8

Art Education
Quarter 4 – Module 1
Festivals and Theater Arts in Asia

Government Property
NOT FOR SALE
 What I Know
Pre-Test:
I. True or False:
Direction: Write True if the statement is correct, and write False is the statement is
incorrect.
1. The friendly throwing of water during the Songkran Festival symbolizes its spring- cleaning aspect
2. Kodo means “children of the drum”.
3. Peking Opera is known today as Beijing Opera.
4. A group of 10 to 12 actors perform the Saang in an open-air theater, where the stage is surrounded
by the audience.
5. Dewali is also known as the Moon Festival.
6. Kabuki is a form of classical Japanese theater that evolved in the early 11th century.
7. Cai luong, is a mixture of Asian popular Vietnamese folk music, and French comedy.
8. Most presentations of Ache Lhamo are about legendary heroes who show that the virtues of
Buddhism can defeat evil.
9. The komedya is sometimes called the moro-moro.
10. Nang was one form of public entertainment in the south of Thailand.

II. Matching Type: Match each item in column A with an item in column B. Write the letter only.
Column A Column B

1. The Thai version of Ramayana A. Holi

2. Shadow puppet of Indonesia B. Lakhon Bassac
3. The Iranian New Year C. Ramakien
4. A religious epic theater in West Asia D. Wayang Kulit
5. One of the most popular folk E. Nowruz
theatrical forms in Cambodia. F. Ta’ziyeh
6. Japan’s oldest form of musical G. Noh
theater H. Diwali
7. Festival of Colors I. Loi Krathong
8. India’s Festival of Lights J. Dragon Dance
9. Thailand’s Lantern Festival K. Taiko Drum Festival
10. A form of traditional dance and
performance in Chinese culture

iii

Lesson Asian Theater Arts

1
What I Need to Know

Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, typically
actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in
a specific place, often a stage. It is also called a stage play.
Asian Theater arts are live performances, with actors or puppets. It is a combination of
storytelling, music, mime, dance with the used of masks, makeup, props and costume, scenery
and script. Thus, it reflects the culture, religious beliefs, and lifestyle of a country/community.
2
 What’s New
A. Activity 1: My Memory
Recall the different Philippine Theater you’ve learned in your grade 7. Describe each one.

Philippine Theater Description

1.

2.

3.

4.

What Is It

Southeast Asian Theater

There is a variety of theatrical forms in Southeast Asia. This includes Cai luong, Khon, Lakhon
Bassac, Wayang Kulit, Nang, Zat Pwe and Komedya.

A. Cai Luong (Vietnam)

Cai luong, classified as “renovated theater” or reformed theater”, it

is a mixture of Asian popular theater, Vietnamese folk music and
French comedy. This theater form from was first performed in the
early 1900s.
Two Types of Cai Luong
1. Cai Luong tuong co (the ancient form) – the plot often revolves
around historic and legendry stories of Vietnam’s feudal system.
2. Cai Luong xa hoi (modern form) – commonly tells the story of
domestic and romantic relationships in modern society.
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/199284352232760972/
Both forms feature moral standards in the country. Cai Luong performers combine nostalgic
singing and spoken dialogue with music playing in background.
B. Khon (Thailand)

- A masked, stylized dance drama with roots that can be traced back
to the 16th century.
- This form of traditional theater evolved alongside the national epic
story and the Thai version of Ramayana, which is the Ramakien.
- There is no dialogue in the khon; only a chorus tells the story on the
side.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khon
- A sophisticated and graceful art form that combines dance drama, the khon features formalized
movements, colored papier-mache masks, and elaborate traditional costumes.
- It is considered a “high art form” that was originally performed to entertain the Thai royal family.
Before, only men could stage the khon because it was so strenuous. Today, female performers now
take part in this theatrical art.

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 C. Nang Shadow Puppets

It was one form of public entertainment in the south of

Thailand. It is still very popular at festivals, temple fairs, and
celebrations such as marriages. They are delicately colored, but
this does not show during a performance as the puppets appear
only in shadow against a white sheet, with light shining through
from behind. They are manipulated with rods that control
movements of the arms and legs. And usually performed during
the country’s dry season (February to August).
Performances have a religious theme or have an episode
from the Ramayana epic which contains dozens of individual
stories.
They may also be specially written to include up-to-date minute’s reflections songs, and poems
about local events and matters of current interest in the district or country There are hundreds of
different characters each with distinctive shadow, but show will almost always include a clown,
funny old man, scatter-brained old woman or rather stupid yokel, who are all great favorites with
the fun-loving audiences.

