![]() The Taoist made a stone image of the concubine and put it in a tent by a burning candle. to 220 A.D.) to console the heartbroken Emperor Wu, who had lost one of his imperial concubines. It spreads knowledge, promotes cultural values and entertains the community, especially the youth. Ancient Chinese historical records show that shadow plays were originally created by a Chinese Taoist during the Han Dynasty (202 B.C. Chinese shadow puppetry also passes on information such as cultural history, social beliefs, oral traditions and local customs. The relevant skills are handed down in families, in troupes, and from master to pupil. Some puppeteers are professional, while others are amateurs performing during slack farming seasons. Shadow plays are performed by large troupes with seven to nine performers and smaller troupes of only two to five, primarily for entertainment or religious rituals, weddings and funerals and other special occasions. Many puppeteers also carve the puppets, which can have between twelve and twenty-four moveable joints. Shadow puppetry, or Shadow Play, was very popular during the Tang (618 - 907) and Song (960 - 1279) dynasties in many parts of China. They master special techniques such as improvisational singing, falsetto, simultaneous manipulation of several puppets, and the ability to play various musical instruments. Many elder shadow puppetry artists can perform dozens of traditional plays, which are orally transmitted or found in written form. Manipulated by puppeteers using rods, the figures create the illusion of moving images on a translucent cloth screen illuminated from behind. © China Puppet and Shadow Art Society, 2009Ĭhinese shadow puppetry is a form of theatre acted by colourful silhouette figures made from leather or paper, accompanied by music and singing.
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