Rama’s story has been told for centuries in Southeast Asia and is loved by millions. Two famous ancient Indian epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, have become important sources for storytelling in the Kelantan shadow play. Over its history of more than 400 years, the Malaysian shadow puppet play has been integrated with Buddhist, Hindu, and Islamic elements. Today, shadow puppet plays are also performed at night during the Kelantan Kite Festival at the end of May. Sacrificial ceremonies, usually presided over by elders at midnight, would consist of incense burning, scripture chanting, and worshiping, followed by projection of shadow puppets in the image of their ancestors and ancestors’ favorite utensils on white cloth to communicate with the deceased. People would offer sacrifices to Hyang (souls or ghosts) to be protected and blessed. In ancient Java, people believed that one’s roh (soul) would continue living in the world after death. But most experts throughout Southeast Asia agree that shadow puppet shows began as religious rituals. In Malaysia, opinions on the origin of the Kelantan shadow play differ. Many characters include distinct Thai features such as pagoda crowns, round noses, and single-joint swing arms. For example, it employs Javanese vocabulary such as wayang (shadow puppet show), panggung (stage), kelir (screen) and Tok Dalang (shadow play performer). Javanese and Thai elements have been fused into its vocabulary and characters. Indirectly influenced by Chinese shadow puppetry, the Kelantan shadow play was also profoundly influenced by Thai and Indonesian cultures due to the region’s geographical proximity to Thailand and Indonesia. The Kelantan shadow play is the most traditional and popular among the regional variants of puppet plays in Malaysia, with its own unique style and features in historical origin, storytelling, and performance. The puppeteer sits behind the screen and tells traditional folk stories, while the audience watches from the other side. A light source is placed behind a white cloth screen between two banana trees, and the show is accompanied by a mini band of drums, clarinets, and gongs. A typical Kelantan shadow play consists of cut-out puppets for gods, humans, demons, apes, and lesser creatures made from animal hides. This art has been preserved to this day as an important artistic and cultural representative of Malaysian culture. Malaysian shadow plays originated in Kelantan and spread to other regions of the country including Melayu, Gedek, and Purwa. However, most don’t realize that this ancient form of Chinese art was introduced to Southeast Asia in the 13th Century and took root there. With a long history and strong appeal, this form of art is still popular among Chinese people. In the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), the art was introduced to West Asia and Europe. According to historical records, shadow plays were born in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) and flourished in the Tang (618-907) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Shadow plays are one of the oldest forms of drama in China and an ancient folk tradition and art that originated in Huaxian County, Shaanxi Province.
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