Wayang golek are wooden doll puppets operated from below by rods connected to the hands & a central control rod that runs through the body to the head. The simple construction of the puppets is their versatility, expressiveness & aptitude for imitating human dance. Today, wayang golek is associated with Sundanese culture of West Java & known in Central Java as Wayang Menak, originated from Kudus Central Java. Little is known about the history of wayang golek, but scholars have speculated that it most likely originated in China & arrived in Java in the 17th century. The oldest traditions of wayang golek are from the north coast of Java in what is called the pasisir region. This is home to some of the oldest Muslim kingdoms in Java & it is likely the wayang golek grew in popularity through telling the wayang menak stories of Amir Hamza, the uncle of Muhammad. These stories are still widely performed in Kabumen, Tegal & Jepara as wayang golek menak & in Cirebon, wayang golek cepak. Legendary origins of wayang golek attribute their invention to Muslim saint Wali Sunan Kudus, who used the medium to proselytize Muslim values. In the 18th century the tradition moved into the mountainous region of of Priangan West Java where it was used to tell stories of the Ramayana & the Mahabarata in a tradition now called Wayang Golek Purwa, found in Bandung, Bogor & Jakarta. The adoption of Javanese Mataram kejawen culture by Sundanese aristocrats was the remnant of Mataram influence over the Priangan region during the reign of Sultan Agung. While main characters from Ramayana & Mahabharata are similar with wayang kulit purwa version of Central Java, some of punakawan servant/jester were rendered in Sundanese names & characteristics, such as Cepot or Astrajingga as Bagong, Dawala or Udel as Petruk. Wayang golek purwa has become the most popular form of wayang golek today & most famous puppeteer family is the Sunarya family which has produced many generations of performers.
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