What is Chinese shadow puppetry called?

What is Chinese shadow puppetry called?

Shadow Play
Shadow puppetry, or Shadow Play, was very popular during the Tang (618 – 907) and Song (960 – 1279) dynasties in many parts of China. Shadow puppets were first made of paper sculpture, later from the leather of donkeys or oxen. That’s why their Chinese name is pi ying, which means shadows of leather.

What is the history of shadow puppets in China?

The most famous one has it that Chinese shadow puppetry originated when the favorite concubine of Emperor Wu of Han (156 BCE – 87 BCE) died and magician Shao-weng promised to raise her spirit. During the Ming dynasty there were 40 to 50 shadow show troupes in the city of Beijing alone.

Who performed Chinese shadow puppetry?

Shadow puppetry was widely performed in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and was introduced into West Asian and European countries during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). The art form met its heyday in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), when the puppetry was performed in almost every province.

How puppet makes a shadow?

Light travels as a wave. When you put your shadow puppet in between the lamp and the wall, the puppet blocks some of the light waves. This makes a bigger shadow. Moving the shadow puppet away from the lamp makes a smaller shadow as fewer light waves are blocked.

What makes shadow puppetry unique?

Shadow puppetry — also called shadow play — got its start thousands of years ago in China and India. This unique form of storytelling is the oldest type of puppetry in the world. Shadow puppets are figures that are placed between a light and a screen. Moving them creates the illusion of moving images on the screen.

Why is shadow puppetry important?

Moving them creates the illusion of moving images on the screen. An experienced puppeteer can make figures appear to walk, talk, fight and dance. Shadow puppetry is a popular form of entertainment in countries all over the world.

How do you do a shadow puppetry?

How to:

  1. Choose what type of puppets you want. How about your favourite animal?
  2. Draw outlines for your puppets on the cardboard and cut them out.
  3. Use sellotape to attach a skewer to the back of each of your puppets.
  4. Put the lamp on the floor or on a table.
  5. Hold your puppets between the light and the wall.

What is shadow puppetry?

Shadow play, also known as shadow puppetry, is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment which uses flat articulated cut-out figures (shadow puppets) which are held between a source of light and a translucent screen or scrim. The cut-out shapes of the puppets sometimes include translucent color or other types of detailing.

What is a shadow puppet?

Shadow puppets are figures that are placed between a light and a screen. Moving them creates the illusion of moving images on the screen. An experienced puppeteer can make figures appear to walk, talk, fight and dance.

What is the Chinese shadow play?

Chinese Shadow Play. Known as the precursor to modern movies, shadow play is a kind of dramatic storytelling in which silhouettes made of animal leather shapes are projected onto a white screen. The human performer manipulates the leather character puppets and light source behind the screen while singing the tune and text of the story.

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