- Shadow puppetry originated in China over 2000 years ago when a minister created paper puppets of the emperor's deceased concubine to cheer him up. - Shadow puppets were traditionally made of paper or animal hides and illuminated from behind a screen to perform stories from Chinese mythology and history. - A traditional Chinese shadow puppet performance involves figures attached to sticks that are held up to a backlit screen, allowing the puppets' shadows to be seen without revealing the puppeteers themselves. The puppets can be manipulated to walk, dance, and act out stories.

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http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/focus/shadow-puppetry.htmquot;
www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/focus/shadow-puppetry.htm<br />quot;
Chinese Shadow Puppetry, Shadow Puppet Show, Piying, Folk Performance.quot;
China Travel Agency,China Tours,Beijing Tour Packages,24/7 Service. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/focus/shadow-puppetry.htm>.<br />Websitehttp://easybib.com/cite/tags/docid/CLD2_8e188dec-5596-45b3-9fa3-3f6c2280c4c4<br />-More than 2000 years ago, a favorite concubine of Wu Emperor of the Han Dynasty died of illness; the emperor missed her so much that he lost his desire to reign.<br />-One day, a minister happened to see children playing with dolls where the shadows on the floor were clear images. Inspired by this scene, the smart minister stumbled upon an idea<br />-He made a cotton puppet of the concubine and painted it. As night fell, he invited the emperor to watch the puppet show behind a curtain. The emperor was delighted and took to it from then on. <br />-Shadow puppets were first made of paper sculpture, later from the hides of donkeys or oxen. That's why the Chinese name for shadow puppet is pi ying, which means shadows of hides. Shadow puppetry was very popular during the Tang and Song Dynasties.<br />http://www.ehow.com/about_5112113_history-shadow-puppets.html<br />Swenson,, By Paula. quot;
History of Shadow Puppets | EHow.com.quot;
EHow | How To Do Just About Everything! | How To Videos & Articles. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.ehow.com/about_5112113_history-shadow-puppets.html>.<br />-A shadow puppet is a cut-out figure held between a source of light and a see through screen. Translucent color is sometimes introduced into the cut-out shapes to provide a different look and different effects can be achieved by moving both the puppet and the light source. A talented puppeteer can make the figures walk, dance, fight, nod and laugh.<br />http://www.ehow.com/how_2182593_chinese-shadow-puppet-theater.html<br />NinaH,, By. quot;
How to Make a Chinese Shadow Puppet Theater | EHow.com.quot;
EHow | How To Do Just About Everything! | How To Videos & Articles. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.ehow.com/how_2182593_chinese-shadow-puppet-theater.html>.<br />-Shadow puppets are a traditional Chinese art form. The stage is a large white sheet with a very bright light pointed behind it. <br />-The puppets and puppeteers stand behind the sheet and hold the puppets up to the back of the sheet with a stick. The bright light projects the puppets' shadows onto the sheet without revealing the puppeteers. <br />- Draw your puppet shapes on poster board, and cut them out. If you want the arms and legs to move, make them separate pieces and fasten the joints with paper fasteners. Consider making a dragon puppet, as well as people. If you would like to see genuine Chinese puppets, try the links in Resources.<br /> 2<br />Color the puppets with markers. The color will show through the sheet somewhat. (The brighter the light the more they will show through). If you do not want color to show through at all, use large pieces of black construction paper instead of poster board.<br /> 3<br />Separate the Velcro. Cut small pieces of the fuzzy side--a 1/2 inch square is large enough--and put these at various places on the backs of the puppets (such as on the head, the torso, the knees, the upper arms).<br /> 4<br />Cut pieces from the scratchy side of the Velcro, about 1/2-by-2 inches. Fold these over the ends of the dowel rods,pressing tightly. These will be the rods you use to manipulate the puppets.<br /> 5<br />Hang the white sheet. You might want to put up a clothes line of sorts, or use a lightweight piece of lumber resting on two supports. Just make sure it is sturdy enough to last through the puppet performance! You might also want to anchor the sheet a bit at the bottom.<br /> 6<br />Put the bright light behind the sheet. The light does not need to be right behind the sheet. It can be behind the puppeteers.<br /> 7<br />Stick the Velcro ends of several dowel rods onto various points on the back of puppet. For beginning puppeteers, use only 2 dowel rods per puppet. More experience puppeteers may be able to hand 4 dowel rods, 2 in each hand.<br /> 8<br />Hold the puppets right up to the back of the sheet and use the rods to control the puppets' movements.<br />