They can move and dance like humans, although they will stop when the strings are loosened. The following comments about this genre of theatre are attributed to the founder of this dynasty, King Tran Thái Tông (1218-1277): “The world can clearly see that these wooden puppets depend on string mechanisms to create movement. They have a record of testimonies relating to performances which took place during the Tran dynasty (1225-1400), an age of splendour, when culture flourished. The artists and their puppets have travelled to more than 40 different countries on five continents. The Vietnamese call this particular style of theatre “puppets that dance on water”, and it has become a part of this Asian country’s cultural heritage, a fact that has been included as part of Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. Since its foundation in 1969, the art form has adhered faithfully to Hanoi’s Thang Long Company (Hanoi Flying Dragon), when it was introduced in Havana with a group of 19 highly skilled artists. This art form has evolved over centuries to become one of the world’s most original, innovative and unique shows. More specifically, they emerged from an area near Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city, where, incidentally, the most prestigious theatre of this kind operates. It is said that the first puppets emerged around one thousand years ago, in the Red River Delta in Vietnam. The Indo-Chinese water puppets started out in life as moving figures with magical powers, and were placed in rice crops to ward off wild animals and bad weather. The scenes performed by the puppet theatre also involve a number of rituals, such as the drumming festival, which acts as a prelude to Teu, a popular puppet embodying the typical qualities of the Vietnamese people, as well as the dance of the fairies and the dance of the ‘Four Sacred Creatures’ (dragon, lion, turtle and phoenix).Īlthough the puppeteers are standing behind a screen and audiences cannot really see the mechanisms hidden beneath the water surface, they perform incredible movements.ĭragons, for example, will expel fire from their mouths, butterflies will fly and young men will ride a water buffalo while playing the flute. The puppets are carved out of water-resistant fig wood and have a lifespan of three to four months.Ī pond of muddy water prevents curious eyes seeing the string mechanisms which control the puppets, whether they are characters acting out scenes of everyday life in rural Vietnam or mythical creatures, such as dragons and unicorns, or even kings and other historical figures from the Indo-Chinese country.īackground changes are accompanied by a band of musicians, singers and instrumentalists, who embellish and compliment the stories, plays and performances, ranging from the imaginary to current, topical issues. The puppets themselves can span a height of 50 centimetres and weigh up to 15 kilograms and so require puppeteers at the peak of their physical fitness, with skills bordering on perfection. The secrets of puppet manipulation are passed only from generation to generation. The truth is that the Vietnamese Water Puppetry Theatre is a unique spectacle in a world which calls into question the skills, strengths and abilities of the puppeteers. This ancient cultural institution’s main headquarters sit in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city. It does not store any personal data.Vietnamese company Thang Long (translation: Flying Dragon), better known as the Water Puppet Theatre, is still much loved by those who have been lucky enough to appreciate them. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Watch scenes of village life on an ever-changing stage, learn about festivals and traditions, and get to know quirky characters inspired by Vietnamese personalities. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Vietnam’s water puppetry opens a window into local culture, and is a fully realised art form enjoyed by young and old. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |