Nang yai

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A Nang drama player and puppet.

Nang yai (Thai: หนังใหญ่) is a form of shadow play found in Thailand. It is now confined almost exclusively to the southern part of the country. Puppets are made of buffalo hide, while the story is narrated by songs, chants and music.

Nang Yai literally means "large shadow pupet".It is a high art form that originated the beginning of the 15th century A.D. Nang yai performance was a popula means of entertainment during Ayudhaya period and was mentioned in a poetry called Bunnovat Khamchan written by a Buddhist monk named Mahanag around the years A.D. 1751-1758 or during the late reign of King Boromakot.

Nang Yai is originally a prototype of modern mask dance,which incorporates various episodes of an Indian epic called Ramakien (in Thai) or Ramayana (in Indian version). Nang yai performance also adopts the Ramayana as a leading story and the performance is episodic in each show.

The performance of large shadow puppet is traditionally held in open spaces such as lawn or village dirt space.

The main components of Nag Yai compose of a 16*6 white screen held by four bamboo or wood poles on each side. The screen is trimmed by red strip. Behind the screen strands a tinder or a bonfire lightened up to reflect the shadows of the puppet. During the course of the show there is a Thai music band that plays music in accordance with each episode of the performance. Also important in each shadow is dubber.

The puppet figures are made from cow or buffalo hide perforated into different characters in Ramakien story. Each puppet weights approximately 3-4 kg. The biggest puppet is that chararterize a place, weighing around 5-7 kg. There is doubt that why large shadow puppet performer should be male and must be strong enough to hold the puppet through the course of performance period.

Nang Yai can be found presently in all of Thailand. For example, in central Thailand, Nang Yai is performed at Khanon in Rachaburi, Wat Plub in Petchaburi, Wat Sawang Arom in Singburi, and Wat Pumarin in Samut SongKram, while in eastern Thailand it can be found at Wat Donin in Rayong Province.^[1]