Unique traditional art form – Ethnic Tày stick puppetry
In contrast with Water Puppetry, this unique traditional art form has been overlooked over the past decade. Let’s explore more about Stick Puppetry.
Signified by its land puppetry method, Ethnic Tày stick puppetry are usually made with squid rope wood, a popular woody plant in mountainous areas, which is both easy to work with and termite-proof. The puppetries are assembled to simulate the images of ancient kings, farmers, and animals.
The most famous are land puppet shows in Tham Roc village, Binh Yen commune and Ru Nghe village, Dong Thinh commune, Dinh Hoa district, Thai Nguyen province. Its origin dates back to 200 years ago. It is called stick puppetry because most puppets are controlled by bamboo sticks attached to the body, head, arms, and legs of the characters, for ease of control and storage. Recently, artisans have replaced bamboo bars with iron or aluminum. The tools for performing stick puppetry are very simple, including a backdrop stretched up to act as a stage, a set of about 13 puppets, a lute, and a flute.
The Tay’s stick puppetries are assembled to simulate the images of ancient kings, farmers, and animals.
After choosing materials, shaping by hand, drying, painting, and sewing clothes for the character, the artisans take at least 2-3 days to finish a medium-sized puppet. Nowadays, with passion and advanced assistance in the making process, in other different regions, people have created puppets in more diverse ways.
Puppets have turned imagination into “reality”, there is no border separating the real and the fake, … therefore, many researchers have called puppet theater “The beautiful world of childhood”. .
This ethnic Tay stick puppetry is well-received by the old villagers and nowadays with a public view coming mainly from a young audiences. Not only does it hold a sense of familiarity, but also a great symbol of the past and a tribute to the heroic stories of generations. By making it into a festive celebration of the Tet Holiday, Tay people usually perform at the Long Tong event to bring a unique performance to the villagers, expressing their wishes for good weather, crops, and success to honor the golden plaque in the future.
All combine to create a unique play that attracts viewers. With simple but skillful movements, the puppet shows vividly display the production and daily activities of the people such as farming, and climbing trees…
Nowadays, stick puppetry or other form of puppetries are regaining its recognition. Mostly through public view than theater, mainly well-received by a younger audiences.
Although there are signs of progression, this unique traditional art form still meets a lot of difficulties in holding a lasting imprint. Hence, to preserve and enhance Tay’s Stick Puppetry, with effort coming from the artisans, the precedents, and the locals’ administration, it requires attention from authorities and the tourism department to bring lucrative recognition to this remarkable craftwork form.
