UNESCO officially inscribed Wayang kulit on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. This traditional shadow puppet art, a surface-level cultural artifact, illuminates many of the deep norms, attitudes, and values shared by many Indonesians. From Wayang kulit, I reflected on indigenous heritage, religious and spiritual tendencies, and collectivist attitudes common in Indonesian life.
To begin with, the art of Wayang kulit reveals Indonesia’s indigenous roots. Wayang kulit most likely began in Java many centuries ago, though some scholars think the tradition may have come from a neighboring Asian country. In either case, the art has become deeply intertwined with the common Indigenous belief in animism, in which natural objects have souls. Such animist rituals still shape how Wayang kulit is used. For example, some Indonesians use these puppets to connect with their ancestors or to honor the dead at burial grounds. This engagement with Wayang kulit suggests that Indonesians have a deep connection, one that is often spiritual, with their ancestors and nature. The use of natural materials and simple light and shadow for these performances also shows a connection to nature that is tied to traditional indigenous practices.
The spiritual dimensions of Wayang kulit speak to Indonesia’s religious identity. While Wayang kulit is not connected to one specific religious tradition, Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, and Hindus alike participate in these performances. For many Indonesians, sponsoring one of these puppet shows is a form of sacrificial offering for their understanding of the divine. Furthermore, the stories performed with Wayang kulit address questions of interest to religious worldviews, such as loss, pain, and suffering, using myths and simple characters as vehicles for these heavy topics. The puppets also offer political critiques. The national doctrine of Pancasila supports the religious tendency that is embodied in Wayang kulit. The first Sila, or point, states a belief in the divine, through different religious worldviews are encapsulated. Not all Indonesians are the same religion, but the norm is for them to be part of some religion and have a strong sense of spirituality.
The connection with religion in Wayang kulit also points to Indonesia’s collectivist culture. I asked my Indonesian language instructor about her connection with Wayang kulit, whether rural communities created their own puppet variations, and how to attend performances. She explained that the puppets are an art form reserved for the skilled craftsman that people can buy. Though many of the iconic performances are in big cities like Jakarta and Bali, she explained that Indonesians have collectivist and nationalist tendencies in which they feel very proud of these cultural traditions even if they are not practiced directly in her community. Indonesians celebrate these arts and traditions of their country as a whole, which connects with the Pancasila belief in national unity.
The puppets are often intricately decorated and created by skilled crafters. Today, students can seek professional training in the art of Wayang kulit through high school and university programs. They are also performed by a skilled puppeteer. While many traditional scenes can be expected to viewers and common motifs, the stores do not always follow a clearly progressing plotline. To me, this alludes to Indonesia’s polychronic understanding of time. Stories do not have to build to a final moment and climatic conclusion. Rather, the immersive experience of watching these meandering stories is spiritually enriching in the moment. Ultimately, Wayang kulit shows how Indonesians address life's big questions through the art of shadow puppets and use this tradition to support their goals of national unity.
Sources
“Introduction to Puppet Theater (Wayang) of Indonesia (Article).” Khan Academy, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/southeast-asia/maritime-se-asia/a/introduction-to-puppet-theater-wayang-of-indonesia. Accessed 16 Sept. 2020.
“The History of Indonesian Puppet Theater (Wayang) | Education | Asian Art Museum.” Education, https://education.asianart.org/resources/the-history-of-indonesian-puppet-theater-wayang/. Accessed 16 Sept. 2020.
UNESCO - Wayang Puppet Theatre. https://ich.unesco.org/en/lists. Accessed 16 Sept. 2020.
---. https://ich.unesco.org/en/lists. Accessed 16 Sept. 2020.
Weiss, Sarah. Transcending Boundaries: Javanese Wayang Kulit without the Shadows. Oxford University Press. oxford.universitypressscholarship.com, https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199737642.001.0001/acprof-9780199737642-chapter-3. Accessed 16 Sept. 2020.
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