What are the characteristics of Tangshan shadow play?

Tangshan Shadow Play, also known as Luanzhou Shadow Play and Laoting Shadow Play, is one of the most influential types of shadow play in China. Because its shadow figures and props are made of cows and donkey skins, it is also called donkey shadow play. It is generally believed that it was founded in the late Ming Dynasty and prevailed in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China.

Shadow play in Tangshan is mainly based on historical stories, myths and legends, and fables. Most of the themes come from historical masterpieces, and the themes are positive. Some show heroes who defend their country, some show chivalrous men who punish evil and promote good, and some show brave men who resist oppression, praising truth, goodness and beauty and lashing false, evil and ugly.

The singing of Tangshan shadow play is banqiang, and the lyrics are mostly 7 sentences or 10 sentences. The main plates are: big board, second board, second board, tight board, allegro and so on. Accompaniment music is mainly ukulele, erhu, dulcimer, Ruan, suona and so on. , showing the different emotions of the stage and various drama characters.

The singing of Tangshan shadow play evolved from a pure rap form. The main accompaniment instrument used to be a small three-stringed instrument, but it was gradually replaced by a four-stringed instrument.