Asal-usul wayang

CHAPTER I
Origin - The proposal Puppet
Regarding the time of birth puppet culture, according to Ir. Sri Mulyono in his book Symbolism and Mysticism in the puppet (1979), estimate the puppet has existed since the time of Neolithikum, namely kira2 1500 years before Christ. His opinion was based on the writings Robert von Heine-Geldern Ph.D., Prehistoric Reasearch in the Netherland Indies (1945) and writing Prof.K. A. H. Hidding Encyclopedia Indonesia page 987.
Puppet theater is one of the oldest traditional. In the reign of King Balitung, has no hint of puppet show, which is contained in the inscription Balitung the year 907 AD, which proclaims that at the time it has been known to have been known for a puppet show. A copper plate inscription from Central Java; Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, examples of this inscription can be seen in appendix Claire Holt, Art in Indonesia: Continuities and changes, 1967 Prof. translation. Dr. Sudarsono (MSPI-2000, p. 431). Written as follows:
Issued on behalf of King Balitung this text about Sangsang village, which is marked as a fief of land, whose implementation is addressed to the god of the porch in Dalinan. After the paint and decorate themselves with flowers, the participants sat in a tent overlooking sangyang Kudur celebration. "For the safety of sacred buildings and the people" show (spectacle) in Sakilan. Sang Hyang Tangkil the (Mamidu), the Nalu intone (macarita) Bima Kumara, and dancing (mangigal) as Kicaka, Jaluk intone the Ramayana; Mungmuk acting (mamirus) and droll (mebanol) / farce), the puppet show Galing (mawayang ) for the gods intone Bhimaya Kumara.
The importance of this text lies in a clear indication that in the early 10th century, the episodes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana sung in acara2 ritual. Bimarater bayangana sebuahcerita Kumara may possibly associated with the Milky may have been demonstrated as a nteater bayangana (now Purwa). Of which puppet origins until now m still at issue, for lack of evidence to support it. Some are convinced that the original puppets with Javanese culture that since the terms are used in many terms Javanese wayang.
Dr.GAJ Hazeu, in a dissertation Biddrage tot de Kennis van het Javaansche Tooneel, (1987 in Leiden) believes that the puppet show from the original art of Java. It can be seen from the terms used a lot of uses Javanese language for example, color, blencong, mobile, kepyak, puppets. In the arrangement of the traditional houses in Java, we usually will find parts of the room: patio, pendhapa, omah buri, gandhok, sentong and room for performances ringgit (pringgitan), in Javanese wayang means ringgit.