When some of the most sacred texts, such as the Maha-Bharata of Ancient India, were presented on the stage, the performance was supplemented by the use of puppets mounted on and manipulated by sticks. The puppets were colorfully decorated to enhance the celebratory nature of the performance.
Bunraku is the popular name for traditional Japanese puppetry ningyo joruri, which uses puppets (ningyo) with a form of chanted narrating (joruri). The term was coined in the late 1600's after a specific group of puppeteers. Puppets used in Bunraku are quite large, often about half the size of their puppeteers, who are hidden behind curtains during the performance. These puppets are highly decorative and sophisticated, typically requiring two to three puppeteers to control one of the main character puppets.
European theater in the Middle Ages was typically restricted to the Passion Plays of Jesus Christ and morality plays, which had a moral and described appropriate human behavior. Puppet use during this era thrived because they were utilized to portray actions that were deemed inappropriate for people to do, both in real life and on stage. An example might be a play depicting a man having an affair, which was unacceptable to everyday people and also for actors to portray.
Commedia del'Arte was the foundation for European puppets in the Renaissance and beyond. Marionettes, controlled by at least eight strings rather than the traditional two or three, were widely popular in Italy in the 19th century. The classic puppetry performance of "Dr. Faust" was well-known and widely celebrated, and is still performed by puppeteers today.
This form of puppetry was popular in Sicily in the 19th century. These marionettes were controlled from above by specialized strings and rods. Their performances were based upon classic medieval tales.
Puppetry has continued to be used in the 20th and 21st centuries, though it is typically used for the preservation of tradition or in children's theater. Some popular uses of puppets in this era are the Muppets, characters from "Sesame Street,"and the puppets used in the theater show "Avenue Q."