hyo ji puppetry report
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TRANSCRIPT
ChineseShadow Puppetry
Name: Hyo Ji Kim
Grade: 10
Subject: MYP Drama
Teacher: Ms. Rankin
Word count: 705
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction.....................................................................3
2. History of Chinese Shadow Puppetry…………………………3-4
3. Features of Chinese Shadow Puppet........................... 4-6
4. Construction of Chinese Shadow Puppet……………………6-7
5. Presentation of Chinese Shadow Puppetry………………..7-8
6. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………8
7. Bibliography…………………………………….………………………9-11
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Introduction“Shadow Puppetry is a miraculous art form of moving images dated long
before the invention of firm” (Beijing Holiday, 2001). Shadow puppetry in China is
one of the famous shadow theatres in Asian countries. “As one of the oldest art
forms in China, shadow puppetry is called a "living fossil" of Chinese folk art”
(Dong Jirong, 2009). Chinese Shadow puppetry has entertained people by presenting
Chinese cultural shadow puppets and telling episodes from Chinese history and
legend (Mercier, 2009). There are 4 main areas in Chinese shadow puppetry,
including history, features of Chinese Shadow puppet, how to construct Chinese
shadow puppet and how to present Chinese shadow theatre. Therefore, this essay is
going to examine what makes Chinese Shadow puppetry unique.
HistoryChinese shadow puppetry has a long history dating from 2000 years ago. In
the Han Dynasty, Wu Emperor came up with an idea that he played cotton puppet a
place where shadows were vivid. This performance was developed as a shadow
puppetry. It then flourished in the Song Dynasty. During this period, not only
national conflicts between factions happened, but also there were many wars
between adjoining countries, like Korea and Japan. Therefore, “shadow puppetry
had been the only and best entertainment to maintain the moral of soldiers during
long depressing military life” (Jensen Liu, 2009). More importantly, “Shadow
puppetry properties are very portable, and a shadow puppetry troupe doesn’t
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require a large supporting crew” (Abid). For this reason, in the 13th century, many
people including Genghis Khan and commercial merchants in the Silk Way enjoyed
the performance (Abid). As a result, Chinese shadow puppetry became popular
around the world.
Features of Chinese Shadow Puppet
Figure 1: Chinese female shadow puppet in a costume with flower patterns (Henry Gan, 2011)
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Figure 2: Chinese male shadow puppet in a costume with dragon patterns (Henry Gan, 2011)
Chinese shadow puppets have a lot of distinctive features. First of all, they
are exaggerated and heavily dramatized. During the shadow play, only profile of the
shadow puppets can be seen due to the light projection. The figures therefore have
vivid and funny faces and costumes to express them in the performance (Keven,
2010). They have a big head and a small body for the same reason. In addition,
patterns in the clothes of the male puppets and female puppets are different. “The
dresses of female figures are usually adorned with patterns like flowers, grass,
clouds and phoenixes (See Fig 1) and patterns like dragons, tigers, water and
clouds are usually used on male figures (See Fig 2)” (Mercier, 2009). Those
contrasting patterns are intended to indicate sex of the figures. Furthermore, colors
and faces are used to signify good and evil of the characters. Different colors indicate
different characteristics; “a red mask represents uprightness, a black mask, fidelity,
and a white one, treachery” (Keven, 2010). Not only the color, but also faces
embody the personalities of the figures. Positive character has long narrow eyes, a
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tiny mouth and a straight bridge of nose. In contrast, negative character has small
eyes, projecting forehead and drooping mouth. Those various features are seen in
designs of Chinese shadow puppets.
Construction of Chinese Shadow Puppet
Figure 3: Master is carving the piece of leather (Life, 2005)
The process of constructing Chinese shadow puppets is complicated. Shadow
puppets are made of hides of animals, such as donkeys and oxen (Bryant & Heard,
2002). Thus, the first step in the construction of Chinese shadow puppets is to
remove the fur and blood from animal skin. Next step is to “apply chemical
treatments to the skin to make it thinner and semitransparent (Beijing Holiday,
2001), and then apply China wood oil. In third step, we cut the skin into separated
human body parts; the head, torso, knees or the upper arms (See Fig 3). Those parts
are joined together with silk threads, and become a human figure. Fourth step is to
color the puppet using paints. In fifth step, we attach stiff wire rods which enable
puppeteer to control puppets without being seen on the screen. By gluing one rod to
the neck of the puppet, “it can change the direction it is facing with just a flip of the
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control rod” (Fong & Kaplin, 2001). The other rods are sewn to hands, so that the
puppet can do a variety of energetic movements. Delicate Chinese shadow puppets
are manufactured from those elaborate process.
Presentation of Chinese Shadow Puppetry
Figure 4: Chinese shadow puppeteers are controlling the puppets behind the screen under the light projection (The British Museum, 2009)
Chinese shadow puppetry is performed as a rod top puppetry. Rod top
puppetry is a style of Theatre that is performed on tope of a table with rod puppets.
