History Of Wayang Golek

The Wayang has a strong tradition in the world of Java and Indonesia, representing the struggle between good and evil. The two tipes of plays are the Wayang Kulit and Wayang golek, he Wayang Kulit are two dimensional leather puppets often referred to as shadow puppets. These are more popular in the areas of Bali.

The Wayang Golek are three dimensional wooden puppets and come from Java and the area of Bandung. The Wayang Golek plays usually start at dusk and run to the early morning hours, people come and go as they please. The Wayang Golek puppet master are called Dalang’s. The plays are based on the Ramayana or Mahabarata stories, they usually involve Rama, Sinta, Anoman, Rahwana, and Gatot Kaca the main family of Wayang Golek are the five Pandawa brothers and their clown servants. This site contains information on each of the characters and many lesser know Wayang Goleks. These puppets are on bases and stand from 24” to 37” Each Wayang Golek puppet can be removed from the base and both the head and arms can be removed.

These Wayang Golek puppets very finely detailed carvings on the head and body with vivid color and detailed paintings. The Wayang Golek is beautifully decorated in beads and Batik, Some Wayang Golek puppets have wings carved of either leather or wood and painted by hand, Each Wayang Golek puppets is individually carved by hand making each unique and a collectors item, These Wayang Golek are carved from wood and painted by the artist (Giri Harja 3) who make the puppets for Asep Sunarya (puppet master) who perform worldwide. The artists use hair from cats to obtain extremely fine details and lines. These are Indonesia and the world’s finest Wayang Golek puppets.

The Ramayana Epic

The Ramayana epic describes the adventures of Prince rama, who is an incarnation of the god Whisnu. In the story, Rama, his wife Shinta and brother Laksmana are banished from their kingdom and forced to roam the wilderness for many years. Whilst in exile, Shinta is kidnapped by the evil ogre king, Rahwana, and Rama must rescue her. He eventually does so with the assistance of the monkey god, Hanoman and the monkey king, Sugriwa.

Picture 1. Rama and Sinta

The Mahabharata Epic

The Mahabharata is base on a Great War between the evil Kurawa brothers and their cousins, the Pandawa brothers. In the course of the war many of the great heroes from both sides are killed one by one. Eventually the Pandawas win the war, although there is no clear distinction between right or wrong in the story. After the Pandawas are victorious, one of the Kurawas sneaks into the Pandawa camp and kills all the women and children.

Picture 2. Yudistira (one of the Pandawas)