History of Indonesian puppetry

Looking back at the ancient Indonesian art form

Javanese shadow puppetry or wayang kulit, is an ancient form of storytelling that dates back to over 1,000 years ago.

The performance derived from Indian epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata that were introduced to Indonesia during the first wave of Hinduism. The stories were then localized to include Indonesian folklore.

In the state of Java, shadow puppetry was considered a sacred treasure that was only performed in the royal court of Yogyakarta during important events. Shadow puppets were eventually passed down to the public for educational campaigns.

The puppets used are traditionally made out of buffalo hide for durability. Performances would be held at night in a courtyard and the shadows would be produced by igniting coconut oil in a lamp.

Traditionally, puppets are kept in a wooden box. A puppeteer will tap on the box in order to create sound effects and cues during a performance.

Though the puppets are typically used to cast a shadow, they tend to be ornately decorated. The colour of the puppets can assist the puppeteer in telling them apart when selecting new puppets.

Today, shadow puppet performance remains a popular form of entertainment in Indonesia.