptions was created by King Balitung from Sanjaya dynasty, of the Ancient Medang Kingdom, says Si Galigi Mawayang Buat Hyang Macarita Bimma Ya Kumara means Galigi held a puppet show for gods by taking the story of Bima Kumara.^[19] 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.

Palm leaves manuscript of kakawin Arjunawiwaha is written by Mpu Kanwa in 1035 CE

Mpu Kanwa, the poet of Airlangga's court of Kahuripan kingdom, writes in 1035 CE in his kakawin Arjunawiwaha: santoṣâhĕlĕtan kĕlir sira sakêng sang hyang Jagatkāraṇa, which means, "He is steadfast and just a wayang screen away from the 'Mover of the World'." Kelir is the Javanese word for the wayang screen, the verse eloquently comparing actual life to a wayang performance where the almighty Jagatkāraṇa (the mover of the world) as the ultimate dalang (puppet master) is just a thin screen away from mortals. This reference to wayang as shadow plays suggested that wayang performance was already familiar in Airlangga's court and wayang tradition had been established in Java, perhaps earlier. An inscription from this period also mentions some occupations as awayang and aringgit.^[20]

Wayang kulit 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.^[21]

• Some Wayang Puppet Theatre Performances in Indonesia
• 

  Wayang Kulit performance with Gamelan accompaniment in the context of the appointment of the throne for Hamengkubuwono VIII's fifteen years in Yogyakarta, between 1900 and 1940

• 

  A Dalang (puppeteer) in a wayang golek (wooden puppet) performance, between 1880 and 1910

• 

  Wayang Beber performance of the desa Gelaran at the home of Dr. Wahidin Soedirohoesodo at Yogyakarta in the middle Dr. GAJ Hazeu, Dutch East Indies, in 1902

Art form[]

Wayang kulit[]

A dalang (Master Puppet) is depicting a fighting on Wayang Kulit Performance

Wayang kulit are without a doubt the best known of the Indonesian wayang. Kulit 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.^[22]

There is a family of characters in Javanese wayang 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: (the oldest), Petruk, and (the youngest son). These characters did not originate in the Hindu epics, but were added later.^[23] 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 wayang 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 wayang 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.

Performance of Wayang Kulit (shadow leather puppet) is using kelir (thin fabric), as a border between the puppeteer (Dalang) who play the puppets and the audience

Historically, the performance consisted of shadows cast by an oil lamp onto a cotton screen. Today, the source of light used in wayang performance in Java is most often a halogen electric light, while Bali still uses the traditional firelight. Some modern forms of wayang such as wayang sandosa (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 wayang kulit 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 wayang craftspersons and the relatively few experts still skilled at the art sometimes find it difficult to earn a satisfactory income.^[24]

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.

• Some examples of Wayang Kulit Figures (Leather Shadow Puppet)
• 

  Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) Kumbakarna, Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia, before 1914

• 

  Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) Gatot Kaca, Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia, before 1914

• 

  Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) Wibisana, Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia before 1933

• 

  Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) Princess Shinta, Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia before 1983

• 

  Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) Yudhishthira, Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia before 1914

• 

  Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) Princess Tari, Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia before 1934

Wayang golek[]

Wayang Golek Performance (3D Wooden Puppet), Indonesia

Wayang golek (Sundanese: ᮝᮚᮀ ᮍᮧᮜᮦᮊ᮪) 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. Today, wayang golek is mainly associated with the Sundanese culture of West Java. In Central Java, the wooden wayang is also known as wayang menak, which originated from Kudus, Central Java.

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 , and in Cirebon, . 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 wayang kulit purwa versions from Central Java, some punakawan (servants or jesters) were rendered in Sundanese names and characteristics, such as Cepot or Astrajingga as Bagong, and Dawala or Udel as Petruk. has become the most popular form of wayang golek today.