Mr. Suchart Sapsin – a man of many talents. He is not only an expert in the craft of making
puppets he is also an award-winning writer and poet. He is a narrator, speaking or singing all the
parts using different voices and he is a superb mimic.

Two Types of Nang

1. Nang Talung- is played with leather puppets, each representing a separate character, about 50cm
high. They usually movable, joined arm controlled by a string.
2. Nang Yai- is normally made of cowhide rattan, a large, decorated scenes and characters measuring
around two meters high and a meter wide. They do not have joined arms, but the themes and styles
remain the same.

Nai Nang- teacher and presenter of the Nang Talung. It is the Nai Nang’s responsibility to act
as an intermediary between the community and the gods, thus the Nang and its producers are
highly respected and greatly entwined into Thailand’s culture fiber.
Nang recites tales of the gods and contemporary people through stories of love, current events,
and tradition. The shadow puppets used in Nang represent the norms and more of Thai society.
The Nang attempts to relay to the audience the importance of Thai values and ideologies in a
changing world, however, the mystical and historical events remain fundamental in all
performances. The association with karma and the underlying message of rewards and
punishments act as allegories for Buddhist morality and philosophy.

D. Lakhon Bassac ( Cambodia )

Lakhon Bassac (Bassac Opera) is one of the more popular folk

theatrical forms in Cambodia. It is characterized by the larger-than-life
and comic movements that depict specific scenes of early old Khmer
literature, particularly the ones about the clash of good and evil spirits.
This animated and amusing form of Khmer theater features dance, music,
and melodrama, with performers appearing in extravagant costumes.
Like other art forms, Lakhon Bassac nearly died during the oppressive
Khmer Rogue period. The art has continued to thrive despite the murder
of many of its performers.
https://bit.ly/2OTtQGk

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 The Lakhon Bassac is not characterized by how the story goes. Story can be told by other
mean such as a movie producer could just take the story and shoot a movie out it. It has the
following main characteristics:
Costume: The male stars, usually the prince is wearing a costume sewing with very complicate
patterns. The costume and the crown are decorated with beautiful jewelries. His weapon is an
arch and bows or a stick.
Yeak: he/she always looks ugly. The Yeak is said to represent an evil spirit, a bad guy.
Music: a scene is always preluded with a sound of a drum and a melodic sound of a low-pitch
fiddle and a dulcimer
Performance (Yeak): jumping up and down, turning around, and waving his weapon according to
the sound of a drum. He sings a song too, but his voice is a yelling style as to scare people of.
Ta Eiysey and Ta Eiyso: Ta Eiysey is a master of the prince. Ta Eiyso is a master of the
Yeak. They both wear similar clothes and live in a secluded Asrom (house).

D.

Wayang Kulit ( Indonesia)

The Indonesian wayang kulit is one of the most well-

known puppet theater arts in the world. Wayang refer to
kinds of puppet theaters, sometimes itself is referred to as
wayang. Kulit means skin, and refers to the leather
construction of the puppets that are carefully shaped with
very fine tools and supported with carefully shaped buffalo
horn handles and control rods. Performances of shadow
puppet theaters are accompanied by a Gamelan orchestra
in Java, and by Gender Wayang in Bali. Wayang can be
in form of wayang golek (rod puppets), wayang klitik (flat
wood puppet), wayang orang (human puppets), and
wayang gedog (masked human puppets). https://bit.ly/3eVQfxi

The stories are usually drawn from the Hindu epics:

1. Ramayana
2. Mahabharata
3. Serat Menak- a story about heroism of Amir Hamza

Wayang Kulit Performance- consist of sahdows cast on a cotton screen and an oil lamp. The
white screen symbolizes the universe where natives go on with their live. The screen’s brighter
side is a representation of the material world, and the darkest side symbolizes the afterlife.
The oil lamp, called the blencong, often takes the shape of the mythical bird Garuda. The lamp
symbolizes the sun rays needed by all living things.
 In Java, most often used as a light source is a halogen electric light
 Wayang Sandosa has employed spot lights, colored lights and other innovation.

