Asian Geographic - 09.2018

PHOTO © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

PHOTO © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

RIGHT A glove puppet,
Puppetr y Art Center
of Taipei (Taiwan).

BELOW A bunraku
puppet, Osaka ( Japan).

Jocelyn Lau and Lucien Low are both editors trained

in publishing and English/Chinese translation.

Bunraku ( Japanese puppet theatre) is one

of the four great dramatic traditions of

Japan, beginning in the late 1 5th century and

undergoing a period of decline in the 1 7 70s.

During the Meiji period (1868–1912), the

theatrical art form was revived and elevated to

a loty artistic level by deeply commited and

strictly disciplined practitioners.

A three-person system distinguishes the

modern bunraku, devised in 1734 by master

puppeteer Yoshida Bunzaburo. A puppet

weighs as much as 23kg and is about one-half

to two-thirds life-size. Hence, for most roles,

the skills of three ningyo zukai (puppeteer)

are required.

he chief puppeteer manipulates the head

and right arm of the doll; the second works the

let arm operator; and the third moves the legs.

In this way, furi (common human actions such

as siting), kata (poses showing the beauty

of the puppet or costume, or portraying a

dramatic mood), as well as hara (emotions

or spirit) may be portrayed.

This essay is condensed from “Pulling Strings:

Exploring the Puppet Theatre Tradition in Asia”, irst

published in ASIAN Geographic Issue 04/2008

Japan

THE ART OF THREES

Budai xi (glove puppetry) is a popular

Taiwanese puppetry form, staged in the

Taiwanese dialect at open-air theatres.

Taiwanese puppets usually comprise a hollow

wooden head and body made of colourful

cloth. he master uses his ingers, wrist and

palm to mimic the natural movements of

people, and also recites poems, sings and

produces sound efects. he most valuable

glove puppets can run to many hundreds to

thousands of dollars, depending on how many

moveable parts the puppet’s face has.

Taiwan

FROM PEASANTRY TO

HIGH SOCIETY