Intangible Cultural Heritage Series: Shadow Puppetry

Shadow Puppets, also known as "Shadow Play" or "Lantern Shadow Play," is a traditional folk drama that uses silhouette figures made of animal skin or cardboard to perform stories. During the performance, the artists manipulate the shadow figures behind a white screen, narrating stories with locally popular tunes while accompanied by percussion and string instruments, creating a strong rural atmosphere. Its popularity is widespread, and various forms of shadow puppets have emerged due to the different vocal styles performed in different regions.

Shadow puppets are an ancient traditional art form in Chinese folklore, known to the old Beijingers as "Donkey Skin Shadows." Historical records show that shadow puppets originated in the Western Han Dynasty, flourished during the Tang Dynasty, and reached its peak in the Qing Dynasty. They were introduced to West Asia and Europe during the Yuan Dynasty, making it a long-standing art form with a rich history.

In 2011, Chinese Shadow Puppets were listed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In December 2018, the Ministry of Education announced that the Shanghai Theatre Academy was designated as a base for the inheritance of the excellent traditional Chinese culture of shadow puppets.

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