Page 79 - คู่มือการถ่ายทอดองค์ความรู้ของครูภูมิปัญญาท้องถิ่น อำเภอบางกล่ำ จังหวัดสงขลา

Part 1
History of the Shadow Puppet Show/the Importance of the Puppeteer

Qualifications of the Puppeteer

Concept
History of the Shadov. Show for the students to better understand it

Objective
1. For the students to have a better understanding regarding the history 01 the Shadow Puppet Show

Contents
History of the Shadow Show
Teaching the importance of the Shadow Puppet carver
Qualifications of the Shadow Puppet carver

History of the Shadow puppet Show
Most of the academics believe that a kind of entertainment such as the shadow puppet show as
part of an ancient culture should be performed in countries around Europe and Asta. There is evidence that at
the time of Alexander the Great a similar puppet shov. was performed in celebration of his victory after his
conquest of Egypt. It is performed in India. and the actor who acts as the Brahman (Brahmin) is called
"Chayanatake" in a story called "Maha Ramayana" to worship god and praise the brave. In China there is a
movie praising the moral principles of the wife of the King "Yuantee" (411-495 of the Buddhist Era) after
her passing. Later, this type of performance spread to other Asian countries, to Cambodia, Burma. Java,
Malaysia and Thailand respectively. The assumption that the big shadow puppets were performing before the
shadow puppets, and the above mentioned countries influenced the shadow Puppet show starting with India,
because they presently still pay respect to Shiva, Narayana or Rama (Narain). The story of Ramayama is a
revered and holy story from India. In the beginning the show was performed without a cloth screen. The
actors or puppet handlers acted all the scenes themselves.
It 1s believed that the big puppet shadO\\ puppet show originated bdore the King Narayana Era
because there is evidence showing that a learned man in "Wiengsra'' village in 5uratthani Province with
special skills in astrology and poetry was invited to the palace of King Prasartthong. during the Ayutthaya
Era. Later this man became the teacher of King Narain. The King promoted him to the status of great teacher.
During this dynast). the big shadow puppet <;how was developed or promotec as show under the famous
poetic name "samutkotkamchan" as the follwing detail<;, explain:
"Waitheppayada Arak Tua this adorn Korsawasdi kor porn luk.aejaidangwang Tani
pookoikhwam rengtarmtaisongbeuangland Jong rueang jamrattang thisa Park Tukpa1 Jong jeang jamlakparb
an yong-ying doay luad lai Hai hen kae thanglai tuay jadoo Jong doodee.''
The big shadow puppets first called "Nang" is a very famous per•ormance around the central
region of Thailand. Regarding the shadow puppet. the Southern people also call it "Nang" with the saying
that "Pai-Lae-Nang-'.'-io-Ra" (meaning to go watch the sho'' ). So. we assume that the name "Nang-ta-lung"
came from the prev 1ous performances in the central region. It was the beginning of the name "Nang-ta-lung"
and "Nang-Ya1". The first performance of the 1;hadow puppet in Bangkok ''as at the time of his majesty King

dd fition1"1ri1UMOIRO.JRIR'l1aoMtlO.JIR'mWnlnl-iiD.iriu
·a:·a:
....
u
..
Dllni>Uli>nal Di>":>oili>Ditl