Inheritor casting light on shadow play

Zhang Xiangdong practices shadow puppetry movements at home in Changli county in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province. CHINA DAILY

Zhang Xiangdong aims to pass on popular puppetry art form to future generations

Holding a rod to control the movements of the horse puppet's head, Zhang Xiangdong teaches two students how to perform a shadow play. Two girls are holding five rods, which are used to control the movements of the puppet's tail and hoofs. Working together from behind a cloth screen, they make it appear to those watching like a horse is running across the screen.

The 76-year-old shadow puppeteer from Changli county in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, has been performing shadow plays for over six decades. As a form of traditional theater, Chinese shadow puppetry involves manipulating colorful silhouette figures made from leather or paper behind a translucent cloth screen, to the accompaniment of music and singing. Controlled by puppeteers holding rods, the figures make moving images on the screen, which is illuminated from behind.

In 2011, Chinese shadow puppetry was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. "While enjoying the show, audiences are able to learn about puppetry and cultural values," Zhang said. As a representative inheritor of Changli-style shadow puppetry, which is a national intangible cultural heritage, Zhang is not only skilled in the art, but also knows how to dub background opera music and play musical instruments. He is also skilled at carving the puppets. "My shows are usually presented for entertainment, as part of religious rituals and for special occasions such as rural weddings and funerals," he said.

Zhang delicately carves out a puppet at home. CHINA DAILY

Zhang owes his bond with the art to his family, which has been involved with shadow plays for several generations.

His father was a famous local shadow puppeteer. "The vivid characters and wonderful plots of shadow plays planted a seed in my heart when I was a child," he said.

In 1960, Zhang joined a shadow play troupe in Hebei's Tangshan city, officially starting his career at the age of 13. He quickly mastered the necessary skills by virtue of his assiduity and talent.

"In less than two years, I could perform a number of traditional plays on stage," Zhang said. As he continued to perform, he developed a profound understanding of the art and became increasingly proficient.

He always strives to give audiences an excellent performance. "It should never be treated carelessly. Every play should be taken seriously," he said, adding that he sometimes practices a movement or a tune hundreds of times. After working with shadow play troupes for over 40 years, Zhang set up his own troupe in 2001, calling it the Changli Xiangdong Shadow Play Troupe.

While maintaining traditional styles, he has added fresh elements to his plays. "We must ensure that everyone enjoys the most authentic shadow play," he said.

Zhang's singing and skill have made the troupe increasingly popular, and they have toured the country and even performed abroad in countries including Italy and Switzerland.

Shadow puppetry is believed to have originated during the rule of Han Dynasty (206 BC-220) emperor Han Wudi (141-87 BC)

"When we take shadow plays abroad and people around the world are able to experience the charm of our culture, we are very proud," he said. "My main task now is to pass on the art and my skills to younger generations."

In 2017, Zhang was invited to teach at colleges in Beijing, and in 2019, he wrote a children's book titled Shadow Play in China.

In recent years, he has begun giving lessons at schools in Qinhuangdao, explaining shadow puppetry to students.

"I am very happy that more and more students are starting to like shadow puppetry and are mastering some of the movements," he said, adding that he hopes his efforts will help plant the seed of shadow play in the hearts of today's children.