when did vietnamese water puppetry originate

The water puppet shows the ingeniousness of the Vietnamese people and their artistic skills. Many also have Vietnamese singers performing some traditional songs. This is why the water puppet shows usually have a live orchestra with traditional Vietnamese musicians and traditional Vietnamese musical instruments.

Traditional Vietnamese Songs and Opera – The water puppet shows will also celebrate many traditional songs and operas.

Vietnamese National Heroes – Like most countries, they will celebrate some of their National heroes the water puppet shows are no exception.

As the countryside is such an important part of this, a lot of this will be focused on the rural side of Vietnam.

The Everyday Life and Activities of the Vietnamese – The water puppet show will also celebrate the Vietnamese’ everyday life and activities.

The Rice Harvest – Rice is a staple of life in Vietnam, and since rice is so important, many of the water puppets show also reflects the importance of the rice harvest.

Though the shows change in the stories, themes, or choreography, many themes run consistently through the Vietnamese Water Puppet shows. Vietnam’s countryside and rural life have always been an essential part of the Vietnamese culture, so it should be no surprise that the Vietnamese water puppet show also reflects this part of Vietnam. The puppet shows are filled with symbols of Vietnam’s rural life. Still, the Vietnamese water puppet tradition’s essence and how it is performed is similar to how it has been performed for many centuries. Of course, to add to the show, some modern elements were added to the water puppet theatre. Usually, about 8 puppeteers are hidden behind a screen so that you cannot see them as they are operating the puppets.

Modern-day Vietnamese water puppet shows are performed in a pool that is about 4 meters deep. In a world when so much has been computerized or mechanized, it is refreshing to see a show like the Vietnamese Water Puppet Show that is still performing the way it has been for centuries. Some actual puppeteers operate the water puppets. Close up of the Vietnamese water puppets. If you are interested in lacquer production, you can read Mondoro’s blog about lacquer by clicking here. The puppets are also made with a traditional Vietnamese lacquer technique. His puppets were all made out of wood and used a lacquer that could withstand the water. He was in the process of manufacturing puppets for the Water Puppet show in Hanoi. Many years ago, we went to a lacquer factory, and we visited one of the master water puppet manufacturers. The Puppets are carved out of wood and then lacquered. I have personally never seen anything like it before. And how they can gracefully dance on the water is actually quite amazing. When you see the water puppet show, the one thing you notice is that the water puppets really dance on the water. That is a wonderful translation that really does describe the water puppets.

The Vietnamese word for the Water Puppets is Múa rối nước when translated means making puppets dance on water. The Vietnamese refer to the water puppets as”making puppets dance on the water.” Through all this, the Vietnamese water puppets have lasted as an important cultural art form. Interestingly, the tradition of the Vietnamese water puppets has really withstood the test of time, including Vietnam’s colonization by the French and the Vietnam War, or what they call here in Vietnam, the American War. The puppet shows started in the villages along the Red River in North Vietnam. The Vietnamese water puppets are an ancient cultural tradition the puppet show dates back to the 11th century. Here are some aspects of the Vietnamese water puppet show that you may not know about: The Vietnamese water puppets date back to the 11th century. The water puppets are also a rich part of Vietnam’s history. This water puppet show is very much a part of the Vietnamese culture. I listened to him, and though I lived quite close to the theatre, it took me many years to actually go to see the Vietnamese water puppet show performance.Įvery visitor to Vietnam should go to see the Vietnamese Water Puppets show. Many years ago, a friend told me that he thought to see the Vietnamese water puppets show was not really worth anyone’s time.

When did vietnamese water puppetry originate