Chinese
Mainland China
Shadow puppetry originated during the Han Dynasty when one of the concubines of Emperor Wu of Han died. The emperor was devastated, and he summoned his court officers to bring his beloved back to life. The officers made a shape of the concubine using donkey leather. Her joints were animated using 11 separate pieces of the leather, and adorned with painted clothes. Using an oil lamp they made her shadow move, bringing her back to life. Shadow theatre became quite popular as early as the Song Dynasty when holidays were marked by the presentation of many shadow plays. During the Ming Dynasty there were 40 to 50 shadow show troupes in the city of Beijing alone. In the 13th century, the shadow show became a regular recreation in the barracks of the Mongolian troops. It was spread by the conquering Mongols to distant countries like Persia, Arabia, and Turkey. Later, it was introduced to other Southeastern Asian countries. The earliest shadow theatre screens were made of . The storytellers generally used the art to tell events between various war kingdoms or stories of Buddhist sources
Indonesia and Malaysia
In Indonesia , and Malaysia , shadow puppet plays are known as ''wayang kulit''. In and , ''Wayang'' means shadow or imagination, while ''Kulit'' means skin and refers to the leather that puppets are made from. Stories presented are usually & morality tales. There is an educational moral to the plays which usually portray a battle between good and evil, with good always winning and evil running away . The Indonesian shadow plays are sometimes considered one of the earliest examples of animation.
The puppets are made primarily of leather and manipulated with sticks or horn handles. Shadows are cast using an oil lamp or, in modern times, a halogen light, onto a cotton cloth background. They are often associated with gamelan drum music . Shadow plays are very popular even today. They are performed during sacred temple ceremonies, at private functions, and for the public in the villages. A performance can last all night long, sometimes up to six hours or until dawn.
UNESCO designated Wayang Kulit as a ''Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity'' on November 7 2003.
Thailand
Shadow theatre in Thailand is called ''''; in the south there is a tradition called ''Nang Ta Lung''. Nang Yai puppets are normally made of cowhide and rattan. Performances are normally accompanied by a combination of songs and chants. Performances in Thailand were temporarily suspended in 1960 due to a fire at the national theatre. Nang drama has influenced modern , including filmmakers like Cherd Songsri and Payut Ngaokrachang.
The Ottoman Shadow Play and its Turkish and Greek descendants
The tradition of shadow play called Karag& was widespread throughout the Ottoman Empire and featured characters representing all of the major ethnic and social groups in that culture. It was performed by a single puppet master, who voiced all of the characters, and accompanied by a classical Ottoman music ensemble. Its origins are obscure, deriving perhaps from an older Egyptian tradition, or possibly from an Asian source.
During the 19th century these characters were adapted to the Greek language and culture, ''Karag&'' and ''Hacivat'' becoming Karagiozis and Hadjiavatis with each of the characters assuming stereotypically Greek personalities. This tradition thrived throughout Greece after independence as popular entertainment for a largely adult audience, particularly before competition arose from television. The stories did, however, retain the period setting in the late years of the Ottoman Empire. Karagiozis theatre has undergone some revival in recent years, with the intended audience tends largely juvenile.
Shadow puppetry today
In the 1910s the animator Lotte Reiniger pioneered silhouette animation as a format, whereby shadow play-like puppets are filmed . This technique has been kept alive by subsequent animators and is still practised today, though and computer animation has also been used to imitate the look of shadow play and silhouette animation.
Shadow theatre itself is still popular in many parts of Asia. Prahlad Acharya is one famous Indian magician who incorporates it into his performances.
It also appears occasionally in popular culture, for example in:
*The children's television show ''Bear in the Big Blue House''
*The staging of 's '''' tour
*The film Once Upon a Time in America, where it is occasionally seen in the Opium house.
*The short film ''Humdrum''
*The horror film ''''
Season 7 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
*The entertainer Bablu Mallick, who used used shadow play in his act during 1980's TV appearances, including on Paul Daniels Magic Show.
Australia
OAM is a famous Australian shadow puppeteer. His character ''Super Kangaroo'' is just one in his varied repertoire. The skill of Bradshaw has been featured in television programs made by Jim Henson.
Gallery
Further reading
* Copeland, Jonathan in consultation with Ni Wayan Murni ''"Secrets of Bali, Fresh Light on the Morning of the World"''. Gateway Books International
* Currell, David, ''An Introduction to Puppets and Puppetmaking'', New Burlington Books, ISBN 1-85348-389-3
* Logan, David, ''Puppetry'', Brisbane Dramatic Arts Company ISBN 9780980456301
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