成人快手

What is shadow puppetry?

A Chinese shadow puppet show.

Shadow puppetry ( pí yǐng xì) is a theatre art using silhouetted puppets for storytelling. Puppet shows often feature music ( yīn yuè) and singing ( chàng gē).

The puppets are made from leather or paper and can have as many as twenty four ( èr shí sì) moving joints. They are used for entertainment at traditional Chinese weddings and other special occasions.

A Chinese shadow puppet show.

Materials

Card, safety scissors, pens, pencils, box, glue, tape, greaseproof paper, sticks, torch.

You will need:

  • an A4 sheet of thin card ( kǎ piàn)
  • a pair of safety scissors ( jiǎn dāo)
  • coloured pens ( shuǐ cǎi bǐ) or pencils ( qiān bǐ)
  • a cardboard box
  • glue ( jiāo shuǐ) or tape ( jiāo dài)
  • a sheet of white tissue paper or greaseproof paper
  • several sticks - lollipop sticks will work well
  • a torch ( shǒu diàn tǒng)

Instructions:

  1. Print out ( dǎ yìn) the template onto an A4 sheet of thin card.

  2. Carefully cut out the puppet figures along the dotted lines.

  3. Colour in the puppets and attach each to a stick using tape or glue.

  4. Carefully cut a large hole in the front of the box. Tape the white tissue paper or greaseproof paper behind the hole.

  5. You can then decorate ( zhuāng shì) your stage ( wǔ tái).

  6. Put the torch behind the paper and direct your own shadow puppet production.

If you don't have a printer, why not try drawing your own puppet figures?

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 6, Print out the template., Step 1

Click below to download the instructions and template

Make your own... Chinese shadow puppet show!

Key Mandarin words

MandarinPinyinEnglish
chàng gēsinging
pí yǐng xìshadow puppetry
shǒu diàn tǒngtorch
wǔ táistage
yīn yuèmusic