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Vietnamese Water Puppets |
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 Pairs/Couples |
The traditional art of water puppetry began in the rice paddies of Vietnam over 1000 years ago. When the rice paddies would flood creative villagers would perform legends using puppets to teach children about their heritage and local history… and to entertain of course! The surface of the water in the paddies served as the stage. Original puppeteers found that the water would conceal the puppets until they were ready to have them pop up and perform. This 1000 year old tradition is still very much alive today. One can attend a performance at the Municipal Water Puppet Theater in Hanoi. The theater is very much like any normal theater with angled seating, lighting, and a stage. The exception is that the main part of the stage is a pool of water. Puppeteers stand chest-deep in the water, concealed behind a decorated backdrop (they can see out but we can’t see in). The puppets emerge between slits in the backdrop. They are controlled by the puppeteer using a 15 foot long bamboo pole which is attached to the puppet’s base and hidden underwater. Strings, which run along the pole, are used to activate some of the puppet’s moving parts - while the puppeteer’s coordinated body movements are used to control others. Exactly how the puppet is maneuvered is a carefully guarded secret and is passed down from artist to apprentice. The puppeteer’s artistry combined with the water’s disguising surface creates the appearance of puppets that walk on water…a truly phenomenal sight to see! Today’s performances at the Municipal Water Puppet Theater in Hanoi are made up of 15 to 20 scenes that are accompanied by a traditional Vietnamese orchestra. The performances still tell audiences about the old legends and lend a unique way of learning history. Some scenes depict daily village life in a humorous and entertaining way. Because working in and around water is central to Vietnamese village life, the water stage itself becomes a character in the performance. Scenes of fishing, boating, swimming, and working the rice paddies would not be same without some splashing around! After a few months’ use at the theater, the puppets need to be “retired.” This is when we acquire our authentic performance-used puppets, making them especially unique. It’s easy to find replicas of authentic water puppets that are mass produced and sold to tourists. These copies are normally smaller in size, usually do not have working parts, and are not finished in the traditional ways. Our water puppets are hand carved, assembled, and painted by local artisans who live in the villages surrounding Hanoi. They are carved from water-resistant, fig tree wood and painted with a glossy vegetable-based paint. Because puppets eventually need to be retired, new puppets are always in demand. This art form keeps village artists busy and provides them a wonderful way to earn a living. Each of our puppets is unique and hand-made for the theater to be used in a specific legend or scene. We have hand picked each and every one we sell. They are not mass produced. Because our puppets have been used in traditional performances, their painted finish will not be perfect. During the depiction of the legends many puppets fight each other, are involved in a chase scene, or will just simply knock into each other. Other puppets may have a crack after spending so much time in the water. We only select puppets that are intact - we will note any major cracks or repairs that may have been made. At the theater, a clay additive is mixed into the water to give it a murky appearance, helping to replicate the look of a real rice paddy. When the puppet dries, traces of the additive remain behind in the small nooks and crannies of the puppets features. Although this can be easily wiped away, we have chosen to leave the additive on our puppets. We feel that it adds to the distinct look of the piece and is part of its history. Our performance-used water puppets make a wonderful, one-of-a-kind addition to any home. They are excellent conversation pieces and truly unique works of art. Please feel free to email me at turbanjungle@hotmail.com with any questions you may have, or if you'd like a price quote. Please include the "name" of the puppet you're interested in, along with the full address of where the puppet will be headed... |
 Musicians |
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 Fairies |
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 Fishermen & Rice Paddy Workers |
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Buffaloes/Fish/Lions |
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