The Illusion of Life

Never merely an entertainment, puppetry in Burma has traditionally been an art held in high esteem by all classes. Burmese marionettes reported current events, educated the people in literature, history, and religion, and even enjoyed the rare privilege of speaking for kings. Here, the Burmese marionette theater is described in detail, and the characters and stories of these yoke-thei ("small dolls") are introduced.