Shadow puppetry bridges past and future
By giving ancient art form a modern twist, Sichuan performers keep tradition alive
As one of China's oldest folk art forms, shadow puppetry — a mesmerizing blend of painting, carving, storytelling and singing — has been inscribed into the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In Langzhong, Sichuan province, generations of shadow puppetry artists have kept this traditional art alive.
Shadow puppetry, or piyingxi, means "performance with shadows of leather". Popular in northern Sichuan, particularly around Langzhong, Nanchong and Guang'an, Langzhong shadow puppets are made primarily from cowhide or paper.
Their facial expressions and costumes often mimic those of Sichuan Opera, its singing style also closely replicated. The performances typically depict historical and mythological folk tales.
