3.1.Shadow play in northern China在线视频

Episode: Shadow Show in the North

In the previous study,

we have already comprehended the overall design characteristics of the shadow show.

Today, we are going to introduce the northern shadow show which has a long history

and appreciate its performance style with characteristics of northern China.

The traditional north shadow show manipulating skills,

including the acrobatic fighting,

horse grabbing, splitting, combing and costumes exchanging, etc of shadow puppets,

have high difficulty.

Sometimes,

the two hands of one manipulating actor have to manipulate several shadow puppets for turning

and jumping actions at the same time.

Southern Liaoning shadow show,

western Liaoning shadow show,

Jilin shadow show,

Heilongjiang shadow show in the northeast areas belong to the same category

with eastern Hebei shadow show in Guanli(Luanzhou shadow show and Leting shadow show).

These areas are significantly affected by eastern Hebei shadow show,

and many shadow models are from there.

With the development and change of the times,

the shapes of shadow puppets in various parts of the northeast gradually formed their own styles,

but the overall shape of the shadow puppets is still very similar to that of the eastern Hebei shadow puppets.

Southern Liaoning shadow show

Southern Liaoning shadow show is also known as “Gaizhou shadow show”.

It was originated from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.

It is characterized by the rich local features,

unique formative technologies as well as the Liaoning folk vocal music,

music, shadow scroll and lyrics.

There are shadow windows and oil lamps set in the performance,

with the folk four-string instrument as the main playing instrument.

Actors manipulate the puppets and sing songs at the back of the curtain,

thus performing the historical legends and newly edited stories with local accents and argots.

“The puppets have special designs.

All characters have especially big eyes.

Audiences can distinguish kindness and evilness from their facial expressions.

The lyrics range from three words, seven words to ten words.”

Next, let’s enjoy the southern Liaoning traditional shadow show Predestined Love in the Battlefield performed

by Southern Liaoning Gaizhou Shadow Show Art Troupe.

Shadow show Predestined Love in the Battlefield

General story:

In order to resist the invasion of the Liao Kingdom,

Yang Zongbao was ordered by his father to go to Mukozhai to ask for “Xianglongmu”

to break the Tianmen Formation organized by the enemy.

His entourage, Meng Liang, spoke outrageously and warned Mu Guiying that he would set the cottage on fire if she did not donate Xianglongmu.

Mu Guiying was very angry on hearing that and she wanted to give hum a lesson,

so the two sides fought in the cottage.

After a few rounds,

Meng Liang was beaten by Mu Guiying and lost his armor.

On seeing this, Yang Zongbao immediately marched forward,

but was captured alive by Mu Guiying and taken back into the cottage.

Because she fell in love with Yang Zongbao at first sight,

Mu Guiying set a trap to wisely capture Yang Zongbao,

and then brought him back to the cottage to force marriage.

Yang Zongbao would rather die and disagree.

Subsequently,

the two worked together to break the Tianmen Formation and defeat the invasion of the Liao Kingdom.

In the end, the two finally became a couple happily.

Beijing shadow show

In the mid-Ming Dynasty,

shadow show was introduced to Zhuozhou, Hebei,

the rural areas of western Beijing and northern suburbs,

and then into the city.

During the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty,

shadow show was divided into eastern and western schools,

in which, eastern school refers to Luanzhou show,

and western school is exactly Zhuozhou shadow.

Luanzhou shadow show entered Beijing.

Because of its novel singing and lively performance,

it was welcomed by the audience in Beijing.

Because it came from the east and settled in the east Sipai Building areas,

it was called the eastern school.

The son of the shadow show actor of the eastern school-Lu Decheng inherited the business of his father

and performed in the west city of Beijing,

thus gradually forming the Beijing west road shadow show represented by the “Lu family”.

The shadow show of the western school is affected by the Beijing opera

and it attracts the essence of the eastern school,

so as to break through the scope of propagandizing Buddhist doctrine,

edit some fairy story shows,

enrich and develop the performance contents and art formats.

Beijing shadow show inherits the characteristics of the western shadow show art.

It is good at performing the myths,

martial arts and fable shows.

It has dozens of lasting repertoires,

which are always famous for the euphemistic vocal music and delicate performance.

Now, let’s enjoy the traditional Beijing shadow show Madam

White Snake-Husband Seeking performed by Beijing Longzaitian Shadow Show Group.

Shadow show Madam White Snake-Husband Seeking

General story:

According to ancient Chinese folklore,

the White Snake Lady and Xu Xian married after falling in love at first sight.

Monk Fahai saw Xu Xian with a devilish face,

so he hid Xu Xian in Jinshan Temple.

Lady White Snake led green snake to seek for her husband,

but Fahai refused to return Xu Xian to her.

The White Snake Lady was helpless,

so she had no choice but to fight Fahai.

She used the magic powers to flood Jinshan Temple with the green snake.

The White Snake Lady asked the Dragon Kings,

as well as shrimp solders and crab generals to do a favor.

Fahai moved divine troops to fight against the White Snake Lady and they finally pressed the White Snake Lady under Leifeng Pagoda.