Elements of performance:
 The puppeteer – dhalang(Java) /dalang(Bali)
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  A hammer used by the dalang to knock on the puppet box, Cempala metal plates that the dalang
hits with his foot, kepyak
 A traditional Indonesian orchestra- gamelan
 A light source- blencong
 Female singers and a male chorus
 A screen frame and a screen, gawang and kelir; the main focus of the performance
 Banana logs, degebog; the pointed sticks of wayang base handle pierce the peeled trunk of a
banana tree and the spongy substance holds the puppet in place
 A puppet box, kothak

E. Zat Pwe ( Myanmar)

Pwe is a broad Burmese term for performances that encompass
classical dance, drama, and musical opera. Zat pwe is the more
popular type of this performance. This highly stylized form
combines dance, drama, and music to form an exceptional theater
art. It is perform during the pagoda festival, featuring dancers,
acrobats, and comedians accompanied by hswaing waing, which is
a gong and percussion ensemble. Zat pwe often adapts the stories
of the Buddhist Jataka. Some performances of zat pwe also lifts
stories of Burmese history. Traditionally, it lasts the whole night.
https://bit.ly/300vfBt

F. Komedya (Philippines)

The Komedya, sometimes called the moro-moro, is a form of

theater art in our country. This long play, which often lasts for
three nights, tells the story of the religious and political conflicts
between Christian and Muslim heroes. In the komedya, kings,
princes, and dukes engage in intense battle, with the Christian
always being triumphant in the end. The performers parade, in
magnificent costumes and props, and they dramatize the story
using stylized acting. Komedya is often presented during
festivals, gaining the patronage of the entire community. http://paranaquecity.gov.ph/events.php

What’s More
Activity 2: Check the Elements

Direction: The different important aspects of a theater show are written in the table below. Use the
table as a guide for comparing the different elements of theater art forms of Southeast Asia.
Basic Elements of Theater Art Forms
Theater Arts Music Performers Stage props Costumes Visual Effects

Wayang kulit

Zat Pwe

Nang

Cai luong

Lakhon Bassac

6
 Khon

Komedya

What Is It

East Asian Theater

A. Peking Opera (China)
China is known for their traditional theater art form, the Peking
Opera or Beijing Opera which combines music, vocal
performances, dance, and acrobatics. It started in the late 18 th
century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid –
19th century. During the Qing Dynasty court, it became extremely
popular and came to be regarded s one of the cultural treasures of
China.
https://bit.ly/2WYwUp1
Roles and Characters:
1. Sheng- the main male role in Peking Opera

a. Xiaosheng
actors – often involve
with beautiful women by
virtue of the handsome
and young image they
project.

https://bit.ly/2ZZxowV

b. Wusheng – is a martial
character for roles involving
combat. They are highly trained in
acrobatics, and have a natural
voice when singing.
https://bit.ly/32TvbVJ

a. .

c. Laosheng – a dignified older role,

these character have a gentle and
cultivated disposition, and wear
sensible costumes.

https://bit.ly/39s8RE5

2. Dan- refers to any female role in Peking Opera

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 a. Laodan – old
woman

https://bit.ly/30IuETY https://bit.ly/2OT8GIm

b. Wudan – martial
woman

c. Daomadan – are young

female warriors.

https://bit.ly/3hEMRse

d. Qingyi –
are virtuous
and elite e. Huadan – are
women vivacious and
unmarried women.

https://bit.ly/32Ry5uh https://bit.ly/2DahXJj

3. Jing – a painted face male role who plays either primary or secondary
roles. This type of role entails a forceful character, which means that a
jing actor must have a strong voice and be able to exaggerate gestures.

https://bit.ly/3hDh9vD

4. Chou- a male clown role. The Chou usually plays secondary roles
whose name also mean “ugly”. It reflects the traditional belief that the
clown’s combination of ugliness and laughter could drive away evil
spirits.

https://bit.ly/39qOkQi

Visual Performance Elements:

Peking Opera performers utilize four skills.
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 1. Song
2. Speech
3. Dance-acting – this includes pure dance, pantomime, and all other types of dance
4. Combat – includes both acrobatics and fighting with all manner of weaponry.

Xiaohualian - (pretty painted face) a small patch of chalk on and around the nose. Clowns of
traditional drama who wears this special make up show a mean and secretive character.

