♦ M.A. Dang Thi Anh Tuyet

thuongWater puppetry is a unique traditional art form of Vietnam, serving not only as a symbol of folk culture but also as a valuable cultural heritage passed down through generations. Originating from the rural areas of Northern Vietnam, water puppetry has flourished and become a significant highlight of Vietnamese folk art. This art form has been officially inscribed on the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritages, representing a source of pride for the Vietnamese nation in general, and for the people of Hanoi in particular.

thuongWater puppetry boasts a history spanning thousands of years, tracing its roots to villages in Northern Vietnam. In its early stages, it was performed during festivals to honor deities, pray for favorable weather, and bring joy to rural communities. Artisans created this performing art to serve the community, making use of the natural environment of water surfaces found in ponds, lakes, and marshes as performance spaces. The golden age of water puppetry occurred during the Ly Dynasty (11th century), when it became a courtly art form performed at major royal festivals. Today, water puppetry is no longer confined to northern rural villages but is also performed in major theaters across the country. History shows that this art form primarily developed in the Red River Delta, the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilization, a region characterized by dense networks of rivers, lakes, and ponds closely associated with the material and spiritual life of wet-rice agricultural communities. Traditional water puppetry has long been intertwined with village beliefs, serving both ritual functions, such as to worship deities, and festive purposes during village festivals, celebrations, holidays, and Lunar New Year festivities.

thuongIn Hanoi, Dao Thuc Village (Thuy Lam Commune, Dong Anh District, now Thu Lam Commune) is regarded as the “cradle” of this performing art. The craft has thrived here for roughly 300 years, established and bequeathed by the progenitor Nguyen Dang Vinh. As one of the earliest traditional craft villages, Dao Thuc has preserved and modernized the art to this day. Dao Thuc water puppetry has become a distinctive tourism product, maintained and developed by artisans and locals, and is a familiar craft village on Hanoi’s tourist itineraries, attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually. In an effort to preserve this unique heritage, Dao Thuc water puppetry was officially inscribed on the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritages in 2023 under Decision 473/QĐ-BVTTTDL by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

thuongWater puppetry is not merely a form of entertainment but also embodies profound cultural and historical values. First, it reflects the labor and daily life of Vietnamese farmers. The puppets in performances often reenact everyday activities such as plowing, rice planting, buffalo herding, fishing, or organizing festivals. Second, water puppetry is also a way for Vietnamese people to preserve and transmit folk tales, legends, and myths through generations. Third, it embodies the unceasing creative spirit of the Vietnamese people. In response to challenging natural conditions, they found a way to turn water into a stage, creating a unique art form unparalleled in the world.

thuongIn water puppetry, the puppets are made of wood, painted in vivid colors, and come in various shapes, ranging from mythological and folkloric characters to animals. Standing behind a bamboo screen, puppeteers manipulate the puppets via a system of rods and strings beneath the water’s surface, creating lively and natural movements. An essential element in a water puppet performance is music. Traditional instruments such as drums, flutes, dan bau (monochord), and dan tranh (16-string zither) are typically used to heighten dramatic effects and highlight narrative developments.

thuongWater puppetry characters are broadly divided into two categories: human puppets and animal/object puppets. Human puppets include farmers, fishermen, elders, weaving maidens, young wrestlers, young boat racers, scholars, kings, mandarins, and historical heroes or deities (e.g., Kings, Fairies, Mountain Spirit - Water Spirit, and the Trung Sisters). Animal puppets include real animals (turtles, snakes, foxes, buffaloes, horses, chickens, ducks, frogs, toads, crabs, fish) and mythical creatures (dragons, phoenixes, unicorns), symbolizing power and prosperity. Additionally, there are props such as plows, harrows, hoes, water scoops, baskets, traps, and conical hats.

thuongThe narratives of water puppet performances typically revolve around Vietnamese folk tales, myths, or legends. These performances are not only entertaining but also convey profound moral lessons. Some famous performances include: The Legend of Saint Giong, which tells the story of a national hero who rides an iron horse to repel foreign invaders, symbolizing patriotism and national unity; The Legend of Hoan Kiem Lake, which recounts King Le Loi returning the magical sword to the Golden Turtle, symbolizing peace and gratitude toward the divine. Through such stories, audiences are entertained while also reconnecting with traditional values and humanistic lessons embedded in each movement and line of dialogue.

thuongFrom a folk art form, water puppetry has become a traditional art with a firm place in the nation’s theatrical arts. Folk artisans have distilled the beauty of nature and infused it into the images of water puppets, transforming the art into a bridge between the general public and the nation’s cultural heritage. Today, water puppetry increasingly earns admiration from international audiences, standing out as a unique artistic product that reflects the intelligence, ingenuity, and creativity of the Vietnamese people. In the modern era, water puppetry is no longer confined to Northern rural villages but has become an integral part of Vietnam’s cultural tourism. International tourists to Vietnam often seize the opportunity to attend water puppet performances at major theaters such as the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi or the Ho Chi Minh City Water Puppet Theatre. In this way, water puppetry functions not only as a national cultural heritage but also as a cultural bridge introducing Vietnamese folk art to the world./.