While my research started out as a general search for the origins of puppetry, this quickly turned into a daunting task. Throughout my readings, I kept coming across terms such as wayang golek, wayang kulit, and dalang in reference to shadow puppetry in Indonesia. My curiosity perked, I began to search for the meanings behind these terms, and quickly became immersed into a world I had never know existed.
I was most interested that this was an ancient art form in which the puppeteer was held in the same, if not higher, regards than the village shaman. Both dalang and shaman "are considered an inspired priest while performing, has knowledge of the three realms of sky, earth, and underworld, and is able to mediate between them. Is a ‘master or spirits’ in the sense that he can become at will a mouthpiece of the gods during his narration. If an individual is not ‘inspired by the gods’, he cannot become a dalang. He contributes to spiritual and moral welfare of the community while providing entertainment for villagers. Dalang combines his roles as priest, visionary, poet, teacher, performer, and entertainer while onstage" (Hobart, 34.)
The goal of this website is to share the basics of this world with you, focusing on the shadow theater of Java and Bali.
Photo credit: gustavothomastheatre.blogspot.com
I was most interested that this was an ancient art form in which the puppeteer was held in the same, if not higher, regards than the village shaman. Both dalang and shaman "are considered an inspired priest while performing, has knowledge of the three realms of sky, earth, and underworld, and is able to mediate between them. Is a ‘master or spirits’ in the sense that he can become at will a mouthpiece of the gods during his narration. If an individual is not ‘inspired by the gods’, he cannot become a dalang. He contributes to spiritual and moral welfare of the community while providing entertainment for villagers. Dalang combines his roles as priest, visionary, poet, teacher, performer, and entertainer while onstage" (Hobart, 34.)
The goal of this website is to share the basics of this world with you, focusing on the shadow theater of Java and Bali.
Photo credit: gustavothomastheatre.blogspot.com