String puppets are beloved and adored by children and adults alike. Many cultures have used
string puppets,also called marionettes, for entertainment, artistic and even religious and political
purposes. In different areas of the world, string puppets vary greatly in their function, design and
artistic execution.
Ancient World
- There is evidence that marionettes were used as toys or entertainment for children in classical Greece. Dolls have been found alongside children in grave sites dating from this period. Archaeologists who unearthed these dolls found holes for string manipulation, leading them to believe that these dolls were in fact marionettes. Writings from Plato and Aristotle also mention puppet performances, confirming this theory.
- Marionettes as Divine
- String puppets have been associated with the divine. The term "marionette" means "little Mary," after the Virgin Mary of the Christian tradition. Some scholars believe this alludes to the fact that many Christian plays were performed with Mary as a puppet character. Others postulate that the term refers to the "divine" effect that is achieved by being manipulated from above by strings. This manipulation makes the puppets ethereal, as if floating.
- Chinese Marionettes
- The Chinese as well as the Europeans recognized the link between string puppets and the divine. Though many forms of puppetry exist in China, marionettes have traditionally had a specific function. String puppet performances were said to drive away evil spirits and were used to offer thanks and praise to the gods.
- Here is the news about Taiwan glove puppet VS China QuanZhou string puppet.
- Taichung, Taiwan was organize a special exhibition of cultural heritage, including an old master from China, a big show of puppetry's unique skills, through the hands of the 36 strings, not only can make moves like a real life-like, and even changes the expression in detailed.
As the video mentioned, the more of strings you used, the more flexibly of puppets.
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