"It takes more than 10 years for a green hand to become a shadow puppetry performer," Jing Tingxiao said.
#History of chinese shadow puppetry series#
However, with films and television series gradually becoming major sources of entertainment in the late 1980s, the art's popularity waned and many performers moved on to other jobs.īut Jing Tingxiao and Jing Tingyou stuck with the art form. Jing Tingxiao, in particular, has ventured onto stages in Germany and the Netherlands, introducing the captivating allure of Chinese traditional art to audiences abroad.įor years, shadow plays were welcomed by audiences of all ages in rural China, and were staged for every major occasion. The two masters have dedicated most part of their life to shadow puppetry. "The sight of numerous enamored fans revitalized me, erasing any trace of tiredness I had." "When I was young, I always performed more than seven hours a day," said the elder brother. Performers often walked a donkey carrying the shadow puppet props, wandering about the streets for performance day in and day out.
"I have learned more than 100 shadow plays from a demanding teacher, who required us to be proficient in various skills from performing to singing," recalled Jing Tingxiao, who is now the head of the troupe.ĭuring its heyday in the 1960s, Daoqing shadow puppetry attracted lots of enthusiasts. The Jing brothers have witnessed the ebb and flow of this traditional art form. It is one of the most prestigious shadow puppet troupes in Huanxian. The Jing family troupe, to which Jing Tingyou and Jing Tingxiao belonged, was established in 1903. The art of Daoqing shadow plays was included in the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006.Ĭurrently, Huanxian County is home to more than 40 shadow puppet troupes, over 300 performers and more than 60 sculptors, according to Wu Cunjun, a staff member of the county's intangible cultural heritage protection center. They hail from Huanxian, the birthplace of Daoqing shadow plays, an important branch of Chinese shadow puppetry.Ĭhinese shadow play is an art form integrating performance, singing, art, sculpture and music. On the left side of the puppetry master sits his younger brother Jing Tingxiao, 73, who accompanies him on a four-stringed instrument.
He sets up his stage within a cave house, a type of earth shelter dwelling, located in Huanxian County of landlocked Gansu Province. Having dedicated over six decades to the art of shadow puppetry, Jing has become a seasoned expert in his field. Jing, a skilled shadow puppet master, takes center stage behind a white curtain, skillfully maneuvering shadow puppets with synchronized movements to enchanting melodies, bringing historical tales and folklore to life through his virtuoso performances. LANZHOU, June 14 (Xinhua) - As darkness descends upon Chenqiyuan Village in northwest China, the spotlight shines on Jing Tingyou, 83, as his nightly spectacle commences. Jing Tingyou showcases his collection of shadow puppets in Chenqiyuan Village of Qingyang City, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 15, 2023.
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