Characteristics of Xiaoyi Shadow Play

Xiaoyi shadow play is an important branch of Chinese shadow play, named after its popularity in Xiaoyi, Shanxi, and it is the earliest shadow play in Shanxi. Xiaoyi shadow play originated from the sculpture and painting of shadow play art and experienced a long evolution and development. It has a unique local style and strong local flavor. It is simple, beautiful and colorful, and it is an artistic flower hidden in Shanxi folk culture.

Before the Ming Dynasty, the inner shadow of Xiaoyi's skin was carved with sheepskin, with a height of 58 cm to 60 cm, commonly known as "two-foot shadow". By the Qing Dynasty, the height of shadow play was reduced to 42 cm to 48 cm, commonly known as "five-foot shadow play", and 3-year-old cowhide was usually used as the first-class material for carving. Xiaoyi shadow play is rough, concise and exaggerated, with rich lines and great charm.

Xiaoyi shadow play takes hemp paper window as the screen, and because there is sesame oil lamp hanging behind the paper window, it is also called "lamp shadow" and "paper window". The general paper window area is about 2. 1 m2. Paper window stickers have five strict procedures: cutting paper, deburring, proportioning, pasting and leveling, and the window is smooth and wrinkle-free, and white and flawless.