(VOVworld) - The northern province of Nam Dinh is known as the cradle of Vietnamese water puppetry with famous puppetry villages like Rach village and Chua villages. But very few people know about the wooden head puppetry of Dai Bi pagoda in Nam Giang commune. This is not only an art form but a spiritual discipline. It’s only performed on the night of worshiping Saints at Dai Bi pagoda.

Wooden head puppetry is a type of folk drama, known as Oi Loi, whose origin is unknown. Venerable Thich Ban Thuc, Head of Dai Bi pagoda says this pagoda was founded in 1037 in the Ly dynasty by Zen Master Tu Dao Hanh and this art form appeared at that time. Legends say that on his way back to Nam Giang after his travels, Hanh picked up a bag floating in the sea. Inside it, according to the legend, were six live human heads. He brought them home to Nam Giang and transformed them into puppets, with which he told stories and illustrated local myths. There are now 12 Saint Heads Statues at Dai Bi pagoda. Venerable Thich Ban Thuc says: “Every year, on New Year’s Eve, local people perform wooden head puppetry to worship the Genie. The performance lasts from 7 to 11:30 in the evening. About 50 people take turns performing until midnight”.

A ritual ceremony

The wooden head puppets at Dai Bi pagoda are known as Saint statues, which are in the shape of human head. They are placed in the main hall of the pagoda and used to perform during the worshiping festival. According to local artisans, this set of saint statues is more than 200 years old. When they want to take these saint statues out for performance, they have to organize a ceremony to ask for permission. The saint statues are then dressed in long satin gowns which cover the puppeteers’ hands.

The main characters of the festival are six saint heads which are beautifully painted. Each head has a handle behind it. These six heads are divided into three pairs: one pair has red faces, wide mouths and moustaches representing men of honor, a pair with pale pink faces represent wet rice cultivation, a pair with white faces, big noses and wide mouths represent prosperity. In addition, there are six smaller saint statues. Musical instruments played during the performance include two bamboo bells, one big and two little drums, two gongs, and one metal bell. There are only 26 songs and 32 tunes at Oi Loi performances, performed in different combinations depending on the show and story being told. The performers are locals. Whatever their age or background, they join the performance with pride and honor. Nguyen Tien Dung, a member of the Oi Loi Puppetry Group at Dai Bi pagoda says: “We perform on a voluntary basis. We contribute funding to perform hoping to preserve this folk art”.

The stage for wooden head puppet performances is very simple. A curtain is hung on two pillars at the main gate of the pagoda. Singers, puppeteers and musicians stand behind the curtain facing the Buddha and Saint altars. They all make inanimate wooden head statues come alive on stage. The songs are about peaceful lifestyles, morality and soldiers, reflecting the lives of local people, especially farmers who tell tales of their work and joys and sorrows. The content of the play changes depending on which songs are used and which characters dance to the songs. Doan Huu Song, a puppeteer says: “It’s difficult to learn the songs because we must synchronize with the beat of the drums and the dances. Songs, music and dances must blend harmoniously”.

Musical instruments played at the ceremony

Puppet performances at Dai Bi reflect the Vietnamese soul. The Music Research Institute has taped the performances for archiving. Many researchers have been developing documents to submit the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for recognition of Oi Loi wooden head puppetry as a national intangible cultural heritage.