Zhouzhi Shadow Play

Shaanxi
🎧  Listen to Introduction

"Zhouzhi Shadow Play" is a folk art of Xihuanle Village, Guangji Town, Zhouzhi County. Xihuanle Village, Guangji Town, Zhouzhi County, is 7 kilometers away from Zhouzhi County. It is adjacent to Mazhao Town in the east, Luoyu Township in the south, Cuifeng Township in the west, and Situn Township and Houjiacun Township in the north. Xihuanle Village, Guangji Town, has a very profound cultural heritage and rich and colorful folk art. In particular, the traditional folk drama Zhouzhi Shadow Play occupies an important position in Zhouzhi folk art. "Zhouzhi Shadow Play" has a history of nearly 100 years. After the processed cowhide is carved, it is carved into various drama characters, flowers, birds, fish, insects, birds and beasts with special knives, and then painted with various colors. A small bamboo stick that can be manipulated by hand is installed on the neck of the character. When performing, a piece of white cloth is used as a screen in front of the stage (similar to a movie screen). The operator (signing hand) sits behind the screen and sticks the shadow play to the screen. The screen is illuminated by a lamp, and the operator can start the performance. The viewer sits in front of the curtain and can appreciate the shadow play at a glance. The shadow puppet show is made up of 46 people, and the locals call it "four busy people". Each person behind the scenes operates three to five musical instruments, which is dazzling, but orderly. The most important thing in this shadow puppet show is that the "front voice" of Sheng, Dan, Jing, Chou, and Mo is sung by him alone, and he also beats the drum while singing, as if he is the conductor of the band. Then there is the "signer" who is responsible for operating the shadow puppets and performing various actions. Millions of troops are all danced by him with his hands, hundreds of war horses are galloping with his hands, beheading generals and making marquises, appearing and disappearing, flirting, and the crowing of chickens and dogs depends on the acting level of the "signer". The people sitting in the backstage are called "sitting in the trough" or "playing the backstage". They are responsible for playing gongs, cymbals, bangzi and other instruments. In addition, there is the "upper gear" who is responsible for playing the erxian, piano, and suona, and the "lower gear" mainly plays the banhu and trombone to cooperate with the "signer". "Zhouzhi Shadow Play" is a traditional folk drama with unique characteristics in Zhouzhi area. In recent years, it has been active in Guanzhong area and has attracted the attention of people from all walks of life. In 2007, Japanese professors and Waseda visited it twice and gave it high praise. It was reported by many media and some works were brought back to Japan for collection. At present, excavating, rescuing and protecting this project has a certain role in promoting folk art in Zhouzhi area. "Zhouzhi Shadow Play" is in an endangered state, and excavation, rescue and protection work cannot be delayed.

Intangible culture related to the heritage

China tourist attractions related to the heritage