Basic Manipulation of Myanmar Marionette
6.1 Anatomy, New Design and Innovation
A puppet is made of 18 parts in old wood puppet and plastics (conduit pipes) are replacing the wood in modern design. Shoulder joint is semi-rigid (to enable dancing with an open chest). The body is bent at 35-45 degrees at hip.
6.2. Formula for Height of a Myanmar Puppet
Maneuverability of a string puppet depends upon three factors.
(1) minimum weight of the puppet is 4 kilos or its height 27 inches,
(2) Arm’s angle should be wide enough, which again depends upon
(3) string loop which should be one handspan+four fingers above the control.
Burmese string puppets are basically dancing figures. Semi-fixed shoulder joints and elbow strings are key factors for it.
6.3. Normal Position and Names of Strings
Normal position is about 35-45 degrees bent forward at hip joint. Please note easy loop, an easy way to adjust or replace the strings.
6.4. Accordance with the Height of the Puppeteers
Easy loops are designed to make adjustment of the strings easy in accordance with the height of the puppeteers.
6.5. How to hold a control
Left hand
This is the way to hold a control. Support the control from below. Bring the life line around the thumb. Grasp the control with thumb and other fingers. You can use them for pressing action strings.
Right hand
Hook up the elbow string with thumb and separate other action strings on middle, ring and small fingers.
Now the right hand can move up and down freely with strings between the fingers and manipulate the puppet.
6.6. Basic Manipulation
1. Right hand acts as a ‘lever’ on action strings. Note right hand is at a slightly higher level than the left hand.
Left hand (control) acts as another ‘lever’ on body and head.
2 and 3 The next step is to turn control and lever in opposite direction.
– With the aid of the control and right hand, moving in the required direction, stepping (walking) side ways, forward, backward and jumping can be done.
– To do this, raise the puppet hands and the strings wound around the thumb pressing the control.
– Using the right hand as a lever, manipulate the knee strings to do stepping forward, backward, side ways, left and right.
– Stamping at four corner is a little difficult.
6.7. Movements from Kneeling Position
The puppet is kneeling. Hide your toe below the puppet’s buttock. Move slowly side ways gently. Take care the hands should prop up every time the move is made.
Getting up. When you want to stand up your puppet, take your feet away. Let it’s hands prop up first and get it up slowly to imitate a natural way.
6.8. Walking – to right and left
6.9. Picking up Beads by right and left hands
Puppets elbow is raised and dropped; the hand string is hooked up swiftly. This needs a practice and time.
Hand Flapping like a Bird’s Wing- right and left The hand string is struck with the ring finger.
6.10. Triple Strings Maneuver
Burmese basic dance is ‘left hand-right foot’ movement and vice versa. This is done timing with beats. (Elbow string is dotted line)
6.11. Swirling around swiftly and dropping down the puppet into a sitting position.
– Pulling the right knee string,
– move around swiftly starting
– from the back. Let the move
– goes one round and drop the
– puppet down in sitting position
– facing towards the audience.
– Then get up with both knees
– slightly flex. Undo the round,
– slowly, moving about the right
– Knee until the puppet will face
– The audience again.
6.12. How to keep the puppet and store away
The strings are gathered in left hand and the right one twisted the control strings and coiled around the control (undo when you want to perform). The face is specially covered and tied.
6.13. The End
These are all simple ways.
None is difficult.
Practice makes perfect. Repeatation is the basis of learning!
You will find it a fun when the puppet moves exactly as you wish.
You can even make innovations. Make a new puppet of your own and dress it up. Attach new strings and discover new movements.
Go into a wonder land of puppetry and discover many new things.
– Dr. Tin Maung Kyi
– 29 Road, between 79 and 80 streets,
– House no. 95, Mandalay, Myanmar.
– Email: [email protected]
– Phone: +95-2- 39759
– Compiled by Oo Than Aung (Man-Pantra)
– U Tin Saung (Shwe-Bo Tin Saung)
– Dr. Tin Mg Kyi at early 2001.
Video files were supported by Myanmar Upper Land | culture & travel
Video Files in Basic Manipulating of Myanmar Princess Marionette
1. Step (1) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”N_5H_RVO88M&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
2. Step (2) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”PC4mjNR-jbs&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
3. Step (3) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”u5CVDNg6lJY&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
4. Step (4) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”ijuf4NepWBk&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
5. Step (5) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”x6239C3LXmQ&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
6. Step (6) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”lyEplClLBTQ&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
7. Step (7) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”Z7gpXuYohzw&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
8. Step (8) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”Uya4i3FT0bI&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
9. Step (9) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”6_k9WZiYpK4&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
10. Step (10) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”NF58OsJRF74&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
Manipulating by the number of String
1. Single String Handling (Daw MMN) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”-1lMzZTKZFU&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
2. Double String Handling (Daw MMN) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”GKcmOOe0cLA&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
3. Triple String Handling (Daw MMN) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”24L6XqXFyME&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
Basic Manipulating (Royal Page Boy)
1. By Master Puppetter U Sein Tun Kyi [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”7dEXeo0kKiU&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
2. By U Tun Tun Win [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”RdelsBjI07s&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
Manipulating Skill of Master U Pan Aye
1. U-Pan-Aye (Alchemist Dance) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”QOdLh74eZlA&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
2. U-Pan-Aye(Choreographic movement) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”c-qFnmmqcic&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
3. U-Pan-Aye (NaYe-LatPyit) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”rZDub0aMwoA&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
4. U-Pan-Aye (Princess) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”Q2M2zlI2jrQ&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
5. U-Pan-Aye (Singing and Manipulating of U Pan Aye-1) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”cWqAWKD8TrM&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
6. U-Pan-Aye (Singing and Manipulating of U Pan Aye-2) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”K8nffxJhy5Y&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
7. U-Pan-Aye (WalatSi-1) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”k3GOQYUrVNk&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
8. U-Pan-Aye (WalatSi-2) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”3KzyieKBFaI&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
9. U-Pan-Aye (WalatSi-3) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”V7e5vxEv_Es&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
Vocal of Master U Pan Aye & Manipulating of Master U Sein Tun Kyi
1. U-Tun-Kyi (Singing of U Pan Aye and Manipulation of U Tun Kyi -2) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”yAxHUlMIXZw&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
2. U-Tun-Kyi (Singing of U Pan Aye and Manipulation of U Tun Kyi -3) [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”tT1NpGp6WjY&rel=false” width=640 height=480 anchor=”https://myanmarupperland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Video-25.png” style=”” alt=”” />]
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