Wayang Kulit, the Indonesian shadow puppetsWayang Kulit in Central Java is probably one of the oldest continuous traditions of storytelling in the world, and certainly among the most highly developed.The wayang is a flat or round puppets used for shows in Java.The wayang kulit is the flat one and it is made with leather.
Indonesian shadow puppet wayang kulitThey are maipulated behind a white screen with a back light, so the attendance can see them as shadow puppets.Wayang is well integrated in Javanese society, and it is considered to be a highlight of Javanese culture. Wayang Kulit was already established in the East Javanese kingdoms one thousand years ago.
The performances of shadow puppet theater are accompanied by gamelan in Java, and by "gender wayang" in Bali, and originally might last all night long, sometimes up to six hours or until dawn. The complete wayang kulit troupes include dalang (puppet master), nayaga (gamelan players), and sinden (female choral singer). Some of the nayaga also performed as male choral singer. The dalang (puppet master) play the wayang behind the cotton screen illuminated by oil lamp or modern halogen lamp, creating visual effects similar to animation. The thin puppet is animated by the movement of hands connected with joints manipulated through rods handle made of carved buffalow's horn. UNESCO designated Wayang Kulit from Indonesia as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 7, 2003.