Wayang Golek is a traditional art that Sundanese puppet show puppet made ​​of wood, which is very popular especially in the area of ​​the Land of Pasundan, Regional distribution stretching from Cirebon in the east to the west Banten region, even in areas bordering Central Java, West Java often demonstrated performances of Wayang Golek. 

As puppet general storyline, the puppet show also usually have a good play-play and carangan strain. The story line can be drawn from folklore such as the spread of Islam by Walangsungsang and Rara Santang or sourced from the epic of Ramayana and Mahabharata stories using Sundanese language Sundanese gamelan accompaniment (salendro), which consists of two saron, a howl, a selentem , the boning device, the device boning rincik, one kenong device, a pair of gongs (kempul and goong), coupled with a set of drums (a drum and three kulanter Goon), xylophone and fiddle. 

In the puppet show, the play is usually performed carangan. Only occasionally performed the play strains. This seemed to be a measure of intelligence carangan puppeteers create a nice and interesting. Some famous puppeteer puppet show them Tarkim, RU Partasuanda, Abeng Sunarya, Either Tirayana, Apek, Asep Sunandar Sunarya, Cecelia Supriya, ki mastermind Iskandar etc. IIN revelation. Pengadegan pattern wayang golek is as follows; 

Tatalu, puppeteer and sinden up stage, gising jejer / kawit, murwa, nyandra, mysticism / kakawen, and biantara; 

Unjal round, paseban, and bebegalan 

Nagara Sejen 

Patepah 

war failed 

Panakawan / goro-goro 

flower of war 

war racket 

Tutug 

One of the puppets function in society is ngaruat (ruwat), ie cleaning of accidents (distress). Some people who diruwat (Sukerta), among others: 

Wunggal (single child) 

Bugang bear (a sister whose brother died) 

Suramba (four sons) 

Surambi (four daughters) 

Pandavas (five sons) 

Pandawi (five daughters) 

Talaga Date Kausak (a son dihapit daughter) 

Ocean hapit Sindang (a daughter dihapit two sons), and so on. 

At the initial appearance, the wooden puppet art was born and flourished in coastal areas north of the island of Java in the early 17th century where the oldest Muslim kingdoms in Java grows there, using Sundanese language in the dialogue. According to legends, Sunan Kudus using this form of wayang golek beginning to spread Islam in the society. 

Sundanese art puppet show is expected to start growing in West Java during the expansion of the Sultanate of Mataram in the 17th century, despite the fact that some of the cultural heritage of Hindu influence still survives in a few places in West Java as the former territory of the Kingdom of Sunda Pajajaran. Grip and the way the story according to the wayang golek puppet version of Java, especially puppet prototype story (Ramayana and Mahabharata), although there are some differences, misalmya in naming figures punakawan known in Sundanese version. The Javanese wooden puppet art can now be found as a contemporary form in the territory of the Holy Menak Puppet and Puppet smacking in Cirebon region, although its popularity is not as big wayang golek in the region Priangan. 

Performing arts wayang golek started getting its present form around the 19th century. When the art is the art of wayang golek theater dipagelarkan people in rural or urban residency. In addition to functioning as a complement to the ceremony salvation or ruwatan, wayang golek art show also become a spectacle and entertainment in a particular event. 

Since the 1920s, during a puppet show accompanied by sinden. Popularity sinden at that time was so high that beat the popularity puppeteer wayang golek itself, especially when his time Upit Sarimanah and Titim Patimah circa 1960s. 

Puppet show is currently more dominant as folk performing arts, which have functions relevant to the environmental community needs, both spiritual and material needs. It thus can be seen from some of the activities in the community such as when there is a celebration, a celebration either (party festivity) in order circumcisions, weddings and other diriingi sometimes with a puppet show. 

Now in addition to the performing arts as a form of puppet theater, wayang golek crafts are also often used as souvenirs by the tourists. wayang golek characters commonly used as a souvenir craft objects are figures of Rama and Shinta couples, famous puppet characters like Arjuna, Heroine, and Krishna, as well as figures such as Semar and Cepot Punakawan. This wayang golek craft used as decoration, decoration or interior ornament. As in modern times after the creation Puppet show has begun to be developed by the young puppet craftsmen, who still does not eliminate the grip of Puppet show purwa, in ataranya there pengarajin Cloudy Medal, Evolution Wayang Golek, Wayang Indonesia Caraka (CWI) and others . 

The development of a wayang golek on the 19th century to the 20th century can not be separated from the puppeteer who continue to develop this traditional art, one of which Ki H. Asep Sunandar Sunarya that has been delivering innovation to the wayang golek in order to keep abreast of the times, one of the creativity that is the Cepot where he is now in the hands of wayang golek is not only art that says old school, but the traditional art that must be developed in this modern era.