• Some Examples of Wayang Golek Figures (3D Wooden Puppet)
• 

  Wayang Golek figure, Cepot, a Sundanese Punokawan, Indonesia

• 

  Wayang Golek (3D Wooden Puppet) Rahwana, Indonesia in 2004

• 

  Wayang Golek (3D Wooden Puppet) Ramawijaya, Indonesia in 2004

• 

  Wayang Golek (3D Wooden Puppet) Gatot kaca, Indonesia in 2015

• 

  Wayang Golek (3D Wooden Puppet) Kumbakarna, Indonesia before 1976

• 

  Wayang Golek (3D Wooden Puppet) Dewi Drupadi, Indonesia before 1976

Wayang klitik[]

Wayang klitik or Wayang karucil figures occupy a middle ground between the figures of wayang golek and wayang kulit. They are constructed similarly to wayang kulit figures, but from thin pieces of wood instead of leather, and, like wayang kulit figures, are used as shadow puppets. A further similarity is that they are the same smaller size as wayang kulit figures. However, wood is more subject to breakage than leather. During battle scenes, wayang klitik 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 wayang klitik 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 klitik-klitik that these figures make when worked by the dalang.

Wayang klitik figures come originally from eastern Java, where one still finds workshops turning them out. They are less costly to produce than wayang kulit figures.

The origin of the stories involved in these puppet plays comes from the kingdoms of eastern Java: , 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 , an Adipati (viceroy) of Blambangan and mighty enemy of Majapahit's beautiful queen . 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.

• Some Examples of Wayang Klithik Figures (Flat Wooden Puppet)
• 

  (Flat Wooden Puppet) , Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia before 1953

• 

  (Flat Wooden Puppet) Damar Wulan, Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia before 1933

• 

  (Flat Wooden Puppet) Demon, Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia before 1950

• 

  (Flat Wooden Puppet), Figure of Batara Guru

• 

  (Flat Wooden Puppet) Duryudhana, Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia before 1986

• 

  (Flat Wooden Puppet) , Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia before 1986

Wayang beber[]

Wayang beber relies on scroll-painted presentations of the stories being told.^[25] Wayang beber has strong similarities to narratives in the form of illustrated ballads that were common at annual fairs in medieval and early modern Europe. They have also been subject to the same fate—they have nearly vanished, although there are still some groups of artists who support wayang beber in places such as Surakarta (Solo) in Central Java.^[26] 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 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.^[27]

• Some Examples of Wayang Beber Scenes
• 

  Wayang Beber Final fight in alun-alun in Kediri, East Java. kills Klana. Indonesia 17th century

• 

  Wayang Beber Princess , mbok Kili (left), and Ganda Ripa or Panji (right) in the palace in Kediri, 17th century

• 

  Wayang Beber Radèn Gunung Sari on horse says goodbye to his advisers Tratag and Gimeng before travelling to princess Kumuda Ningrat, 18th century

• 

  Wayang Beber Princess and Panji meet in Paluhamba market, 17th century

• 

  Wayang Beber Princess in palace garden approached by Klana, 17th century

• 

  Wayang Beber Competition between Panji Sepuh (left) and (right), 18th century

Wayang wong[]

Wayang wong, also known as wayang orang (literally "human wayang"), 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.^[28]

• Some Examples of Wayang Wong Scenes
• 

  Scene of Pandava and Krishna in a wayang wong performance

• 

  King Duryodana in Wayang wong performance in Taman Budaya Rahmat Saleh, Semarang, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia

• 

  Scene of Giants in a wayang wong performance

• 

  Scene of the Punokawan in a wayang wong performance

• 

  Scene of Rama and Shinta in a wayang wong Ramayana Ballet performance

• 

  Opening of Wayang wong performance, usually showing traditional Javanese dance

Wayang topeng[]

Wayang topeng or Wayang gedog theatrical performances take themes from the Panji cycle of stories from the kingdom of Janggala. The players wear masks known as wayang topeng or wayang gedog. The word gedog comes from kedok which, like topeng, means "mask".

Wayang gedog 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, wayang wong 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.

• Some Examples of Wayang Topeng Scenes
• 

  Dancing Wayang topeng in Malang

• 

  Studio portrait of wayang topeng actors

• 

  Wayang topeng Malang

• 

  Wayang topeng in Java

• 

  Wayang topeng in Java

• 

  Wayang topeng in Java

Stories[]

Wayang characters are derived from several groups of stories and settings. The most popular and the most ancient is wayang purwa, whose story and characters were derived from the Indian Hindu epics of 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; these stories are set in the twin Javanese kingdoms of Janggala and Panjalu (Kediri).

