harbin

Many folks have their own puppet traditions. Japanase dolls, French Guignols, Italian string puppets, all of those paper, wood and wool creatures are beautiful, each one of them with its personality, ready to appear on the stage whenever the puppetmaster  wish them to. They're well known and adored by the children all over the world for most of the tales,  they are involved in, are both funny and true. Puppets are true.
Still, what happens sometimes is that the puppet master is not that good, or sometimes, hidding in the shadow, he's  preparing some incredible story .
 Never to be forgotten is the fact that if the play rejoices  our heart,  sometimes, deeper  in dark edges, it is the fruit of evil reflexion.
In Italy there's an old tradition of puppetmastering, somehow heir of the florentine court's art of  leading men. A puppetmaster is a leader of men. A puppetmaster daily deals with Kings, Popes, Heroes and Jests.
A good puppetmaster needs string so to make his puppets move exactly the way he intends them to do. So as to proceed he must knot their wrists, neck and ankles. Puppets can be reluctent to the art of the puppet master and therefore, he uses different kind of strings. A diamond necklace will do for a Queen, an expensive clock for a Minister, a golden chain for a Princess's ankle.
Puppets also have a solitary life when they're not playing on the stage and like Pinocchio, they're often in search of their origins. It's a good thing the puppet master always has in his mind. As a creator, he decides whatever pleases him. Sometimes, he adds some sisters and brothers, sometimes he marries others. Once again he's using string so as to connect his puppet and make them walk his way. 
Puppetmastering is the art of going beyond the curtains, making children heart get into another dimension and laugh and smile while an invisible shadow is at work. Puppets cross the walls, and get into the strongest houses with their necklaces, to be offered. Once you love them, you're already on the stage.