Wayang Kulit Javanese Shadow Puppet : Patih Tambak Ganggeng This puppet can also be used to represent Patih Tambak Ganggeng or Patih Tuhayata if the set of puppets does not have those characters. . . Patih Jaka Puring. In Indonesian, the word Patih means the assistant to the king. In situations where the king was unavailable, this assistant could act on the king’s behalf. Patih Jaka Puring was the assistant to King Sri Mahapunggung, from the kingdom of Medhang Kamulan. Patih Jaka Puring was a scientist who discovered many different plants and other foods, including rice. During his life as an assistant king, the Kingdom of Medang Kamulan was at its pinnacle of greatness. Patih Jaka Puring was also very sakti (great in manipulating his magical power). He became King Hiranjarudra at the kingdom of Gilingaja, but even as a king, he was still working as an assistant for King Sri Mahapunggung. During this time period both the kingdom of Medhang Kamulan and the kingdom of Gilingaja were friends, and worked together to protect people and keep them at peace. This puppet can also be used to represent Patih Tambak Ganggeng or Patih Tuhayata if the set of puppets does not have those characters. https://scarab.bates.edu/music_research/1/ . . The shadow plays in Java draws on a common heritage of Indian culture & stories borrowed from Indian epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Shadow plays are known as 'Wayang Purwa' and are elaborate performances lasting throughout the night. The puppets 'Wayang Kulit' are made from animal hide, usually that of a buffalo. They are richly decorated and coloured identically on both sides. Originally men would sit on the side of the screen where the actual puppets could be seen, while the women watched the shadows. Each puppet is manipulated by a single person the Dalang who also provides the voice. An orchestra, consisting of gongs, drums and tuned percussion instruments, accompanies the action - it is known as a gamelan. Gamelan music is essential to the performance as it provides cadence to which puppets move across the screen, take their places on the stage and fight. Fighting damages puppets so it is rare to find examples in good condition. References : https://scarab.bates.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=music_... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batara_Guru Dimensions : Height of figure 57 cm, 22 1/2 inches. Please contact for price and shipping from the uk.