Wayang purwa[]

Wayang purwa (Javanese for "ancient" or "original" wayang) refer to wayang that are based on the stories of Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. They are usually performed as wayang kulit, wayang golek, and wayang wong dance dramas.^[29]

In Central Java, popular wayang kulit characters include the following (Notopertomo & Jatirahayu 2001):^[30]

• Some Figures of Wayang Purwa Story in Balinese Wayang Kulit Art Form
• 

  Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) Anggada, Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia, before 1900

• 

  Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) Jayadrata, Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia, before 1900

• 

  Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) , Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia, before 1900

• 

  Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) Sangruda, Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia, before 1900

• 

  Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) Duryadana, Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia, before 1900

• 

  Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) Gatakaca, Tropenmuseum Collectons, Indonesia, before 1900

Wayang panji[]

Derived from the Panji cycles, natively developed in Java during the Kediri Kingdom, the story set in the twin Javanese kingdoms of Janggala and Panjalu (Kediri). Its form of expressions are usually performed as wayang gedog (masked wayang) and wayang wong 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[]

Menak Amir Hamzah manuscripts. before 1792.

Menak is a cycle of wayang puppet plays that feature the heroic exploits of Wong Agung Jayengrana, who is based on the 12th-century Muslim literary hero Amir Hamzah. Menak 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 golek, or wooden rod-puppets, but also can be found on Lombok as the shadow puppet tradition, Wayang Sasak.^[31] The wayang golek menak 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.^[32]

The word menak 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.^[33]

^[34] 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 area.

• Wong Agung Jayengrana / Amir Ambyah / Amir Hamzah
• Prabu Nursewan
• Umar Maya
• Umar Madi
• Dewi Retna Muninggar

• Some Figures of Menak Story in Javanese Wayang Golek Art Form
• 

  Wayang Golek Menak, , a collection of Tropenmuseum, Netherland. before 2003

• 

  Wayang Golek Menak, , a collection of Tropenmuseum, Netherland. before 2003

• 

  Wayang Golek Menak, , a collection of Tropenmuseum, Netherland. before 2003

• 

  Wayang Golek Menak, , a collection of Tropenmuseum, Netherland. before 2003

• 

  Wayang Golek Menak, Putri , a collection of Tropenmuseum, Netherland. before 2003

• 

  Wayang Golek Menak, King (Albania), a collection of Tropenmuseum, Netherland. before 2003

Wayang Kancil[]

Wayang Kancil is a type of shadow puppet with the main character of kancil and other animal stories taken from Hitopadeça and Tantri Kamandaka. Wayang Kancil was created by Sunan Giri at the end of the 15th century and is used as a medium for preaching Islam in Gresik.^[35] The story of kancil 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 Wayang Kancil media is very good for children. Wayang kancil is not different from wayang kulit, wayang kancil 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 wayang kancil sunggingan 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 kancil 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.

• Some Figures of Kancil Story in Wayang Kulit Art Form
• 

  Kancil

• 

  Srigala

• 

  Macan

• 

  Baya

• 

  Keong

• 

  Nenek Petani

Other stories[]

The historically popular wayang kulit typically is based on the Hindu epics the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.^[36] In the 1960s, the Christian missionary effort adopted the art form to create wayang wahyu. 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.^[36] Similarly, wayang sadat has deployed wayang for the religious teachings of Islam, while wayang pancasila has used it as a medium for national politics.^[36]

There have also been attempts to retold modern fiction with the art of wayang, most famously Star Wars as done by Malaysians Tintuoy Chuo and Dalang Pak Dain.^[37]

Cultural context[]

Its initial function, wayang is a ritual intended for ancestral spirits of the "hyang" belief. Furthermore, wayang undergoes a shift in role, namely as a medium for social communication. The plays that are performed in the wayang, usually hold several values, such as education, culture, and teachings of philosophy. Wayang functions as an effective medium in conveying messages, information, and lessons. Wayang was used as an effective medium in spreading religions ranging from Hinduism to Islam. Because of the flexibility of wayang puppets, they still exist today and are used for various purposes. Wayang functions can be grouped into 3, namely:

Tatanan (Norm and Values)[]

Wayang 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 wayang. In the wayang puppets contain order, namely a 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).

