Water puppetry later became popular in cities such as Hanoi and in other areas in northern Vietnam. That’s why the original water puppet festivals were held in rice paddies, with a pagoda built on top to hide the puppeteers standing in the water. When the rice fields flooded, the villagers would entertain each other using this form of puppet play. They discovered that the water was an excellent medium for puppetry and that it could conceal the puppeteers’ rods and strings, as well as provide exciting effects like waves and splashes. It taught me a lot about the special cultural value of this traditional Vietnamese art, which began in the 11th century in the villages of the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam. I had always thought that such performances were just about a group of puppets dancing on water. But after the show ended, I realised I now had a much deeper understanding of the history of water puppetry. It was the first water puppetry show that I attended last month.
This lively scene was all part of the charming atmosphere of a Vietnamese water puppetry show, magically created by puppeteers standing waist-deep in water hidden behind a split bamboo screen, moving their creations to the music of traditional Vietnamese instruments like a bamboo flute. On the stage, which resembled a pagoda, were multi-coloured lanterns, spotlights and pink lotus flowers. Water puppetry is a unique traditional art form only seen in Vietnam.Preschool students at Era Angels Kindergarten School in HCM City welcome a water puppetry show recently before the new wave of COVID-19 spread through the country. Ground puppetry has different forms such as hand puppet, stick puppet in Đồng Minh (Hai Phong) and Tế Tiêu (Ha Tay), and string puppet of Mộc Thầu Hý in Cao Bang and Bac Thai provinces. History of Vietnam puppetry recognizes the two main forms of ground and water puppets. It is really a unique harmony of the art, nature and humans. Amidst romantic nature, viewers could enjoy an art form containing soil, water, green trees, clouds, winds with fire and smoke and a communal house with red tile roof. Water puppet stage was in harmony with natural scenery.
In the past, water puppet was only performed outdoor, during daytime. That is the skillfulness, fascination and creation of the art of water puppetry.
#Water puppetry history full#
However, it is rough in a fight full of fire when golden dragons appear.Ī French newspaper wrote: " Puppets are skillfully manipulated, very difficult to imagine. The water surface is peaceful with a flock of ducks swimming and becomes very romantic in illusive smoke when a group of fairies descended dancing and singing. Water takes part in the performance of the puppets as it is commented: "Water is also a character of water puppet shows”. Water makes puppets more lively and cheerful. It is also thanks to water, puppeteers can manipulate puppets skillfully and creatively. It is the use of water to activate puppets and hide manipulation machinery. The French called this art form with charming puppets as “the soul of Vietnamese rice fields” and commented: "With creation and discovery, water puppetry is worth to be considered one of the most important art forms of puppetry". They often offered water puppet shows during off season, spring and festivals. The inscription says people performed water puppets in celebration of the longevity of the King.ĭue to natural conditions and agricultural work of Vietnamese people which is closely linked to water, the farmers themselves created the art of water puppetry. It is inscribed on Sùng Thiện Diên Linh Stone Stele placed in Long Ðọi Pagoda, Đội Sơn Commune, Duy Tiên district, Hà Nam province. Yet, the evidence of the art of water puppetry remaining today shows that this traditional art form was seen under the reign of Ly Nhan Tong in 1121. It has come into existence and developed together with the wet rice civilization since the Hung Kings founded the country. Puppetry is a traditional stage art form that has long existed of different ethnic groups in Vietnam.
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