Aesthetic Aims and Principles of Movements:

 The highest aim of performers in Peking opera is to put beauty into every motion.
 The art form, gestures, settings, music and character types are determined by long held
conventions
 Coventions of movements: - Walking in a large circle symbolizes traveling a long distance ;
Character- straightening his or her costume and headdress symbolizes that an important character
is about to speak; Pantomimic- opening and closing of doors and mounting and descending of
stairs.

*There are two kinds of makeup applied by the performers are masks and facial paintings. There
is special technique that involves the frequent onstage change of masks, called the “changing
faces”, that the audience barely notices.

B. Kabuki (Japan)

Kabuki is a form of traditional Japanese drama with highly stylized song, mime, and dance, now
performed only by male actors that evolved in Japan in the early 17 th century. Japanese,
originally as a verb meaning “act dissolutely”, later interpreted as ka- song, bu- dance and ki-
art/skill.
Kabuki Theater is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make up worn by
some of its performers called kumadori. Kabuki is therefore sometimes translated as the “art of
singing and dancing”. Since the word kabuki believed to be derive from the verb kabubu,
meaning “to lean” or “to be out of the ordinary”, kabuki can be “bizarre” theater. The expression
kabukimono referred originally to those who were bizarrely dressed and paraded on the street.

Kabuki stage features:

 Hanamichi- a flower path, a walkway which extends to the
audience and via which dramatic entrances and exits are
made; Okuni also perform in this stage with her entourage.
 Kogakudo- kabuki treaters that have stages both in front of
the audience and along the sides help create a bond
/between the actors and the viewers.
https://musicalsonline.com/kabuki-theatre/
 Mawaro butal- the interior of the theater contains a revolving stage
 Suppon- a platform that rises from below the stage
 Hanamicho- a walkway that cuts through the audience setting area to connect the stage with the
back of the theater.
 Magicians and supernatural beings- often make their entrance from trap doors in hanamachi
 Some stages have 17 trapdoors

Three main categories of Kabuki play:

 Jidai-mono- historical, or pre-sengoku periods story
 Sewa-mono- domestic, or post-Sengoku stories; focused primarily upon commoners
 Shosagoto- dance pieces

Elements of Kabuki:

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  Mie- in which the actor holds a picturesque pose to establish his character and his house name
yago, is sometimes heard is a loud shout (kakegoe) fro expert audience member, serving both to
express and enhance the audience’s appreciation of the actor’s achievement. An even greater
compliment can be paid by shouting the name of the actor’s father (Kesho).
 Two main categories of actors: Onna-gata- female roles and; Aragoto- male roles

The play occupies five acts:

 Jo, an auspicious and slow opening which introduces the audience to the characters and the plot
 Ha, speeding events up, culminating almost always in a great moment of drama
 Tragedy in the third act and possibly a battle in the second and/or fourth acts
 Kyu, is almost always short, providing a quick and satisfying conclusion

Other Japanese theater forms:

 Noh – is Japan’s oldest form of musical theater. The story is told not just through dialogue but also
through other forms, such as utai (singing), hayashi (musical accompaniment), and mai (dance). The
Noh involves the use of slow movements, poetic language, monotonous tones, and rich and heavy
costumes. Narratives are based on Japanese legends, history, literature, and contemporary events.
The characters in a Noh are played by male performers. The characters played the shite or the
leading character, the waki or the supporting actor, the hayashi or the musicians, the juitai or the
chorus, and the koken or the stage attendants. One feature of Noh is that the leading actor, dressed
in a colorful
 costume of embroidered silk, usually wears a lacquered wooden mask. The mask can depict
character such as an old man, a young or old woman, a divine figure, a ghost, and a young boy. The
audience is also given sense of what character is being portrayed through mask.
 Kyogen- is a type of classical Japanese comic theater performed with highly stylized actions and
lines. It is staged between Noh performances, or as a comic relief from more solemn or serious acts
of Noh, although it is now sometimes performed in its own right. Unlike Noh performers, kyogen
performers do not typically wear masks. Kyogen also tends to attract commoners, whereas the Noh is
popular among the elite.
 Bunrako- the Japanese puppet theater which became popular at the end of 16 th century, is a kind of
puppet theater. Bunraku is performed to the accompaniment of narrative singing and music played on
the shamisen ( a three-stringed instrument). The Bunraku is known as one of the world’s most refined
forms of puppet theater

What’s More

Activity 3: Compare and Contrast

Direction: Using the Venn diagram identify the differences and similarities of the theatrical forms of
the two Asian regions discussed previously.

