subject: Shadow Puppets - The Great Handicrafts & Arts Of China [print this page] According to the historical record and the actual circulating situation of the contemporary folk art-shadow puppet, we can infer and confirm that Chinese shadow puppet art originates from the Western Han Dynasty, 2000 years ago, Shanxi province of China, and mature in the Tang and Song Dynasty of Shanxi(), Shanxi(), and Henan() Province, prevalent in the Qing Dynasty of Hebei Province.
From the beginning to the end of Qing Dynasty, Chinese shadow puppet reaches its peak. Many shadow puppet artists inherit his fathers business, for several generations and more sophisticated. Ether the modeling of the puppet, acting skill, singing tune, or the pop area,
Chinese shadow puppet has reached the historical peak. Many wealthy and decent families take proud in asking skillful artists to carve puppet, colleting refined shadow box, raising shadow puppet troupe. In the county, you can also find large or small shadow puppet troupe everywhere. On holidays or festival, joyous harvests, praying to the Gods, marriage banquet, birthday, etc, people like to have shadow puppet playing, the lively and royal scenes is beyond imagination.
The style and creation of the figure and science in shadow play, as a matter of fact, belong to the scope of Chinese folk art. Its artistic style is also unique in the Centre stage.
In order to meet the screen principle of shadow play, folk artists have combined the abstraction and reality and carried out graphic-oriented, artistic, cartoony, drama and integrated treatment to the figures and scenes. The marks and dress style of the shadow puppet are
very lively and vivid, exaggerated and humorous, some may be plain and rough, some may be delicate and romantic. Coupled with the excellent fabrication of smooth carving, gorgeous coloring, aerial body and flexible limbs, the shadow play is really fun to watch and hardly be put down.
Shadow puppet figures are not only used in shadow puppet performances, but everyone can play them, because its really simple. You can also put the shadow puppet in front of windows or white wall as indoor decoration. As the shape of shadow is plain and elegant, rich in national characteristics, having the artistic appreciation as well as the value of collection, many domestic and foreign museums, collectors, artists and puppet-lovings like to collect Chinese shadow puppet. Chinese shadow puppet even often is presented to international friends as superior presents.