Wayang is an educational medium is based on a review of the content of wayang which provides many teachings of morality to the community. Wayang is an educational medium that focuses on moral and character education. The values in wayang are a means of forming character education. Character education is something that is urgent and fundamental, with character education can form a person who has good behavior.^[38]

Tuntunan (Guidelines)[]

Wayang appearance is a communicative medium in society. Wayang is used as a means of understanding a tradition, an approach to society, lighting, and disseminating values. Wayang as a medium for character education lies not only in the elements of the story, the way of the stage, the instruments, the art of puppetry, but the embodiment of the wayang images of each wayang character. The embodiment of wayang characters can describe a person's character. From the puppet can learn about leadership, courage, determination, honesty, sincerity. Apart from that, the puppets can reflect the nature of anger, namely greed, jealous envy, cruelty, and ambition.^[38]

Tontonan (Entertainment)[]

Wayang puppet performances as an entertainment (tontonan) for the community. Wayang 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. Wayang performances present a variety of arts such as drama, music, dance, literary arts, and fine arts. Dialogue between characters, narrative expressions (janturan, pocapan, carita), suluk, kombangan, dhodhogan, kepyakan, are important elements in wayang performances.^[38]

Artist[]

Dalang[]

Dalang (Puppet master), Sindhen (traditional Javanese singer), and Wiyaga (Gamelan musicians) in Wayang Kulit Show in Java

The front view of the Wayang Museum seen from Fatahillah Square (Indonesian: Taman Fatahillah)

The dalang, sometimes referred to as dhalang or kawi dalang, is the puppeteer behind the performance.^[2][5][39] It is he who sits behind the screen, sings and narrates the dialogues of different characters of the story.^[40] 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 dalang 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.^[2][5][40]

The figures of the wayang 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 wayang is relatively rare.^{[citation needed]}

Wayang 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.^{[citation needed]}

Sindhen[]

Pesindhén or sindhén (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 "Pasindhian" which means "rich in songs" or "who sing the song". So that Pesinden can be interpreted as someone singing a song. In addition, Sinden is also commonly referred to as "Waranggana" which is taken from a combination of the words "wara" and "anggana". The word wara itself means someone who is female and anggana which means itself. Because in ancient times, waranggana was the only woman in the Wayang or Klenengan performance.

Wiyaga[]

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. Wiyaga is also called Niyaga or Nayaga 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. The wayang museum is open every day except Monday from 09:00 in the morning to 15:00 in the afternoon, for Saturdays and Sundays, it closes at 20:00.^[41]

This museum has various types of Indonesian wayang collections such as wayang kulit, wayang golek, wayang klithik, wayang suket, wayang beber, and another Indonesian wayang, besides that, there is also a collection of masks (Topeng), gamelan, and wayang 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[]

• Wayang Puppet Theater
• 

  Wayang glass painting depiction of Bharatayudha battle.

• 

  A set of Wayang Kulit and Some Gamelan Ensemble collection, Indonesia section at Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix, Arizona, United States.

• 

  A wayang show in Java, Indonesia, presenting a puppet figure of wayang.

• 

  Wayang Golek (3D Wooden Puppet) Gatot Kaca, Indonesia in 2017.

• 

  Sundanese Wayang Golek (3D Wooden Puppet), Indonesia.

• 

  A wayang klithik (flat woodden puppet) performance with a gamelan orchestra in Ngandong, Java, in 1918.

• 

  The Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet Show) was accompanied by A gamelan Ensemble in Java, circa 1870.

• 

  Wayang (shadow puppets) from central Java, a scene from Irawan's Wedding, mid-20th century, University of Hawaii Dept. of Theater and Dance.

• 

  Wayang beber depiction of a battle.

• 

  Dalang (Master Puppet) of Wayang Kulit and Wayang Golek, Ki Entus Susmono.

• 

  Wayang Golek Performance in Yogyakarta.

• 

  Wayang Kulit (Leather Shadow Puppet) Performance.

• 

  Kayon (Gunungan).

• 

  Wayang Makassar

See also[]

• Wayang kulit
• Wayang golek
• 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[]

• Alton L. Becker (1979). "Text-Building, Epistemology, and Aesthetics in the Javanese Shadow Theatre". In Aram Yengoyan and Alton L. Becker (ed.). The Imagination of Reality: Essays in Southeast Asian Coherence Systems. Norwood, NJ: ABLEX.

• 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[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wayang.

• Historical Development of Puppetry: Scenic Shades (includes information about wayang beber, kulit, klitik and golek)
• Seleh Notes article on identifying Central Javanese wayang kulit
• 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^{[permanent dead link]} by Lisa Gold
• Wayang Puppet Theatre on the Indonesian site of UNESCO
• The Wayang Golek Wooden Stick Puppets of Java, Indonesia (commercial site)
• An overview of the Shadow Puppets tradition (with many pictures) in a site to Discover Indonesia
• 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