Vietnamese Water Puppet
Published: 06/07/2012 03:46
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Water puppetry is a tradition, appeared in the 11th century CE when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam. Today's Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique art on the ancient Asian puppet tradition.
The farmers in this region devised a type of entertainment use what natural medium they can find in their environment. In the past, the ponds and the rice paddies after harvest were the stage for these impromptu shows. This art type is unique in North Vietnam and only finds its way to the world stage in recent years because of the normalized relation with the West. Nowadays, the Thang Long puppet troupe is the most famous in Ha Noi.
Mua Roi Nuoc - Vietnamese Water Puppet
Modern, water puppetry is performed in a pool of water with the water surface being the stage. The puppeteers stand behind a screen and control the puppets using long bamboo rods and string mechanism hidden beneath the water surface. The puppets are carved out of wood and often weigh up to 15 kg. The Vietnam guide with a traditional Vietnamese orchestra provides background music accompaniment. Singers of Cheo (a form of opera) with origin in north Vietnam sing songs which tell the story being acted out by the puppets.
Mua Roi Nuoc - Vietnamese Water Puppet
The theme of the skits is rural and includes a strong reference to Vietnamese folklore. It tells of day-to-day living in rural Vietnam and Vietnamese folk tales that are told by grandparents to their grandchildren. Stories of the harvest, of fishing and of festivals are highlighted. Legends and national history are also told via short skits. Several skits, especially those related to the tales of day-to-day living, usually have a humorous twist.
Source:vnvietnamtours
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