Southeast East Asian

Asian Similarities Theater
Theater Forms
Forms

10
 What’s New

Direction: List down the countries in West, South, and Central Asia and write things that
associate or describe the country.
COUNTRY DISTINCT FEATURE
1.
2.
3.

South, West, and Central Asian Theater Arts

A. Bhand Pather
The word bhand originated from the Sanskrit band, which means “imitation or comical
behavior”. This word is found in many languages in the
northern part of India. Bhands today refer to the folk
performers of India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. This
traditional performing group includes actors, storytellers,
impressionists, minstrels, and dancers.
Bhand Pather is a theatrical form from Kashmir, which is
located of the Himalayas. It is perhaps the oldest theatrical
form in the Indian subcontinent. Bhand Pather depicts
stories of reshis (Islamic sages) in mythological legends.
More modern figures (real or fictional) are also portrayed.
Often, the pather (storyline) is satirical and humorous.
Overall, faece is crucial component of Bhand Pather.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhand
B. Saang
The Saang is a form of folk dance drama performed
specifically in Madhya, Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana,
and Rajasthan in India. This folk dance drama incorporates
theatrics and naqal (mimicry), which go with dialogues and
songs. The Saang is more focused on dialogue than on
gestures and movement. It is often draws materials from
folk tales, Indian mythology, morality themes, and lives of
inspiring figures. It also tackles themes such as literacy and
education, health, and hygiene.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saang
A group of 10 to 12 actors performed the Saang in an open-air theater, where the stage is
surrounded by the audience. Unlike in modern drama, the stage of Saang does not have ornate
arrangements. There are no curtains and rooms or backstage areas where performers can
change costumes or put on makeup. They perform only on a wooden platform. All they need is
skill and stamina, as the performance often lasts up to six hours.
C. Ache Lhamo
Ache Lhamo is a Buddhist morality play that developed
in Central Asia. Buddhist canonical literature, historical
accounts, folktales, and mythologist are also rich materials
for stories of this play. Most presentations of Ache Lhamo
are about legendary heroes who show that the virtues of
Buddhism can defeat evil. Some scholars claim that such a
morality play derived from Indian theater. According to
11
Tibetan tradition, however, the first performance of Ache Lhamo was produced by Thang-stong
rgyal-po, a well- known https://xruanblog.wordpress.com/2017/04/30/ache-lhamo/ 15th century bridge builder.

D. Ta’ziyeh
Ta’ziyeh, a religious epic theater, is still staged in many
areas in West Asia with huge Shi’a Muslim population, such
as Iraq, Iran, Bahrain, and southern Lebanon. It derives from
the root word aza, which means “mourning”. In reference to
Persian culture, Ta’ziyeh is a form of “condolence theater”
that depicts religious and historical events.
In Iranian Shiism, ta’ziyeh is a type of passion play. Many
villagers and small towns have built hoseinieh, which are
building specifically for mounting rituals. In Iran, ta’ziyeh is
performed by both professional groups of actors and
amateur villagers. Many participants do not consider it a
form of theater, but as a part of the https://bit.ly/2OSOC98
observance of mourning. Despite this characteristic, ta’ziyeh exhibits a number of theatrical
conventions.

What I Have Learned

Generalization
1. Among all the theater forms that were discussed in this module, which one do you like best? Why?
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. Have you seen theater art performance? Where? Give some observations.
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. What values/attitudes/skills of the discussed theater arts do you like to acquire? Why?
___________________________________________________________________________

Lesson Asian Festivals

2
What’s In
In the previous lesson, we discussed the different popular theatrical forms of Asia. The
elements that comprises the theater forms. Every theater form in Asian regions may look different
but they are closely related. They developed from similar cultural and historical setting, so they
share many characteristics. The Asian theater form reflects the identity of the people in the region.
In this lesson we will discuss the different festivals in Asia. We will tackle how every celebration
are the same and differ each other in every Asian region.

What’s New
List down all festival celebrations you know in your region. Use the table below.

Name of Festival Place of Origin Month Celebrated

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 What is It
The above activity shows the previous knowledge of the learner on festival
celebrations. Through this, the learner will distinguish the characteristics of festivals in every
Asian region.

