Who invented Shadow Puppets?

Answer 1

A History of Shadow Theatre

Shadow puppet theater is the oldest form of motion picture storytelling. While the modern form of motion pictures, such as film, are about a hundred years old, and television was first invented only about sixty years ago, the roots of shadow puppetry go back thousands of years into pre-history. It even predates written language. We can imagine Stone Age people, living in caves during the last Ice Age, sitting around open campfires fires that make fascinating shadows dance on the wall. Soon they would have discovered out how to use their bodies, hands or simple figures made from sticks, feather and animal skins, to help tell the old stories of their family and clan.

The earliest forms of shadow puppet theatre are thought to have originated in Asia. Both India and China have extremely ancient shadow puppet tradition that still flourishes today. In China, written history tells of how the great Han Emperor became extremely lonely after his wife, the Lady Li, took sick and died. He was so upset that he neglected his duties to govern the empire. His ministers were greatly concerned and tried to find ways to cheer him up so that he could return to his duties again. They finally found an old Taoist magician, who knew some clever conjuring tricks. He sat the Emperor down in a dark room in front of a cloth screen, then, using a small flame behind the screen, he caused an image of the Lady Li to appear and move in a very lifelike way. The Emperor was very pleased and was at last able to recover from his deep grief.

This record tells us some important information about how early forms of shadow puppets might have been used in religious ceremonies as a way for the living to communicate with the world of the spirits. It was also used by priests and monks to transmit religious stories and myths to population who did not know how to read. Even today, some of these old forms of religious shadow puppetry have survived in southern Asia, especially in India and in Indonesia. There the shadow puppets perform scenes from great religious epics, such as the Mahabarata and the Ramayana. On the islands of Java and Bali, especially, the “wayang kulit” as it is called, is a widely popular form of entertainment that been developed to the highest artistic standards. From out of India and China, the form spread across the globe, following trade routes to Turkey and Northern Africa, and even later to Europe and America.

back to top

The Chinese Tradition

In many places, shadow puppetry became a favorite way of telling religious stories, and teaching people the important myths and legends of their culture, at a time when few people knew how to read. In China, shadow puppeteers performed favorite episodes from religious literature like Journey to the West, historical novels like The Three Kingdoms, and folk tales about famous characters, such as the wise judge, Bao Gong; fairy tales and fables.

In China, traditions of shadow puppetry developed alongside those of the Chinese opera. Not only do the two art forms share the same repertoire of stories, but have developed similar techniques in the way they represent the four main role types in all Chinese drama: male, female, “painted-face” and clown. Each role type has a unique style of acting and movement, a particular identifying color and styling to the costumes, headdresses and facial make-up. The design of the shadow figures reflects these roles types too, so that the moment they appear on the screen, the audience knows from the face patterns, dress and props exactly who they are, their age, sex, social rank, profession and personality. Acting styles are also shared by the live opera and the shadow puppet figures. When they first enters the stage, a shadow figure or human will first freeze in a quick pose, and adjust their sleeves, headdress or beard. This allows the audience a chance to "read" their character and also to "greet" the actor with a round of applause. It is amazing to see how the stylized movements and gestures, freezes and poses that heighten dramatic moments translate from the 3-dimensional live actors to the 2-dimensional shadow puppet figure, with out losing any of its force and clarity. For more about Chinese opera, click here.

The first professional shadow company in the United States was founded by a woman named Pauline Benton. She had traveled to China in the 1920's and fell in love with the traditional Chinese shadow performances. She decided that she had to present them to American audiences, and so she studied with a Chinese shadow master and collected a large set of shadow figures for many of the best loved shadow plays. She brought them back to the U.S. and created a company called the Red Gate Players. For over 30 years Ms. Benton's Red Gate Players presented traditional Chinese shadow plays in English all over the country. After she retired, her figures became part of our company's collection and have been carefully refurbished. We are still performing with some of Pauline's figures today, after almost 80 years! For more about Pauline Benton, the Red Gate Players, and CTW’s Benton collection, click here.

back to top

Traditional Techniques

Shadow puppetry is technically a very simple kind of performance to make. It requires just three things: a light source, to cast a shadow; a blank white screen, to catch the shadow; and a shadow figure to create an interesting shadow that can be moved with rods.

The light source is very important in shaping the kind of shadow that we see. Originally an open flame or oil lamp was used and the motion of the flames gave the shadow a lively, quivering motion that must have contributed to the magical effect of the shadow image. Today electric lights, or an overhead projector, make a much brighter steadier and more focused image.

In traditional shadow performance, the shadow screen is any piece of white paper, silk, linen or cotton cloth, stretched tight over a sturdy vertical frame. The light source and the puppet are placed behind the screen and the audience sits in front, seeing only the pattern of light and dark that plays across the white surface. The most important quality for the screen is that it be “translucent,” that is, it allows for the light and the colors to pass though it with little dimming. On the bottom edge of the screen is a narrow shelf called a “playboard” on which the shadow figures can stand and walk on. Often times, modern shadow screens are made out of plastic shower curtains or rear projection material.

