On the stage, the audiences only see the puppets dancing lively and joyfully as if they had souls, which are funny puppets, flying dragons breathing flames, quan ho singers singing love songs or hard-working farmers plowing and ploughing. These puppets can sing, smile and tell interesting stories.

A scene of water puppet performance in Dong Ngu village.

In order to create such enchanting stages, the folk artists have to immerse in the water with bent backs, numb legs and weary arms when their eyes and ears keenly stick to every beat and drumroll to control the puppets through rods and strings with the artistry forged through countless years of quiet dedication and practice.

Whether in the sweltering heat of summer or the biting cold of winter, each water puppet performance lasts around 45 to 50 minutes, the very same length of time the artists remain waist-deep in water and work tirelessly.

Behind the bamboo curtain, the artisans of Dong Ngu village immerse themselves in water to control the puppets.

Especially, some performances like “plowing, planting and harvesting”, “rat’s wedding” or “the triumphant homecoming” need 5 to 7 artisans controlling at the same time.

Dong Ngu is one of the birthplaces of Vietnamese traditional water puppetry art. No one knows when Dong Ngu water puppetry was born.

A water puppet performance in Dong Ngu village.

Villagers said that this genre of art was formed in Ly dynasty (about the 10th to 11th century), which is closely tied to agricultural beliefs, the wet rice civilization and vibrant village festivals in the Kinh Bac region.

Passing countless twists and turns through the history, the generations of artisans here have tirelessly preserved and nurtured the hometown’s traditional art.

Today, Dong Ngu village is home to two folk water puppet troupes including the traditional Dong Ngu water puppet troupe and Luy Lau water puppet troupe.

Many members among over 60 heritage practitioners have pursued this career for more than a half of century, even 3 or 4 generations in a family follow this art.

Currently, 5 individuals have been honored by Bac Ninh province with the artisan title in the water puppetry folk performance namely Nguyen Dang Dung, Nguyen Duc Lai, Nguyen Thanh Chien, Nguyen Dang Hung and Nguyen Thanh Lai.

Each performance lasts 45 to 50 minutes when the artisans are ceaselessly working in water.

According to the artisans, the puppetry art of Dong Ngu village is unique for its combination of both rods and strings to control puppets.

String puppets create a sensation of “flying” and “gliding” smoothly, bringing an enchanting aura as if the characters have stepped out from legends

Amid the rapid development of technology, social networks and modern entertainment forms, Dong Ngu water puppetry stands like a “glowing ember”, keeping the flame of national culture alive. It still urgently needs young people with passion and patience to carry on this treasured tradition.

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