Potehi Chinese Puppet Show in Indonesia

KEDIRI, EAST JAVA, INDONESIA - 2013/06/05: A Potehi puppet performance at Tjoe Hwie Kiong temple. Potehi puppet shows are a popular event during Chinese New Year celebrations. They originated in China some 3,000 and are believed to have arrived in Indonesia with the arrival of Admiral Cheng Ho on the north coast of Java. Chinese merchants and migrants eager to trade in Indonesia helped spread the classic Chinese puppet stories centered on dynasties, as well as on contemporary stories such as the Journey to the West or the Legend of the Sacred Monkey, both commonly performed today. Potehi puppet show, whose name stems from the words poo (cloth), tay (pocket) and hie (puppet), is now also performed by native Indonesians.. (Photo by Arief Priyono/LightRocket via Getty Images)