One of the famous cultural arts in Indonesia, especially Java, is wayang. Puppetry in each region has something unique and often there are many stories with different versions. Wayang also has a role in the spread of Islam.
The variety of wayang stories sometimes makes people who study them feel confused, even though many people, especially in the Java region, like them.
Puppet
An art that has existed since the time of our ancestors and tells the story of a civilization in the land of wayang. The wayang characters are played with amazing names with different character meanings .
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The background of this art is an element of Hindu religious culture. Where the story in Indonesia has several versions that are very different from the original story from India. Wayang in Indonesia has been modified by the culture of Java and then combined with Hinduism.
Understanding Puppetry
Wayang is an original Indonesian performing art that has developed to this day, especially on the island of Java. This performance also includes popular culture in Sumatra and several regions on the Malay Peninsula with different versions but is still influenced by Hindu and Javanese culture.
Wayang depicts life in the world with all its problems. If we look at several wayang stories, for example the Mahabarata is a story that is very well known. A character who becomes evil and becomes good who essentially seizes a government.
There are several wayang stories with the theme of war to gain power or a journey to find strength. A story that makes someone who likes wayang imagine many things related to this event.
Understanding Puppetry According to Experts
The definition of wayang according to experts is as follows;
- Hazeu
Wayang is a shadow, something vague and dreamy. This is in accordance with the method used during puppet shows. Puppet shows will include shadows of the puppets played by the puppeteer. When the light is in the spotlight, the play or wayang characters will appear bigger in the shadow.
- Teguh Pranoto
Wayang is a depiction of human nature with all its behavior, which is used to teach about types of morals in a social environment and how to act well with fellow humans or God. Relationships with fellow humans can be between people and rulers, children and parents, and so on.
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History of Puppetry
The Indonesian nation is a nation that has had beliefs since ancient times. The beliefs held at the beginning of civilization were animism and dynamism, namely worshiping spirits or objects that were thought to have power. Puppets were a means of performing worship rituals at that time. Puppet shows are something sacred and are performed for one night.
When Hinduism entered Indonesia, wayang stories experienced a shift, which was originally intended for worship, turned into a performance that conveyed stories about the essence of human life on earth. Various characters appear with all their characters and behavior.
The shift in meaning of wayang stories also began to change when Islam entered Indonesia. The bearers of the Islamic religion carry out cultural acculturation by adopting stories that already exist in society and then interpreting them in different ways.
The arrival of Islam also changed the form of wayang as it is today. There is no description of the wayang before it became the current one, many say that the previous wayang was like a human. During this time, the meaning of wayang stories deepened with all the philosophies related to everyday life.
Regarding the issue of where wayang came from, up to now there are still two versions, from India or Java. These two opinions have their own supporting figures with quite strong reasons for each opinion.
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Puppet Type
Meanwhile, various types of wayang acting include;
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Shadow Puppets
One of the most popular wayang in East Java, Yogyakarta and Central Java. Basically all shadow puppets are made from animal skin. Shadow puppets have various types according to the region or type of story being told.
Types of shadow puppets include;
- Original movie
- Madyo puppet
- Wayang gedok
- Kitchen puppets
- Flashlight puppets
- Mouse deer puppet
- Wayang Calonarang
- Puppet crucifix
- Sadat puppet
- Puppet relapses
- Puppets
- Cupak puppet
- Wayang beber
- Arja puppet.
Wayang purwa in East Java and Yogyakarta certainly have stories from different points of view. There are even several characters who often appear in every show. This may be different from the figures who often appear in East Java or Bali.
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Puppet show
Wayang golek is a type of wayang in Java. There are many types of wayang golek, especially the materials used and the stories that are usually told. There are several types of wayang golek, among others, pesher, thengul, menak, cepak, klithik, timplong, and potehi.
Wayang langkung is a puppet show made from bamboo. This type of wayang is widely developed in the Jepara area. Wayang ;angkung has a philosophy about human life from birth to death.
Wayang menak is a type of puppet show that is used as a means of da’wah for saints to spread the religion of Islam. All the wayang characters are made with an Arabic background, but there are also some characters who wear clothes like shadow puppets.
Thengul wayang is a wayang that emerged because it was inspired by the menak wayang in Kudus. This puppet has a purpose for entertainment. The stories that are told are also folk tales, not traditional wayang stories.
Wayang cepak is a wayang show that is similar to wayang in Sunda. The shape of the wayang with a flat crown is called wayang cepak. This wayang tells about three things, including Arabic, Hindu kingdoms and local stories.
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Suket puppet
A type of wayang made from grass (suket in Javanese). This puppet is an imitation form of shadow puppet which is made in such a way according to the skills of a famous artist named Slamet Gundono.
Slamet Gundono tried to make a show using wayang made from suket. When performing a performance, you don’t only use suket puppets but also use leather or leaf puppets to support the performance. Suket puppets may not be well known because the way they are made is quite complicated.
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Wayang motekar
One type of wayang that is shown with shadows but has various colors in the shadows.
This puppet show uses quite high technology. According to the inventor of this puppet, Harry Dim, the technology used in this performance includes puppets made of plastic, special screens, light system settings, and transparent colors.
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Puppet people
Wayang orang is a type of wayang whose existence is still maintained, even in Solo currently there are still wayang orang performances once a week in the Sriwedari area. This cultural preservation continues to be maintained and passed down to future generations of children and grandchildren. There are two types of wayang orang, namely wayang gung and mask.
Wayang gung is a type of wayang orang that developed in Banjar, South Kalimantan. This wayang tells more about the Ramayana in a banjar version and is in accordance with existing culture.
Wayang Mask is a Javanese wayang art. This puppet is widely used at shows and even weddings. Performances with stories about life and gamelan music accompaniment.
Puppet Functions
Meanwhile, the functions of wayang as part of its cultural meaning are as follows;
- Educational facilities as an introduction to the public about history that has existed.
- Entertainment for the community.
- A means of introducing religion, seeing that several religions in Indonesia use wayang as a means of spreading it.
- Preserving and maintaining the existence of wayang shows as cultural heritage.
- One form of expression in the field of arts, especially theater arts and the like.
Conclusion
From the explanation given, it can be said that in fact many wayang characters have emerged in Indonesia with all their philosophies. When we look at wayang kulit or wayang orang, many characters such as Semar, Gareng, Petruk, and Bagong are usually called punokawan. This character only exists in Indonesia, in the original story there is no character with that name.
Wayang continued to develop until the arrival of Islam to Indonesia. Wayang is one of the tools for religious preaching in Java. This makes many wayang stories acculturated with everything in Islam.
The story that is often heard is that there is a talisman called kalimosodo. This amulet is described by the saints as something very important which contains a message related to the Islamic religion, namely the creed.
Wayang currently continues to develop with a very deep moral message. There are several wayang shows that only contain jokes, but when it starts with the main event there will be many modifications to the wayang story according to what is desired, of course it has its own message to be conveyed.
So, that is the article that we can explain to all readers regarding the meaning of wayang according to experts, its history, types and functions. Hopefully it can provide in-depth insight and education for all readers.