Southeast Asian Festivals

A. Sky Lantern Festival (Thailand)

The Sky Lantern is held not just in the country but also in China,
Taiwan, and other neighboring countries. This event is about the
launching of lanterns which are actually small hot air balloons. Each
release of a sky lantern is a petition, small prayer or good wishes of the
person who released the lantern. This event is held on the full moon of
the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the Western
calendar this is usually falls in November.
https://bit.ly/2Bw86NL
Other Festivals Celebrated in Thailand:
a. Loy Krathong or Loi Krathong – Loi/Loy literal meaning means “to float”, while krathong
refers to the lotus-shaped receptacle which can float on the water.
Originally, the krathong was made of banana leaves or the layer of the
trunk of a bana tree or a spider lily plant. The Festival is believed to
originate in an ancient practice of paying respect to the spirit of the
water. The tradition is said to have begun in the 13 th century when a
young queen made a small boat adorned with candles and sent it
down the river. It is a ritual honoring Phra Mae Kongka, the goddess
of water. The construction of colorful boats was a way of not only
giving thanks for the abundance of water but also a way to seek
forgiveness for overuse and pollution. The event takes place on the
evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar
calendar which falls on November in western calendar
https://bit.ly/2DakuTP

b. Songkran Festival – One of the Thailand’s well-known cultural

festivals, is a celebration of the Buddhist New Year. Beginning in April,
the festival is when revelers go to Thailnd’s major streets and engage in
the biggest “friendly” water fight in the world. This friendly throwing of
water, which symbolizes Songkran’s spring-cleaning aspect, is also
considered a means to pay respect to others. Traditionally, the rubbing
of talc or chalk is also practiced by monks for blessing.

B. Thaipusan Festival (Malaysia and Singapore)

The festival is held in January or February by Hindu devotees in
many parts of the world. This festival has the strongest following
among Malaysians and Singaporeans. While the Thaipusan
Festival is the time when men give thanks for all answered prayers,
this is not for the squeamish as male festival participants carry
kavadis, which are steel racks attached to the bloody. It is a
demonstration of how devoted Hindus are to Lord Murugan.
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Pierced devotees, believed that the practice of skin piercing cleanses their souls of sins. In
Malaysia, the festival is centered onC the Batu Cave, where the world’s largest statue of Lord
Murugan can be found. In Singapore, participants walk from Sri Srinivasa Temple all the way to
Sri Thendayuthapani Temple.

C. Waisak Festival (Indonesia)

This is the most sacred day in Buddhism as it celebrates the birth of

Buddha and his enlightenment, as well as his attainment of nirvana. This
festival is celebrated in many Buddhist countries around the world, but
the one in Borobudur in Java, Indonesia is perhaps the most remarkable.
Borobudur, one of the region’s most renowned cultural sites, has the
largest Buddhist temple in the world. One of the highlights is the
procession of monks from Mendut to Pawon, and to Borobudur. Pilgrims
light candles and offer flowers as the full moon rises, then they pray and
chant. https://latitudes.nu/vesa-waisak/

D. Balinese Dance Festival- Balinese dances are a very ancient dance tradition that is a part of
the religious and artistic expression among Balinese people. In
Hinduism, Dance is an accompaniment to the perpetual dissolving
and reforming of the world. The creative and productive balance is
often personified as Shiva’s wife, Durga, sometime called Uma,
Parvati, or Kali. This has significance in Balinese Hinduism, since
the common figure of Rangla is similar in many ways to Durga.
There are various categories of dance, including epic performances
such as the universal Mahabharata and Ramayana. The articulations
in the face, eyes, hands, arms, hips, and feet are coordinated to
reflect layers of percussive sounds.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balinese_dance

East Asian Festival

A. Chinese Festival

a. Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar. The
origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths
and traditions. Chinese New Year is also known as “Spring Festival’, the literal translation of the
Chinese name Chunjie, since the spring season in Chinese calendar starts with lichun, the first
letter solar term in a Chinese calendar year. The festival begins on the first day of the month in
the traditional Chinese alendar and ends with the Lantern Festival which is on the 15 th day.

