Little is known for certain about the history of "wayang golek", but scholars have speculated that it most likely originated in China and arrived in Java sometime in the 17th century. Some of the oldest traditions of "wayang golek" are from the north coast of Java in what is called the pasisir region. This is home to some of the oldest Muslim kingdoms in Java and it is likely that the "wayang golek" grew in popularity through telling the "wayang menak" stories of Amir Hamza, the uncle of Muhammad. These stories are still widely performed in Kabumen, Tegal, and Jepara as "wayang golek menak", and in Cirebon, "wayang golek cepak". Legends about the origins of the "wayang golek" attribute their invention to the Muslim saint Wali Sunan Kudus, who used the medium to proselytize Muslim values.