There is no exact textual research on the formation time of shadow play, but according to Meng Yuan's Dream of Tokyo in the Southern Song Dynasty, it was mature and popular in the Song Dynasty at the latest, and there were nine shadow play artists such as Dong Shiwu, Cao, etc. in the Wafangdian in the capital of Tokyo. There is a "Shadow Play Map" in the murals of the Manjusri Hall of Yanshan Temple in Fan Shi, Shanxi Province, which vividly shows the live performance of shadow play in Shanxi at that time. After the development of Song, Jin, Yuan and Ming Dynasties, shadow play, which was popular all over the country, showed a prosperous situation in Qing Dynasty.
Although there are many kinds of shadow play, the difference is mainly in the voice and repertoire, but the production and performance techniques of shadow play actors are similar. Shadow people usually scrape the hair and blood from cowhide, donkey skin and sheepskin, process them into translucent shapes, and then carve them into colors. Their carving and painting techniques pay attention to exquisite knife work and realistic modeling. Shadow people are generally divided into several parts, such as body, limbs and so on. They are all silhouettes, wearing helmets on their heads and costumes on their limbs. After painting, bake and flatten with refractory bricks. During the performance, the filmmaker's head is inserted into his body, and his body is connected with his limbs. At the same time, three bamboo strings are installed on the body and hands to operate the performance. In addition to character modeling, some end props, tables and chairs, and scenery modeling should be carved to match the performance.
Poems about shadow play are:
(1). Princess Han is playing at the window with her child in her arms, skillfully cutting tung leaves and shining them on the window screen.
(2) Emperor Wen ruled the country and made music popular in people's homes.
(3) Make fun of the decoration and be realistic.
Surrounded by Shanshan, I saw Li Furen alive in front of my account.
(5). Throughout the ages, he has done everything he can, waving millions of soldiers with both hands.
(6). Three feet of raw silk is the stage, and all fingers are humorous.
(7). Sometimes under the bright moon light window, the smile can still be grasped.