b. Dragon Dance- a form of traditional dance and

performance in Chinese culture. It is the highlight of Chinese
New Year celebration held worldwide in Chinatowns around the
world. The dragon symbolizes power, strength, and good luck.
The dance team mimics the supposed movements of this river
spirit in a flowing, rise and fall manner. The movements in
performance traditionally symbolize historical roles of dragons’
demonstrating power and dignity. Dragons are believed to
bring good luck to people, which are reflected in their qualities
that include great power, dignity, fertility,
wisdom, and prosperity.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-02/12/c_137816173.htm
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B. Kodo Taiko Drum Festival (Japan)
The Taiko is considered one of the most primitive of all
Japanese musical instruments. It is thought to have used in
communication and religious rituals in Japan. The taiko was
used in feudal Japan for motivating troops and calling out
orders or announcements. It was also used as an
accompaniment for marching. The taiko is commonly found at
Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. It is used in religious
ceremonies and local festivals. Priests authorize Japanese
men to play the taiko during special occasion.
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/6122149473271109/
Taiko drumming has been popularized by a professional group called the Kodo.
The group is based in Sado, Japan, and managed to introduce taiko drumming in other places
abroad. The word Kodo conveys two meaning: “heartbeat”- the primal source of all rhythm and,
read in different way “children” of the drum”- a reflection of Kodo’s desire to play their drums
simply, with the heart of the children.
The main focus of the performance: Uchite is the taiko drummer; different drums; other
traditional Japanese musical instruments such as fue and shamisen make an appearance on
stage; traditional dance and vocal performance; include pieces based on the traditional rhythms of
regional Japan.

C. Andong Mask Dance Festival (Korea)

Andong Festival held every end of September to early
October in the town of Andong Gyeongsangbukdo, Korea. This
festival features the talchum (mask dance) and other traditional
Korean dances. These traditional dances hold cultural
significance in Korea. One example is the byeolsingut talnori
dance, which is an important intangible cultural asset of the
country.
During talchum festivals, foreign mask dance troupes from
other parts of the world are invited to perform their own mask
dance. Thus, this practice becomes an opportunity for sharing
folk cultures and traditions among participants. There are also
mask dance competitions and mask dance lessons for those who are interested to learn them.
https://bit.ly/2D7AVAB

Festivals in South, West, and Central Asia

A. Dewali
Dewali is also known as the Festival of Lights, is probably the biggest festival in India. It
highlights the triumph of good over evil and of light over dark. It celebrates Lord Rama’s and the
monkey god Hanuman’s victory over King Ravan, the demon king,
and the eventual rescue of Sita. The word dewali means “lighted
lamps”, so everyone during the festivities lights firecrackers, candles,
and diyas (lamps) to help guide Rama home from exile. The light
makes the festival atmospheric and warm, which adds to its charm.
Celebrated with much happiness, each day of the five days is
marked with different rituals and pujas (prayers). The main festival
night happens on the darkest new moon night of the Hindu lunisolar
month called the Kartika (from the middle of October to the middle of
November. Dewali is also observed in Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri
Lanka.
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 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

B. Holi
Holi also known as the Festival of Colors, is a two-day
Indian festival that celebrates not only the triumph of good
(prince Prahlad) over evil (Holika), but also the richness of the
harvest that comes with spring. On the eve of the festival,
revelers sing and dance around Holika bonfires. On the day of
the festival, they gather in public areas and throw wet and dry
colors of different hues to one another. Some se water guns,
and other throw balloons filled with colored water.
Traditionally, people also consume bhang (a paste made
from cannabis plants) during the celebration. Holi is
celebrated on the Purnima (full moon) of the Hindu lunisolar
month Phalgun (March). While the festival is observed almost
all over India, the liveliest celebrations are in the north Indian states.
https://bit.ly/32Vjnm7

C. Nowruz
The Nowruz is the Iranian New Year. The celebration
happens on the vernal equinox, or the precise astronomical
start of the spring season. This festival dates back to
Zoroastrianism, before the invasion of the Arabs and the
institution of Islam. Because it is during spring when leaves
and flowers blossom and light dominate the landscape,
Nowruz is a time of happiness and hope. Renewal is also a
significant aspect of Nowruz: renewal of the self, renewal of
friendships, and renewal of relationships with the family.
The celebrations during Nowruz, which usually last for
13 days, start with the spring cleaning of one’s house.
There is also elaborate dinner that includes seven items
that begin with the letter “S”. Nowruz is celebrated not only
in Iran but also in Afghanistan, Northern Iraq, Kazakhstan,
Turkey, Pakistan, and other parts of South, West and
Central Asia.
https://www.letsvisitpersia.com/nowruz-iranian-new-year/

