To welcome the Chinese New Year, I am bringing you back to my childhood memories where the Chinese temple in the city where I grew up, Malang, use to hold this puppet show called "Wayang Potehi".
Wayang Potehi / Bu Daixi is a glove puppetry! Poo Tay Hie (Potehi) means Poo (fabric), Tay (pocket) and Hie (puppet). This puppetry was known since the King Syailendra era in the 9th century. King Syailendra was from the Mataram kingdom, where the Potehi puppetry continued to be shown until the 14th century. In the 18th century the puppetry was introduced even broader to Bangka Belitung as shows for the labor. The puppetry was very popular in the society in the 1930-1965. During the old regime, under President Soeharto order #14/1967 all Chinese culture and performances were forbidden. Come 1999, under the reformation era and under President Abdurrahman Wahid order, he repealed the law. Too bad the Malang Klenteng' master of puppetry was no longer there to play the Potehi, now it remained a good fond memories....
(this image is not mine) -this is how the stage looked like
(this image is not mine) -you can see how the hand move the puppets
(youtube video not mine) -recent news on the Potehi puppets
Thank you all for stopping by and viewing the post, wishing you a great time welcoming the CNY, Rooster Year...
xxx
