Human world
"...the symbolic shadow play involved in the Wayang Kulit performances are the basis of much Javanese morality and our view of the universe."
Dr Wiendu Nuryanti, Head of Yogyakarta Tourism Promotion Board, 2001
Java is famous for its shadow puppet theatre. Today most Javanese are Muslims. For Muslims, the shadow theatre represents Javanese beliefs and ideas, and defines what it means to be Javanese.
The stories are loosely based on the Hindu epics - the Ramayana and Mahabharata - which were introduced from India.
The puppets have been arranged so that 'good' characters are on the right and 'bad' characters are on the left. This is how they are organised in Javanese shadow puppet plays.
Imagine you are watching a shadow puppet play. Use the clues below to work out who are the 'good' and the 'bad' characters.
The colours show what kind of character the puppet is:
Find out more about one of the most popular stories, the Mahabharata and its characters.
Download and print Javanese shadow puppets