D. Passover
The Passover is a very important Jewish festival.
Passover is observed from the 15th to the 22nd of the Hebrew
month of Nissan. The Passover is a very important Jewish
festival. It is a way for Jews to commemorate the liberation of
Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The first two days and last two
of Passover are full-fledged holidays.
On the first two nights, Jews eats the Seder, which is
composed of lambs with bitter herbs and unrisen bread without
yeast. They light holidays candles at night, perform the
Kiddush (a ceremony of word and wine), and enjoy lavish
holiday meals on both nights and day. The middle days, known
as Hol harmoed, are semi festive days, when some Jews are
allowed to work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover

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 What’s More

Activity 1: Fill in the information

Direction: Fill in the table below with information about the festivals in the Asian region.
Festivals Performer Stage/props Costumes Visual Sound Purpose of
s Effects Effects the
Performanc
e

1. Following the aspect discussed in the chart, give your impressions on any festivals you like best.
Explain your choice.
______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. Is there any Asian festival that is similar with the Philippine Festival? How are they related?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

What I Have Learned

Direction: Answer the following questions.
1. Among the different festivals in Asian region, are there similarities with the Philippine festival
celebrations? Explain your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________
2. How important is the festival celebration in a certain community?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________

17
 What Can I Do
Activity 3: Dress me Up!
(Individual Task)
Direction: 1. Using recycled materials, design your own festival costume.
2.The costume must be place put on an old doll or an improvised mannequin.
3. The length of the mannequin is 12 inches and the costume must not be shorter than 8 inches
however it must not be longer that 12 inches.

Rubrics:
Excellent-5 Good -4 Fair-3 Needs
Improvement-2

Following Followed the Followed most Followed some Did not follow
Direction direction of the direction of the directions the instruction
correctly

Creativity and Output is very Output is good Output if fair Output is dull
Workmanship creative and and tidy
tidy

Resourcefulness Materials used Most of the Some of the Materials used

were all materials used materials used were not
recycled were recycled were recycled recycled

Numerical Descriptive Equivalent Grade

11-15 Excellent 95%
8-10 Good 85%
6 Need Improvement 75%

Assessment: Post Test

I- Multiple Choice:

Choose the correct answer: Write the letter of your answer.

1. It is the Japanese drumming festival.
a. Kodo Taiko Festival c. Balineses Dance Festival
b. Dragon Dance d. Dewali Festival
2. It is a festival that engage a friendly throwing of water.
a. Thaipusan Festival b. Passover c. Sinulog d. Songkuan
3. Holi Festival is also known as ________________.
a. Festival of Lights b. Festival of Colors c. Spring Festival d. Loi Krathong
4. This is a traditional dance and performance in Chinese culture.
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 a. Balinese Festival b. Salsa c. Dragon Dance d. Snake Dance
5. It is a festival known as Festival of Lights.
a. Dewali b. Holi c. Passover d. Nowruz
6. The word Kodo literally means __________.
a. Heartbeat b. Pulse Rate c. Active d. Beauty
7. An ancient dance tradition that comes from Indonesia.
a. Folk dance b. Bali Dance c. Jazz d. Salsa
8. The word that refers to the lotus- shaped receptacle that floats on the water.
a. Loi b. Fai c. Krathong d. Bhand
9. It is the way for Jews to commemorate the Liberation of Israelite from Slavery in Egypt.
a. Passover b. Nowruz c. Holi d. Bhand Pather
10. How long the performance of Kodo last?
a. 3 hours c. 1 hour and 30 minutes
b. 2 hours and 40 minutes d. 1 hour

II- Modified True or False: Write True if the statement is correct, If the statement is wrong, write
the correct word/words to make the sentence correct.

_____________1. The word bhand originated from the Greek word band which means “imitation or
comical behavior”.

_____________ 2. Mr. Suchart Sapsin is a man of many talents.

_____________ 3. Wayang Kulit performances is accompanied by a guitar.

_____________ 4. Peking Opera started in the late 18th century.

_____________ 5. Kabuki is composed of three characters: ka- song; bu – drama;

Ki- art/skill
_____________ 6. Bunrako is the Japanese comical theater.

_____________ 7. Cai Luong is a Thailand’s shadow puppet show.

_____________ 8. Pwe is a broad Burmese term for performance that

encompasses classical dance, drums and musical opera.

_____________ 9. Ta’ ziyeh is a type of passion play for Iranian Shiism.

______________ 10. Saang is performed by 12-15 actors in an open-air theater.

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