With this style, “it is easy to pack up and take down, as well as puppets that are
easy to store and transport” (School of Puppetry, 2009). Additionally, Chinese
shadow puppetry is presented by light projection through a blank screen. It
"requires a light source, to cast a shadow; a blank white screen, to catch the
shadow" (Fong & Kaplin, 2011). During the performance, light and puppets
are placed behind the screen (See Fig 4). Therefore, the audiences see the
silhouettes of shadow figures. In the modern shadow play, electric lights or an
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overhead projector is used to make the light brighter and steadier. These
devices provide more focused images of the puppets as well. Magical effects
of Chinese shadow puppetry are created by the works of light and screen.
Conclusion“Chinese shadow puppetry is an art form that combines theater, music,
handicrafts, telling and singing” (Mercier, 2009). Puppets, stage design and stories
highlight Chinese style, and give uniqueness to Chinese shadow puppetry. Those
distinctive elements of Chinese shadow puppetry have caught many people’s
attention. Nowadays, “with knowledge of the newest cutting edge technology,
puppet artists have given contemporary Chinese Shadow Theater a new vibrancy”
(Chinese Shadow Works, 2011). The play has advanced by using more delicate
puppets and modern devices in the light projection. As a result, Chinese shadow
puppetry is going to perform more brilliant play in near future.
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Bibliography
<1 Person>
1. Dong Ji Rong - " Shadow play exhibit in National Centre for Performing Arts."
Shadow play exhibit in National Centre for Performing Arts . N.p., n.d. Web.
23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.chinaculture.org/exchange/2009-
07/16/content_338133.htm>.
Dong Ji Rong is a net reporter who writes news in www.chinaculture.org. I never contacted
with him but his report gave a brief introduction about what is Chinese shadow puppetry.
<1 Book>
1. Bryant, Jill, Catherine Heard, and Laura Watson. Making Shadow Puppets. Toronto: Kids Can, 2002. Print.
This book gave information about the shadow puppetries in Asian Countries and how the
puppets were constructed. There were illustrations that help me understand the
construction process of shadow puppets.
<3 Companies>
1. Beijing Holiday - "Chinese Shadow Puppetry,Shadow Puppet Show in Beijing."Beijing Tours and Travel Service by Local Beijing Travel Agency. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://www.beijingholiday.com/culture/chinese-shadow-puppetry.html>.
The website of this company provided information about the history of Chinese shadow
puppetry and specific process of constructing shadow puppets step by step. In addition,
there were nice pictures of shadow puppets that help me learn the distinctive Chinese style.
2. School for Puppetry - "What Is Table-top Puppetry?" School of Puppetry. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://www.schoolofpuppetry.com.au/tutorials.php/what-is-table-top-puppetry>.
The website of this company had information about how the rod puppets were placed in the
table-top puppetry is performed, which Chinese shadow puppetry came from. Although
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there are only examples of other puppetry like Bunraku, I got ideas of how the shadow
puppetry is presented with rod puppets.
3. British Museum - "British Museum - Shadow Puppets Video." The British Museum
Welcome to the British Museum. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/national_tours/china_journey_t
o_the_east/teaching_resources/shadow_puppets_video.aspx>.
From this website, I could watch the performance of Chinese shadow play, and I learned
how the light and screen worked for the play.
<5 Internet-Sites>
1. "Chinese Craftsman Makes Leather Puppets For Chinese Shadow Play - Photo -
LIFE." LIFE - Your World in Pictures. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.life.com/image/53400095>.
This website had a photo of Chinese craftsman carving the shadow figure, and provided brief
explanation about what this man was doing.
2. "Chinese Shadow Puppetry | China Holidays Blog." China Tours,China
Hotels,Flights to China,Travel Insurance | BookChinaOnline. N.p., n.d. Web.
23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.bookchinaonline.com/blog/chinese-shadow-
puppetry-2/>.
From this website, I found lots of quotes that explain features of Chinese shadow puppet.
Those quotes were very thorough that included examples.
3. "Chinese Shadow Puppetry: the Oldest Motion Picture Storytelling | ChinaBlog.cc -
Timeless China Blog." ChinaBlog.cc | The Timeless China Blog. N.p., n.d. Web.
23 Mar. 2011. <http://chinablog.cc/2009/05/shadow-puppetry-the-oldest-
motion-picture-storytelling/>.
There were good details about how Chinese shadow puppetry was spread throughout the
world dating from 2000 years to present. I used this information to write a history section.
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4. "Chinese Theatre Works - Introduction to Shadow Puppetry." Chinese Theatre
Works. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.
<http://chinesetheatreworks.org/projects/shadowinfo.html#roots>.
This website gave specific information about how Chinese shadow puppetry is performed.
There were names of devices used in the play, so it was easy for me to understand the
presentation of Chinese shadow puppetry.
5. "Getty Images." Chinese Shadow Puppets. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/sb10065721q-001>.
From this website, I got images of Chinese shadow puppets. Those images were very good
because it was clear to see the patterns painted in the costumes.
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