Shadow Puppet
ca.1900
Place of origin |
Chinese shadow puppetry is said to be over 2000 years old. Its Chinese name 'pi ying' means 'shadow of hides' since the puppets were traditionally made from the donkey or ox hide. Shadow puppetry has been immensely popular in China, but due to its universal appeal was forbidden in China between 1796 to 1800, for fear of spreading peasant uprising.
A Chinese shadow puppet troupe is made up of five people. One operates the puppets, one plays a suo-na horn, and a yu-kin, one plays banhu fiddle, one is in charge of percussion instruments, and one sings.
A Chinese shadow puppet troupe is made up of five people. One operates the puppets, one plays a suo-na horn, and a yu-kin, one plays banhu fiddle, one is in charge of percussion instruments, and one sings.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Pierced and painted hide with twine |
Brief description | Chinese shadow puppet, pierced and painted hide, of an elegant lady. Probably from Sichuan, early 20th century. |
Physical description | Shadow puppet made of pierced hide, painted with floral decoration in black and red. Representing an aristocratic Chinese lady wearing earrings; a head-dress with flowing pig-tail decorations attached; a jacket with flared sleeves and trousers, pierced but not painted with floral decoration below the knee, and tiny high-heeled shoes. The puppet comprises 13 separate pieces, joined with twine at neck, elbows, wrists, waist and hips to make moveable joints. |
Dimensions |
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Production type | Unique |
Gallery label | The puppet masters
It takes lots of people working together to stage Chinese puppet shows.
One person to move the puppets, three to play music and one to sing.
[Young V&A, Imagine Gallery short object label] (2023) |
Credit line | Given by Countess Patricia Jellicoe |
Object history | This figure would originally have had rods attached to the hands and to the neck, for manipulation in shadow puppet plays by operators who were concealed below white screens, lit from behind. The plays were accompanied by a sung story, with percussion and string music. |
Historical context | Chinese shadow puppetry probably began during the Tang dynasty (618-907), although other sources credit its origins to the later Song Dynasty (960-1297) It flourished as an art form in China, enjoyed by all classes, though to the early years of the 20th century. Although it survived in many regions during the 20th century, there have been recent efforts to revive its popularity, with troupes performing at home and abroad in international puppet festivals. |
Summary | Chinese shadow puppetry is said to be over 2000 years old. Its Chinese name 'pi ying' means 'shadow of hides' since the puppets were traditionally made from the donkey or ox hide. Shadow puppetry has been immensely popular in China, but due to its universal appeal was forbidden in China between 1796 to 1800, for fear of spreading peasant uprising. A Chinese shadow puppet troupe is made up of five people. One operates the puppets, one plays a suo-na horn, and a yu-kin, one plays banhu fiddle, one is in charge of percussion instruments, and one sings. |
Associated objects |
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Collection | |
Accession number | S.606-2001 |
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Record created | September 20, 2001 |
Record URL |
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