Indonesia: A 'wayang kulit' mural of Semar, leader of the Punokawan or clown-servants of the heroes. Although an indigenous Javanese deity, he is here decorated with Islamic inscriptions in Arabic-Jawi script.

Wayang is a Javanese word for particular kinds of theatre (literally 'shadow'). When the term is used to refer to kinds of puppet theatre, sometimes the puppet itself is referred to as wayang. Performances of shadow puppet theatre are accompanied by gamelan in Java.

UNESCO designated Wayang Kulit, a shadow puppet theatre and the best known of the Indonesian wayang, as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on 7 November 2003.

Semar is a character in Javanese mythology who frequently appears in wayang shadow plays. He is one of the punokawan (clowns), but is in fact divine and very wise. He is the dhanyang (guardian spirit) of Java, and is regarded by some as the most sacred figure of the kotak (wayang set). He is said to be the god Sang Hyang Ismaya in human form.

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Credit:

Pictures From History

Theme:

SHADOW PUPPETS