The shadow figure that stands between the light source and the screen is the most complicated part of the whole process. The shape of the figure blocks some light and lets other light through where it is cut away. They can be made with many moving parts so that they can be move in very lifelike manner. Rods are attached to the figures so that they could be made to move without the puppeteer's shadow being seen. Traditional Chinese shadow figures are made out of translucent animal skin. A typical human figure will be jointed out of eleven different pieces, held together with strong silk thread, and manipulated by three stiff wire control rods. One rod is sewn to the neck of the figure, so that it can change the direction it is facing with just a flip of the control rod. The other two rods are attached to either hand. A well constructed shadow puppet is well balanced and capable of all types of movement, both delicate and strong- they can sip tea, or they can fight fierce battles with swords and spears. A master puppeteer can work one figure in each of his hands.

back to top

Modern Innovations

Today, even with film, television and computers, and all kinds of sophisticated animation techniques, the ancient forms of shadow puppetry have not totally disappeared. It has adapted modern materials and methods, but the essence of the art form is unchanged since the day that the Han Emperor sat down in astonishment at seeing the ghost of his beloved wife.

During the 20th Century, many technical innovations have revolutionized the art of shadow puppetry. New materials have been developed, including unbreakable plastics (polycarbonate or “Lexan”) which have made it possible to build much larger shadow figures than traditional animal skin figures, and new synthetic dyes and translucent paints can make shadow figures even more brilliantly colorful.

Perhaps the most significant development has been in lighting. In most traditional shadow forms, the light source that creates the shadow image is an oil lamp or standard light bulb. But modern shadow artists have a wide selection of light sources are available: slide projectors, overhead projectors, even video or computer projections specialty bulbs that can create crisp, sharp shadow images twenty feet tall. Controlling multiple light sources is made possible with computerized lighting boards.

Mixing and merging all these elements together have given the shadow artist the freedom to create large-scale moving image spectacles that are closer to animated film than to traditional shadow performance. Using an overhead projector as a light source, instead of a light bulb can magnify an object or puppet figure placed on its flat, glass table-top of the projector to create an image large enough to fill a huge movie screen. A very small figure only a few inches tall can be transformed into a gigantic image. Larger scale shadow images, such as those created on an overhead projector, can be easily integrated into other forms of live theater performance.

Many artists, both those rooted in traditional shadow forms and those with knowledge of the newest cutting edge technology, have given contemporary shadow theater a new vibrancy and have contributed to a renaissance of this, the oldest form of motion picture media.

Answer 2

Shadow Puppets History

Answer 3

There are a few real keys to dog training, whether you are trying to train your dog to come when called, sit, stop barking or any other behavior. Understanding their importance is critical to achieving rapid results that are long lasting and help develop the bond between you and your dog. Read more here https://bitly.im/wlk7k

The first is simple; you must win your dogs mind. If you don’t achieve this first then you will be struggling the all the way. When I talk about winning your dogs mind what I really mean is that your dog looks to you for all the decisions. Before you do anything else watch one of the amazing video sites that show you the 5 Golden rules to establishing yourself as the pack leader. If you aren’t putting these in place then you are setting yourself up to fail. Just at the crucial point where you really want your dog to listen they will go and do their own thing. For sure your dog may play ball occasionally or even most of the time, you may even have a dog that is obedient 99% of the time, however if you want a dog who always listens to you and does as you ask then you need to win your dogs mind.

The second key to success is to motivate your dog. It is really important that you discover what it is that your dog enjoys both in terms of exercise and play but also in terms of a reward. If you can make the experience enjoyable then you will both achieve more and look forward to training.

Some dogs love to fetch, others love agility, and other dogs simply love obedience training, or swimming out into water and retrieve. At least to start with find out what your dogs love is and help them develop this, what I am saying is work with your dog. The other point to recognize is to make training enjoyable reward your dog.

Answer 4

According to Theatre History texts, shadow puppets were invented in the middle east.

Answer 5

Hi, I understand that you are looking for some advice or resources to help fully train your dog or fix behavior problems. If a professional dog trainer is not an option at this time, or if you want to trt training your dog on your own (a great way to bond), I'd suggest you https://tinyurl.im/YhnH5

A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.

Answer 6

If you have employed in the previous landscape gardeners for tasks that ended up costing you tens of thousands of bucks then that other option is to make it easily from here https://tr.im/PB3vz Your way due to the fact , in the end and without this knowledge , tasks always cost a lot more and took longer than anticipated.
Ideas4Landscaping is a complete multimedia resource database of over 7000 higher-resolution pictures and 300 systematic guides , themes and video tutorials for men and women seeking for landscape ideas and inspiration all around their own property.
If you are a landscape gardening enthusiast of any kind , you need to by Ideas4Landscaping , a package with numerous fantastic resources to stimulate task concepts.

