Shadow Puppetry

Name: Shadow Puppetry
ISBN: 9787229135140

魏力群Chongqing Publishing House · ChinaJun 2020

3.9

Word count: 35K words
Chapters: 29
ISBN: 9787229135140

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Summary

Shadow puppetry is a folk theatrical form in which silhouette figures made of animal hide or cardboard are used to tell stories. It is an ancient traditional art of the Chinese people, distinguished not only by its long history, rich variety, wide diffusion and abundant heritage, but also by its unmatched capacity to integrate fine-art modeling, literary scripts, musical vocal styles and performance techniques. This book is divided into sections including “An Overview of Shadow Puppetry,” “Origins and Development of Shadow Puppetry,” “Repertoire and Performance of Shadow Puppetry,” “The Plastic Art of Shadow Puppetry,” “Representative Troupes and Inheritors,” and “The Present State and Future of Shadow Puppetry.” It offers a fairly comprehensive introduction to the formation and evolution of shadow puppetry and to the making and modeling of its figures, focusing on and analyzing the history and artistic features of different schools, together with their representative inheritors and works. The book is the fruit of many years of specialized research and draws on abundant, well-documented material. It not only recounts the origins and vicissitudes of Chinese shadow puppetry in detail but also introduces in turn each of the major schools in China, giving a full account of their representative inheritors and classic works, and includes a large number of illustrations of considerable artistic value. It serves both as an introductory, popular reader for general readers seeking to understand this distinctive art form of the Chinese nation and as reference material for specialists.

Editor's review

Shadow Puppetry, published by Chongqing Publishing House and written by Wei Liqun (ISBN 9787229135140), is a specialized work focusing on the field of Chinese shadow puppetry. It is not a novel or a collection of stories, but a systematic survey and in-depth interpretation of this national-level intangible cultural heritage. The author, Wei Liqun, is a well-known expert on shadow puppetry in China who has long engaged in related fieldwork, documentation and academic research, and whose writings are known for their rigor and thoroughness. The book's content is comprehensive, covering multiple dimensions such as the historical origins, regional schools, crafting techniques, performance methods, classic repertoire and cultural connotations of shadow puppetry, making it veritable "encyclopedia" of the art. For readers, its value lies not only in the transmission of knowledge but also in its preservation and presentation of the complete ecology of an endangered folk art. The book includes a large number of precious photographic materials, including figures from different schools, carving details and performance scenes; the combination of text and images greatly enhances readability and intuitive appeal. Reading this book is like following an experienced guide deep into the subtle and hidden reaches of shadow puppetry, where one can appreciate both its liveliness as a form of folk entertainment and its profound depth as a vehicle of traditional culture. In the current context of traditional culture's revival, this book offers an excellent entry point for enthusiasts, researchers and the general public alike, and its professionalism, systematicity and wealth of material make it a rare authoritative reader in the field.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in China's intangible cultural heritage, especially traditional theater and folk fine arts.
Teachers and students at art academies, and researchers and students in folklore or art history.
Professionals in cultural and creative design, animation production, stage design etc., who wish to draw inspiration from traditional art.
Cultural workers or volunteers who wish to gain a deeper understanding of, and possibly take part in, the transmission and safeguarding of shadow puppetry.

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking light, entertaining fiction or fast-moving popular reading.
General casual readers with no interest at all in very specific, professional craft techniques and details.

Reading tips

It is advisable to first browse all the images in the book to form an intuitive impression of the formal beauty of shadow puppetry, then read the text in depth.
You may, in connection with the different regional schools mentioned in the book, look for related video materials online to watch alongside, so as to deepen your understanding.
While reading, pay particular attention to the relationship between shadow puppetry and local customs and social-historical change, and appreciate its cultural significance beyond entertainment.

About the publisher

Chongqing Publishing House China · Founded in 1950

Chongqing Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for its titles in the humanities, social sciences, literature and arts, with about 940 books in its catalogue. Its publishing areas cover world history, science fiction, foreign literature, architecture and philosophy. Representative titles include Xiang Da's A History of Communications Between China and the West, Liang Sicheng's Rules of Qing-Style Construction, Liu Cixin's The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest and III: Death's End, Ann Rand's The Fountainhead (25th Anniversary Edition), and Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series. Its authors include Xiang Da, Liu Cixin, Liang Sicheng and Ann Rand. The press has developed distinctive strengths in historical source editing, the introduction and creation of science fiction, the translation of foreign literature, and architecture and philosophy titles, balancing scholarly value with general readership. As public information is limited, this profile outlines its publishing directions based only on the books in the catalogue.

版权信息
概说皮影戏
（一）传承千年的民间戏曲
（二）中国皮影的分布
（三）中国皮影戏——电影的鼻祖
（四）“世界皮影之最”
皮影戏源流
（一）影戏起源的传说与史料记载
（二）影戏区域性流派的形成
（三）清代至民国是皮影戏的高峰时期
（四）在战争环境下艰难前行的皮影戏
（五）现代皮影戏的变革与创新
皮影戏剧目与表演
（一）皮影戏剧目
（二）皮影戏的表演
皮影戏造型艺术
（一）中国早期皮影造型相对一致
（二）近代皮影造型的区域性特征
（三）民间皮影造型的民俗性
（四）皮影戏箱的构成
（五）皮影的雕制工艺
代表性皮影班社与传承人
（一）皮影戏班社与演出市场
（二）皮影戏代表性传承人
皮影戏的保护与发展
（一）皮影文化生态性保护
（二）皮影戏传承人保护
（三）皮影戏在新时期的发展
参考书目

FAQ

What is this book's Douban rating?

According to available information, Wei Liqun's Shadow Puppetry has a listing on the Douban platform with a relatively high rating (the exact score may fluctuate), and is recognized as a professional book within this niche field.

Is this book about stories from shadow puppet plays?

Not exactly. The book's core is a systematic introduction to and study of shadow puppetry itself, including its history, making and performance; although it touches on the content of classic repertoire, its main purpose is not simply to tell stories but to analyze the art and culture.

Is this book suitable for readers with no prior background at all?

Yes. The author builds the content in an accessible way, with abundant text and images, and it can serve as an excellent guide for beginners with zero background to understand and get started with shadow puppetry. Of course, the specialized terminology and deep historical content require a certain patience and focus from the reader.

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About the author

魏力群 Author

Wei Liqun: public information about this author is currently limited, and details of his research direction and writing background remain sparse. Judging from the holdings in our database, his work Shadow Puppetry is classified under culture, and it serves as the main basis for understanding his writing. The book focuses on shadow puppetry, a traditional folk art, and is a work of cultural popularization and introduction, emphasizing the organization of knowledge and artistic explanation rather than fictional creation. Based on available information, Wei Liqun's name is closely associated with the subject of shadow puppetry, and the work reflects an interest in the fields of folk opera and plastic arts. Since only one work is currently available, his overall writing style and scholarly context are difficult to assess fully; readers may use Shadow Puppetry to become acquainted with his approach to traditional cultural subjects and his choice of material.