Javanese Shadow Puppet


CMC PCD 94-559-047

CMC 92-E-114

The shadow puppet shows performed throughout the islands of Indonesia are centuries old. Javanese shadow puppetry or wayang kulit uses rod puppets made from carved and painted buffalo hide to interpret plays based on Indian mythology. This shadow puppet represents the gunungan, which symbolizes the universe and is set in the middle of the stage to mark the beginning and the end of the shadow play.