Hun krabok

This is a photo from Joe Louise Puppet's show in Thailand.

Traditional Thai puppets or Hun krabok (Thai: หุ่นกระบอก) are one type of performing art in Thailand. It originated in the reign of King Rama V(Chulalongkorn) with its original form being influenced by Hainan puppetry (Chinese puppet theatre).[1]

Types of Thai Puppets

There are 6 types of Thai puppet as follows:

1) Hun Kra Bok[2]

2) Hun Luang or Hun Yai (The Great Puppet)[2]

3) Hun lakorn lek[2]

4) Hun Wang Na (Palace of the Front’s puppet)[2]

5) Nang Talung (Shadow Puppet)[2]

6) Nang Yai (Large Shadow Puppet)[2]

Feature of Hun Kra Bok

Hun Kra Bok is a half-bodied puppet with the important parts being as follows:

The puppet’s head – represents the different roles such as the hero, the heroine, the monkey, the demon, the joker, and the animal.[1]

The puppet’s hand – The heroine has both hands in the Tang Wong Ram gesture, each hand is attached to a stick, called Mai Takiap, for controlling the hand gesture. While about the hero, the demon and the joker, their right hand is a clenched fist motion for holding a weapon, and in their left hand is in the Tang Wong Ram hand gesture.[1]

The puppet’s body – Its body is made from bamboo or other material.[1]

The puppet’s shoulders – Its shoulders are made from wood or other material.[1]

The puppet’s clothes – Its costume is like a sack covering from its shoulders to its half-bodied length. Furthermore there is ornate embroidery work for each puppet, which will be different according to its role.[1]

Performance

A Thai puppet performance will have a stage and set with a screen to hide the puppeteers, who control the puppets and deliver the dialogue, and the musicians and

the singers, from the spectators. The backdrop can be any scene that the puppet troupe prefers. The stage will have two doors on both side to let the puppets enter and exit, and also there will be a screen to hide the puppeteers' hands, as well.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Administrator. "การแสดง - หุ่นกระบอก". ich.culture.go.th. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "About Thai Puppet". www.thaiembassy.no. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
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