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Published: March 14th 2008
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The 1,000-year-old Vietnamese water puppetry (Múa rối nước) is one of the most special art forms in the world. It originated in the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam in the 11th century. The farmers in the region, while being free from the harvests, spent their time carving the wooden puppets and performing water puppet shows at the communal ponds to celebrate the festivals.
The puppets are made of wood and painted for waterproofing. During performances, the puppets are controlled through a pole-and-string apparatus concealed by the pond water. The puppeteers stand in waist-deep water behind the rattan curtain. The characters in a puppet show can be heroic, legendary or mythic, but most are ordinary peasant characters living in the villages in northern Vietnam. Throughout prolonged history, the water puppetry is Vietnam’s national pride which has been preserved and passed on through many generations.
The water puppet shows have been performed in many countries and are highly appreciated everywhere because of their uniqueness. Some puppeteers have said that it was an unpleasant experience when standing in the extremely cold water, but after having seen the joy and applause from the audience, they forgot about it and felt very
happy and proud of their traditional art. They have to wear nylon clothes when standing in the water to control the puppets. However, at the end of the show, they appear at the water stage to wave good bye to the audience, with their upper part wearing Vietnamese traditional dress while still standing in the water.
There is an artist in Hanoi, who worked at the Thăng Long Water Puppet Troupe. He invested his money in building a small factory and employed local craftsmen to make 1,000 water puppets, because of his passion for this art form and his wish to preserve it for the next generations. His puppets have been displayed at exhibitions in Vietnam and abroad.
There are three water puppet theaters in different cities around Vietnam. The shows are quite different as stories were made in accordance with the local culture. The theater in Hanoi is still the largest and has performed for the longest time. Simple outdoor stages are also set up to serve audience in special events. Tourists can buy wooden puppets as souvenirs after having watched the shows.
I have seen the show more than 10 times at the Thang Long
Water Puppet Theater in Hanoi. The first time I went there with a Singaporean man from my company. Even though we were seated very close to the stage, he insisted that the puppets were controlled by a computer system and couldn’t believe that there were artists behind the curtain. He looked very surprised when the puppeteers came out from behind the curtain. I enjoyed watching foreign friends and tourists being impressed by the show. The show received much applause including standing ovations.
The photos in this blog were taken at the Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater, the Museum of Ethnology, the Thành Chương's Viet Palace (35km from Hanoi's center) and six souvenir shops in Hanoi. Some of these happy puppets are on sale to foreign tourists in the Old Quarter.
Link to website of
Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater in Hanoi
Blog about the water puppet show in Sài Gòn (aka HCM City) - March 2013:
Water puppet shows in Sài Gòn Múa rối nước Múa rối là nghệ thuật giễu nhại đặc trưng của nhiều dân tộc châu Á, nhưng múa rối nước thì chỉ có duy nhất ở Việt Nam. Phát triển vào thời Lý, thời Trần, Vua Trần Nhân Tông
Chú Tễu statue
Chú Tễu statue at the Thăng Long water puppet theater in Hanoi. This puppet always appears at the beginning of the show. cho rằng rối nước không hợp với nghệ thuật cung đình, nên không cho biểu diễn ở trong cung. Rối nước ra ngoài nhân gian, bừng nở sức sống trong văn hoá dân gian Việt Nam. Nghệ thuật rối nước trở nên huyền diệu khi các nghệ sĩ biết kết hợp giữa các động tác khô cứng của con rối gỗ với sự mềm mại, huyền ảo của mặt nước.
Chú Tễu Tễu là con rối quan trọng nhất. Tễu là linh hồn của rối nước, là cầu nối giữa người biểu diễn và người xem. Trải qua nhiều năm, người Việt Nam từ chốn cung đình cho đến các làng mạc nông nghiệp nghèo nhất, ai ai cũng yêu mến chú Tễu.
Tễu được làm to hơn tất cả các con rối khác, mặc dù nếu dựa vào cách để tóc trái đào của chú thì Tễu mới chỉ khoảng 7, 8 tuổi. Chú Tễu thân hình tròn trĩnh, da trắng hồng và lúc nào cũng tươi cười. Chú đóng khố để lộ bộ ngực và bụng phệ. Tay chú vung vẩy, cái đầu quay nghiêng quay ngửa mỗi khi chú trêu chọc khán giả.
Stage of the theater
Thăng Long water puppet theater Trong chữ Nôm, Tễu có nghĩa là tiếng cười. Tễu là nhân vật táo bạo, luôn luôn diễu cợt, chế nhạo. Trong các vở diễn, Tễu là người bình luận, người kể chuyện và là người chỉ trích quan lại tham nhũng.
Blog về múa rối nước ở Sài Gòn (TP HCM) - tháng 3/2013:
Water puppet shows in Sài Gòn
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WATER PUPPETS
I've been to Hanoi seven times, but only got round to seeing the water puppets for the first time in March. It was fantastic! Can't think why i did'nt go before. The skill of the puppetters is amazing. It was so funny! I also love the traditional Vietnamese music. Do you know of any places in Hanoi where there is live traditional music apart from the expensive tourist restaurants and hotels?