Land Puppetry in Bao Ha Village: The Essence of Statue Carving

Abstract

Land puppetry (non-water puppetry) and statue carving are two renowned and long-standing traditional crafts of Bao Ha village, located in Dong Minh commune, Vinh Bao district, Hai Phong city. Bao Ha’s land puppetry stands out for its distinctive artistry, featuring puppets meticulously sculpted in a realistic style that highlights the personality and expression of each character. During performances, artisans control rods hidden inside the puppets’ hands/bodies, making the puppets’ movements appear remarkably natural, lively, and captivating. This paper explores the origins of Bao Ha’s land puppetry and examines factors that define its uniqueness in puppet-making and manipulation techniques, which are deeply rooted in the village’s statue carving craft.

(Received: 6 September 2024; published: 15 June 2025)