Answer 7

George D. Shadow, (1705 BC - 1690 BC)... Invented the PUPPET and BOXING. Also was attributed for the inpiration of a BeeGees song "Dancin'"... George spent a lot of time looking at the light... and came up with the idea for primative sunglasses... which... Ironically, he wore at night... and inspired another song.

Answer 8

History of Shadow Puppets
More then 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. One day, a minister happened to see children playing with dolls where the shadows on the floor were vivid. Inspired by this scene, the smart minister hit upon an idea. He made a cotton puppet of the concubine and painted it. As night fell, he invited the emperor to watch a rear-illuminated puppet show behind a curtain. The emperor was delighted and took to it from then on. This story recorded in the official history book is believed to be the origin of shadow puppetry.

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 in many parts of China.

Shadow puppetry was related to politics. In Beijing, for example, during the reign of Emperor Kangxi, this folk art was so popular that there were eight generously paid puppeteers in one prince's mansion. When the Manchu rulers spread their rule to various parts of China, they brought the puppet show with them to make up for the fact that they could not appreciate local entertainment due to language barriers. From 1796 to 1800, the government forbade the public showing of puppet shows to prevent the spreading of peasant uprising at the time. It was not until 1821 that shadow puppet shows gained some vigor.

Today, shadow puppet shows face extinction like other traditional art forms such as Nuo Drama.

Features of the Shadow Puppet Show
Shadow puppetry wins the heart of an audience by its lingering music, exquisite sculpture, brisk color and lively performance.

One mouth tells stories of thousands of years; a pair of hands operates millions of soldiers. This is how the shadow puppeteer works. Nicknamed the business of the five, a shadow puppet troupe is made up of five people. One operates the puppets, one plays a horn, a suo-na horn, and a yu-kin, one plays banhu fiddle, one is in charge of percussion instruments, and one sings. This singer assumes all the roles in the puppet show, which of course is very difficult. That is not all; the singer also plays several of the over 20 kinds of musical instruments in a puppet show. These ancient musical instruments enhance this ancient folk art.

The stage for shadow puppet is a white cloth screen on which the shadows of flat puppets are projected. Shadow puppet looks similar to paper-cut except that their joints are connected by thread so that they can be operated freely. The scene is simple and primitive; it is the consummate performance that attracts the audience. For example, a puppet can smoke and breathe out a smoke ring ¨C with operator help. In one drama, as a maid sits in front of a mirror, her reflection matches her actions. The operator plays five puppets at the same time, each of which has three threads. Ten fingers handle 15 threads. No wonder the operator is compared to the 1000-hand Kwan-in.

To overcome the limit imposed when only the profile of puppets can be seen, shadow puppets use exaggeration and heavy dramatization. The faces and the costumes of puppets are vivid and humorous. The flowery color, the elegant sculpting and smooth lines make shadow puppets not only props but also artwork. A shadow puppet takes as many as 24 procedures and more than 3000 cuts.

The figures all have a large head and a small body, which tapers down. A man has a big head and a square face, broad forehead and a tall strong body without being too masculine. A woman has a thin face, a small mouth and slim body without being too plump. Effeminacy and tenderness are the norm for Chinese beauty. Scholars wear long robes with an elegant demeanor, while generals in martial attire bring to mind bravery and prowess.

The design of the figures follows traditional moral evaluation and aesthetics. The audience can tell a figure's character by seeing his mask. Like the masks in Beijing Opera , a red mask represents uprightness, a black mask, fidelity, and a white one, treachery. The positive figure has long narrow eyes, a small mouth and a straight bridge of nose, while the negative one has small eyes, a protruding forehead and sagging mouth. The clown has a circle around his eyes, projecting a humorous and frivolous air even before he performs any act.

Lavish background pieces including architecture, furniture, vessels and auspicious patterns are featured in shadow puppet shows. Earthy art that it is, shadow puppet shows impress audiences by their vividness and refinement. A framed puppet can be a novel and pleasant souvenir.

Shadow puppet as artwork
Besides the figures needed in a certain drama, the shadow puppets include heroes from folklore and history, such as the four ancient beauties, Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, Diao Chan, and Yang Guifei ; or the Monkey King, Emperor Qin Shi Huang .

Shadow puppetry in Shaanxi is believed to be the most typical. The Ancient Cultural Street of Shuyuanmen is an ideal place to choose shadow puppets as souvenirs. Here you can select from hundreds of figures in different sizes and poses. Shadow puppets reveal a special world with their different figures.

Note:
For detailed information on Dynasties, please refer to History of China

I hope this helps you out.

Answer 9

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/puppets.htm

http://sunniebunniezz.com/puppetry/puphisto.htm

http://wsupress.wayne.edu/glb/art/bellshs.htm

Answer 10

I think it was the Indonesians.

Answer 11

is jamaica a nice country???????